In forceFINTRAC Compliance
FINTRAC recordkeeping rules require mortgage-sector information records to include a person’s occupation or a sole proprietor’s principal business, and entity records must include the nature of the entity’s business.
- Announced
- Oct 11, 2024
- Effective
- Oct 11, 2024
- Applies to
- Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification
Usually yes. The longer amortization can reduce the required payment, but CMHC applies a 20-basis-point insurance-premium surcharge to eligible 30-year insured mortgages, and slower principal repayment can increase total interest.
- Announced
- Jul 10, 2024
- Effective
- Aug 1, 2024
- Applies to
- First Time Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment
No. The current HBP limit is $60,000 per eligible participant, but the money comes from the participant’s RRSP and generally must be repaid over a 15-year period.
- Announced
- Apr 11, 2024
- Effective
- Apr 17, 2024
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceInvestor Tax And Ownership
Yes. The federal prohibition on purchases of residential property by non-Canadians was extended and is scheduled to remain in force until January 1, 2027, subject to the Act, regulations and exceptions.
- Announced
- Feb 4, 2024
- Effective
- Feb 4, 2024
- Expiry
- Jan 1, 2027
- Applies to
- Home Buyer · Investor
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In forceFHSA And Home Buyers' Plan
For a first HBP withdrawal made from 2022 through 2025, temporary relief generally delays the start of the 15-year repayment period until the fifth year after the withdrawal year.
- Announced
- Apr 11, 2024
- Effective
- Jan 1, 2024
- Applies to
- First Time Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification
A federally regulated lender may consider extending amortization as a relief measure, but FCAC expects the extension to be for the shortest period appropriate and accompanied by a plan to restore the amortization when…
- Announced
- Jul 5, 2023
- Effective
- Jul 5, 2023
- Applies to
- Homeowner · Renewing Homeowner
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In forceDown Payment
Often no. When opening an FHSA, living in a qualifying home owned or jointly owned by your spouse or common-law partner during the current year or previous four calendar years can prevent first-time-buyer status.
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2023
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment
The withdrawal must meet CRA’s qualifying-withdrawal conditions, including first-time-buyer status at the required time, a written agreement for a qualifying home, Canadian residency, acquisition timing and an intention to occupy the home as a…
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2023
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment
Yes. You may make a qualifying FHSA withdrawal and an eligible Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawal for the same home if you satisfy each program’s conditions at the time of each withdrawal.
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2023
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment
An excess FHSA amount can generally attract a 1% tax per month on the highest excess amount for that month until the excess is eliminated.
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2023
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment
The general FHSA limit is $8,000 of new participation room per year and $40,000 over a lifetime. Unused room can carry forward, but the carryforward is generally capped at $8,000.
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2023
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment
No. FHSA participation room starts only when you open your first FHSA. Waiting does not quietly accumulate room in the background the way many buyers expect.
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2023
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment
An FHSA can combine a tax deduction for eligible contributions with a tax-free qualifying withdrawal. The first year’s participation room is $8,000 and the general lifetime limit is $40,000, but the account, contribution room,…
- Effective
- Apr 1, 2023
- Applies to
- First Time Buyer
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In forceHousing Tax
No. Up to $50,000 is the qualifying-expenditure ceiling for an eligible renovation—not the cheque amount. The refundable credit is a percentage of eligible costs and the rate can depend on the tax year.
- Announced
- Apr 7, 2022
- Effective
- Jan 1, 2023
- Applies to
- Homeowner · Investor
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In forceClosing Cost
No. Ontario NRST exemptions and rebates have specific purchaser, spouse, immigration, occupancy, registration, documentation and deadline conditions. Expecting future status does not by itself remove tax at closing.
- Effective
- Oct 25, 2022
- Applies to
- First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceOntario Benefits
Ontario’s NRST is generally a 25% tax on certain residential-property acquisitions by foreign nationals, foreign corporations and taxable trustees. Citizenship, permanent-resident status, ownership structure and exemptions must be checked before the offer becomes firm.
- Announced
- Oct 24, 2022
- Effective
- Oct 25, 2022
- Applies to
- Home Buyer · Newcomer
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In forceBuyer Protection
Generally, yes. CRA says all assignment sales of newly constructed or substantially renovated residential housing are taxable for GST/HST purposes when the agreement is entered into after May 6, 2022.
- Announced
- Apr 7, 2022
- Effective
- May 7, 2022
- Applies to
- Home Buyer · Pre Construction Buyer
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In forceHousing Tax
Yes. Toronto says an undeclared property can be deemed vacant, the tax forms a lien on the property and a purchaser can become responsible. Buyers and sellers should address the declaration and tax status…
- Effective
- Jan 1, 2022
- Applies to
- Homeowner · Investor
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