Tax Question:
How is the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) applied to residential real estate?
Facts:
In real estate, the beneficial owner of the property has the responsibility to collect GST/HST and remit it to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If the property is held “in trust” by another corporation or entity, the beneficial owner is still required to register and file GST/HST returns. It is common for third parties such as agents or property managers to be designated to collect GST/HST on rental income. There is a special election that allows agents to remit the GST on behalf of the owner, but the responsibility is still on the beneficial owner.
The following types of real estate transactions are subject to GST/HST:
The following types of real estate transactions that are not subject to GST/HST:
There are GST rebates available on the purchase of new homes and completion of eligible rental properties. However, the rebate only applies if the purchase price does not exceed a fair market value of $450,000. There are additional provincial rebates that may apply as well. A GST/HST registrant that sells residential real estate, may be eligible to claim GST/HST paid as input tax credits as well.
If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of the Empire CPA team by filling out the contact form below.
Canadian and foreign tax laws are complex and have a tendency to change on a frequent basis. As such, the content published above is believed to be accurate as of the date of this post. Before implementing any tax planning, please seek professional advice from a qualified tax professional. Empire, Chartered Professional Accountants will not accept any liability for any tax ramifications that may result from acting based on the information contained above.
How To Ensure Rental Income Within Your Corporation is Active Business Income May 5, 2023 Tax Question: How do you ensure your rental income within
Canadian Sales Tax Rates for 2023 January 30, 2023 Question: What are the sales tax rates across Canada in 2023? Facts: The table below outlines
How To File a GST/HST Return January 10, 2023 Question: How do you file a goods and services tax (GST) / harmonized sales tax (HST)
Shareholder Loans and Personal Expenses December 5, 2022 Question: What are Shareholder Loans and how are personal expenses recorded? Facts: The Shareholder Loans category may