Home Accessibility Tax Credit
What renovations qualify for the home accessibility tax credit and who can claim it.
The short version
- The home accessibility tax credit (HATC) is 14% (for 2026; it follows the lowest federal tax rate) of up to $20,000 of eligible renovation costs a year: up to $2,800 back federally.
- The work has to make a home safer or more accessible for a qualifying individual: someone 65 or older at the end of the year, or eligible for the disability tax credit.
- Typical projects: grab bars, walk-in showers, ramps, stair lifts, wider doorways, a main-floor bedroom or bathroom.
- Not eligible: routine repairs, maintenance, appliances, housekeeping, or anything mainly to raise the home's value.
- Medical-necessity renovations can sometimes also be claimed as medical expenses. You can claim both on the same cost, if it qualifies for both.
Home Accessibility Tax Credit Canada
The renovation that keeps a parent at home is often the best money a family ever spends, and the tax system pays back part of it. Not a big part, but $2,800 a year is a walk-in shower's worth of grab bars, and it can be claimed again next year for the next project. Here's what qualifies and who can claim.
Who Can Claim
- The qualifying individual: a person 65 or older at the end of the year, or someone eligible for the disability tax credit.
- Or an eligible individual: the qualifying person's spouse, or a relative who supports them and lives with them (or will), or a relative who could claim certain dependant credits for them.
The home must be the qualifying individual's principal residence (or will be within 12 months), owned by them or by the person claiming. Several people can split the claim, but the total can't exceed $20,000 of costs a year, and that cap applies to the home even when two qualifying individuals live in it.
What Counts
| Usually eligible | Not eligible |
|---|---|
| Grab bars, handrails, non-slip flooring | Routine repairs and maintenance |
| Walk-in tubs and showers, raised toilets | Appliances and electronics |
| Wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, platform lifts | Housekeeping, gardening, security monitoring |
| Widening doorways and halls; lowering counters | Financing costs |
| A main-floor bedroom or bathroom for someone who can't manage stairs | Work done mainly to increase the home's value |
| Permits, professional design fees, rented equipment for the project | Work by a related person, unless they're GST/HST registered |
The test is that the work lets the person get into, move around in, or function in the home, or reduces the risk of harm. Keep the contractor's invoices showing the work, address and amounts.
Does your renovation qualify?
Describe the work, who it's for and their age or disability status. The assistant checks it against the HATC rules and tells you whether it may also count as a medical expense.
Stack It With Other Credits
- Medical expenses: some renovations for a person with a severe mobility impairment also qualify as medical expenses. If a cost qualifies for both, you can claim both.
- Building a suite for a parent? The multigenerational home renovation tax credit is refundable and covers 14% of up to $50,000 for 2026; see multigenerational home renovation tax credit.
- Supporting the person? Look at the Canada caregiver credit too.
- Ontario? Ontario has had its own seniors' home safety credit in some years; check the current provincial forms. See provincial taxes.
A Builder's Note on the Paperwork
Get a written quote that describes the accessibility purpose of each item (“grab bars and curbless shower for mobility”), not just “bathroom reno.” Pay by traceable means, and keep the invoice, the permit and before-and-after photos. If CRA reviews the claim, that file is the difference between a two-line answer and a denial. More in what receipts to keep.
Home Accessibility Credit Questions
How much is the home accessibility tax credit?
14% of up to $20,000 of eligible expenses per year for 2026, so up to $2,800 federally. The rate follows the lowest federal tax rate. The $20,000 cap is shared when more than one qualifying individual lives in the same home.
Who qualifies for the home accessibility tax credit?
A person who is 65 or older at the end of the year, or eligible for the disability tax credit. Certain family members who support them can also claim.
What renovations qualify for the home accessibility tax credit?
Work that helps the qualifying person gain access to, move around or function in the home, or reduces the risk of harm, such as grab bars, walk-in showers, ramps, stair lifts and wider doorways.
Can I claim the same renovation as a medical expense?
Yes, if the cost also meets the medical expense rules, it can be claimed under both.
Sources: CRA, Line 31285 Home accessibility expenses; RC4064. Checked October 2026. Provincial home renovation credits change often; check your province's current forms.
Last reviewed October 5, 2026 against CRA and Government of Canada sources. How we check our facts.