Glossary
Home Buyers' Amount
A federal non-refundable tax credit claimed by eligible first-time home buyers on their personal tax return for the year they acquire a qualifying home..
The Home Buyers' Amount is a federal non-refundable tax credit for eligible first-time home buyers in Canada. It is claimed through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on the personal income tax return for the year a qualifying home is acquired. Because it is non-refundable, it reduces federal tax otherwise payable; it does not produce a refund when no tax is owed, and it is not paid out to you at closing.
How the credit is calculated
The credit is not a flat cash payment. It is calculated by applying the lowest federal personal income tax rate to a set amount that the CRA publishes for the tax year. Since both the amount and the lowest rate can change, confirm the current figure on the CRA website rather than relying on an older return or a summary from a previous year.
Only one claim is allowed per qualifying home, even when two buyers appear on title. A couple should decide which spouse or common-law partner claims it, typically the one with federal tax owing that the credit can offset.
Who can claim it
To claim, you generally must acquire a qualifying home and meet the CRA's first-time home buyer conditions, which look at whether you or your spouse or common-law partner owned and lived in another home during the relevant look-back period. Certain acquisitions made for a person with a disability can also qualify. Keep the purchase and closing documents, because the CRA can request proof that the home was acquired.
- File a return for the year the home is acquired.
- The property must meet the CRA's definition of a qualifying home.
- The credit is claimed once per home, not once per buyer.
How it fits with other first-time buyer programs
The Home Buyers' Amount is separate from the other federal supports aimed at first-time buyers. The Home Buyers' Plan lets you withdraw funds from an RRSP toward a down payment, the First Home Savings Account combines deductible contributions with tax-free growth, and several provinces and municipalities offer first-time buyer relief on land transfer tax. These programs can be combined, but each has its own eligibility rules.
It matters to borrowers mainly at tax time. The credit does not increase the mortgage a lender will approve, since qualification rests on income, debts, GDS and TDS ratios, and the federal mortgage stress test. Treat it as a modest reduction in tax payable after closing, not as funds available for the down payment or closing costs. See the first-time home buyer programs guide for how the pieces fit together.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Home Buyers' Amount refundable?
No. It is a non-refundable credit, so it only reduces federal tax you otherwise owe for the year. If your tax payable is already zero, the credit has no value and does not create a refund. Claim it on your return for the year you acquire the qualifying home.
Can my spouse and I both claim the Home Buyers' Amount?
No. Only one claim is permitted per qualifying home, even if both of you are on title and both meet the first-time buyer conditions. Decide which spouse or common-law partner has federal tax owing that the credit can offset, and have that person claim it.
Does the Home Buyers' Amount help me qualify for a larger mortgage?
No. Lenders assess affordability using income, existing debts, GDS and TDS ratios, and the federal stress test. The credit is applied when you file your tax return after the purchase, so it does not increase your borrowing capacity or count as down payment funds.
Sources
Related terms
- Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) — A federal program that lets a first-time home buyer withdraw money from an RRSP to put toward a down payment on a qualifying home in Canada.
- First Home Savings Account (FHSA) — A First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is a registered federal account that lets a first-time buyer save for a home with deductible contributions and tax-free qualifying withdrawals.
- First-Time Home Buyer Incentive — A federal shared-equity program that reduced the mortgage a first-time buyer needed by contributing part of the down payment in exchange for an equity share in the home.
- Land Transfer Tax — A provincial tax on transferring property title, paid by the buyer at closing and calculated as a percentage of the purchase price.
- Closing Costs — Closing costs are the one-time fees, taxes, and charges paid on top of a home's purchase price, separate from the down payment.