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Rental Property Expenses Canadians Forget to Claim (2026 Guide)

  Published: April 2026 | Reading time: 9 min | Category: Real Estate, Tax Savings, Personal Finance Owning a rental property in Canada comes with a surprisingly generous set of tax deductions — but most landlords only claim the obvious ones. Mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance. Done. What they miss is often worth thousands of dollars in additional deductions every single year. If you own a rental property in Ontario (or anywhere in Canada), this guide walks through every legitimate expense category the CRA allows — including the ones your accountant may not have mentioned. Why This Matters More Than You Think Rental income in Canada is taxed as regular income — meaning at your full marginal rate. At Ontario's combined federal and provincial rates, landlords earning $100,000–$150,000 total income are paying 43% on every dollar of net rental profit. Every $1,000 in legitimate deductions you miss costs you approximately $430 in real taxes . A landlord who forget...
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How to avoid common pitfalls when claiming capital gains tax exemption for your home



If you sell your home for more than you paid for it, you may be eligible for a capital gains tax exemption on the difference. However, this exemption is not automatic and there are some rules and conditions that you need to follow. Here are some common myths and misconceptions that could cost you money or get you in trouble with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

  • Myth 1: You can claim the exemption for any property you own. Fact: The exemption only applies to your principal residence, which is the property where you and your family normally live. You can only designate one property as your principal residence per year. If you own more than one property, you need to report the sale of the non-principal residence and pay tax on any capital gain.
  • Myth 2: You can claim the exemption for the entire period you owned the property. Fact: The exemption is based on the number of years you designated the property as your principal residence, plus one. This means that if you rented out your property for part of the time you owned it, you may not be able to claim the full exemption. You also need to report the change in use of the property to the CRA and calculate the deemed disposition and acquisition of the property at fair market value.
  • Myth 3: You don’t need to report the sale of your principal residence to the CRA. Fact: Since 2016, you are required to report the sale of your principal residence on your income tax return, even if you are claiming the full exemption. You need to provide the date of acquisition, the proceeds of disposition, and the description of the property. If you fail to report the sale, you may lose the exemption or face penalties.
  • Myth 4: You can claim the exemption for any improvements or renovations you made to the property. Fact: The exemption only applies to the increase in the value of the property, not the cost of the improvements or renovations. However, you can use the cost of the improvements or renovations to increase the adjusted cost base of the property, which will reduce your capital gain when you sell the property. You need to keep receipts and records of the expenses to support your claim.
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