Understanding tax advantages is essential to optimizing your profits while investing in Canadian real estate. Deducting mortgage interest on investment homes is a key tactic for Canadian investors. This manual will explain the subtleties of this technique so you may make educated decisions, increase your returns, and adhere to Canadian tax regulations. Let’s examine this tax-saving possibility in detail and launch your path to prosperity in the Canadian real estate market.
Can You Deduct Mortgage Interest on Rental Property Canada?
Absolutely, you can certainly deduct the interest on your mortgage for your rental property in Canada! But keep in mind that this only works if the property’s main source of income is from rent itself and you fit into certain eligibility categories. However, there are also a few other important factors to note;
Many Canadian property owners have pondered the tax benefits of deducting mortgage interest. They probably heard that their neighbors to the south can deduct their mortgage interest, which is accurate. There is a misconception that people who work from home can deduct their mortgage interest, which is untrue given the dramatic increase of Canadians doing so.
In this post, we’ll dispel any misunderstandings and explain when you can and cannot deduct mortgage interest from your taxes.
Mortgage interest in Canada vs. the U.S.
Let’s talk about mortgage interest in Canada and the U.S. In Canada, you can only deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage if it’s for an investment property – we’ll dive into that more later. However, it’s a bit different if you are in the United States. The IRS allows U.S. homeowners to deduct the interest on the first $750,000 of their mortgage debt, or $375,000 if you’re married and filing separately.
If you accrued debt before December 16, 2017, stricter limitations apply.
Suppose Americans do not use the earnings of their mortgage to buy, build, or renovate a property. In that case, they can no longer deduct mortgage interest.
When Can You Deduct Mortgage Interest in Canada?
The gist of the matter is that in Canada, mortgage interest payments on a primary house are not deductible. Use your primary house to generate rental or self-employment income. You might have the chance to claim a part of the mortgage interest you’ve paid. Let’s take a look at the various situations where mortgage interest can be deducted.
Full-Time Rental Properties
The situation where mortgage interest is deductible is one where the property is specifically used as a rental. You can deduct all of the mortgage interest charges for a property you own that is rented out full-time from your taxable income.
Part-Time Rental Properties
These days, many Canadians have properties they rent out for part of the year as short-term rentals. In these cases, you’re allowed to subtract the mortgage interest from your taxable income when you file your taxes. But remember, you can only do this for the period when the property was rented out.
Renting Out Part of a Property
Many homeowners often rent out a part of their main residence, like an extra room or a basement flat. If you do this, you might be allowed to deduct a part of your yearly mortgage interest depending on the amount of space you are renting out.
For instance, You can deduct 33%, or one-third, of your mortgage interest if your 3000 square foot house has a 1000 square foot suite that you rent out on a full-time basis.
Property Used For a Business
Suppose you own a property that is utilized primarily for business. In that case, the interest on your mortgage is completely deducted from your taxes. The property cannot be used as your primary residence.
Work From Home – for an Employer
Thousands of Canadians switched to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those remote workers are still operating from their homes. However, while the Canada Revenue Agency permits some tax incentives for workers who conduct their business from home, deducting mortgage interest is not one of them.
Work From Home – for Self-Employed People
If you’re self-employed and operate from home, it’s possible to subtract a portion of your mortgage interest payments from your tax liabilities. The extent of space and time dedicated to business within your house will dictate the amount of interest you can claim. Utilize 50% of your home while working time. You’ll be able to deduct interest compared to working 15 hours per week and utilizing only 10% of your house.
The Smith Maneuver
The Smith Maneuver is a tax maneuver that transforms your mortgage interest into a fully deductible expense. Although we won’t go into great detail in this article due to the various complexities, here is a brief explanation of how it functions:
The Smith Maneuver was made well-known by financial advisor Fraser Smith of British Columbia. It makes use of the tax deduction for interest paid on loans made in Canada for investment purposes.
A homeowner must obtain a re-advanceable mortgage with a Home Equity Line of Credit in order for the Smith Maneuver to be effective. The homeowner reborrows the main amount released each month as their mortgage is paid off and adds the money to their investments.
The entire sum eventually becomes an investment loan and is entirely deductible from taxes. To demonstrate that they are using the funds for investing, investors must maintain track of their investment contributions.
The Smith Maneuver is most significantly in danger from interest rate increases. Please remember that the money you are borrowing will be utilized for investments. There is a possibility of losing money if the returns on your investments are lower than the interest you are paying on your mortgage.
The Bottom line
In Canada, you can indeed deduct mortgage interest on your rental property. To be eligible, your property must primarily generate rental income. You can deduct the interest portion of your mortgage payments but not the principal. Accurate record-keeping is vital, and if you occasionally use the property for personal purposes, you can only deduct the interest for the time it’s used for rental activities. Different property types, from residential to commercial, are eligible for this deduction. Understanding these key points is crucial to optimizing your real estate investment strategy in Canada.
The only way to fully deduct your mortgage interest in Canada is by owning a property or a property that is solely used for business purposes. If you are self-employed or if you rent out a portion of your house, you can still claim a deduction for part of your mortgage interest.
It’s essential to understand how taxes work on your rental income and the eventual sale of your investment property. Be sure to consult a qualified tax professional so you don’t miss out on any tax-saving opportunities.
Disclaimer:
This website is provided for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities. No securities regulatory authority has assessed the merits of these securities or the information contained in this website. Potential Investors should conduct their own due diligence before investing. All statements in this website, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Canguard expects to occur are forward looking statement. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe” or “continue”, or the negative thereof, or similar variations. Please see the Offering Memorandum for a complete description of the risks associated with investing in Canguard Mortgage Investment Corporation. Purchase of Canguard Shares may be made through Kite Financial Solutions Ltd or a Dealer/Advisor.