Fiscal and Financial Planning Guide 2024-2025

Elders > Tax Credit For Home-Support Services for seniors (70 years old or more)

The purpose of this credit is to help people aged 70 and older who live in their dwelling (e.g., house, condo, seniors residence or apartment) by granting them a tax credit on certain expenses.

Credit rate

The base credit rate was 35% in 2021 and is increased by 1% per year up to 40% in 2026 (38% in 2024).

Eligible Expenses

Homeowners (house, condo)

The main eligible expenses are:

  • Services related to routine domestic chores (e.g., housekeeping) and outdoor work (e.g., mowing the lawn, cleaning the windows);
  • Maintenance of appliances;
  • Cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture;
  • Cleaning air ducts and chimney sweeping;
  • Supply service (grocery and pres
  • cription drug delivery);
  • Services related to daily activities (e.g., dressing, hygiene, meal preparation);
  • Nursing services;
  • Condo fees share attributable to current expenses (ask manager for a report).

Tenants

The maximum eligible monthly rent for tenants of a rental property is $1,200 (with a minimum of $600). The credit rate is 5% for a relatively modest annual maximum tax saving of $274 (5% x $1200 x 12 months x 38%).

Managers will usually apply directly to the government for the credit to be paid monthly to the resident. A Relevé 19 will be issued by the government, and the credit received in a given year must be entered on the tax return.

Seniors’ residences

In the case of seniors’ residences, residence managers will allocate a predetermined percentage of the rent to eligible expenses based on the services provided under the lease, as illustrated in the following table:

Maximum expenses

Reduction of credit based on family income

The credit is reduced by 3% of the amount of family income in excess of $69,040 and by 7% of family income in excess of $111,845. Unfortunately, many clients no longer qualify for the credit because of their high family income.

The following table shows the minimum amount of expenses required for autonomous seniors to become eligible to the credit considering family income.

Dependent persons

It is important to note that individuals who are not autonomous are entitled to the full tax credit of 35% regardless of their family income. In addition, if their income is less than $65,700, they also could also benefit of the 1% to 37% which would be gradually reduced if income exceeds $65,700.

For the purpose of the Home-Support Tax Credit, a person is considered to be dependent if he or she:

  • needs assistance on a regular basis for personal needs (washing, dressing, personal mobility or eating)
  • has a serious mental disorder (e.g., Alzheimer’s, dementia, etc.)

The status has to be confirmed by:

  • a written attestation from a physician or nurse;
  • or TPZ-1029.MD.A form completed and signed by a physician or nurse.
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