Ontario's Staycation Tax Credit In Effect
/The Ontario Government’s staycation tax credit is now in effect for 2022.
The Ontario Government claims the credit will provide an estimated $270 million in support to about 1.85 million Ontario families. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Ontario residents can claim 20 per cent of their eligible 2022 accommodation expenses if lived in the province by Dec. 31 this year.
Expenses of up to $1,000 as an individual or $2,000 if you have a spouse, common-law partner or eligible children, to get back up to $200 as an individual or $400 as a family can be claimed.
You can claim the Ontario Staycation Tax Credit for accommodation expenses for a leisure stay of less than a month in Ontario, at a short-term accommodation or camping accommodation, such as a:
hotel
motel
resort
lodge
bed-and-breakfast establishment
cottage
campground
Short-term accommodation would generally not include timeshare agreements or a stay on a boat, train or other vehicle that can be self-propelled.
The tax credit only applies to leisure stays between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 this year regardless of the timing of payment for the stays. The tax credit does not apply to business travel.
The accommodation expenses must also:
have been paid by you, your spouse or common-law partner, or your eligible child, as set out on a detailed receipt
have been subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), as set out on a detailed receipt
not have been reimbursed to you, your spouse or common-law partner, or your eligible child, by any person including by a friend or an employer
As long as all other conditions are met, you can claim any of the following expenses:
accommodation for a single trip or multiple trips, up to the maximum expense limit of $1,000 as an individual or $2,000 as a family
accommodations booked either directly with the accommodation provider or through an online accommodation platform
the portion of the expense that is necessary to have access to the accommodation
the accommodation portion of a tour package expense
You must keep your detailed receipts for any eligible expenses you incur. Those receipts should include at least all of the following information:
the location of the accommodation
the amount that can reasonably be considered to be for the accommodation portion of a stay
the GST/HST paid
the date of the stay
the name of the payor
