Ontario is offering a temporary tax credit to bolster travel and tourism within the province.
The tax credit is for any travel done within 2022, regardless of when the payment is made.
Ontario residents, that is anyone who is living in the province on December 31st, 2022, may claim the cost of travel on their Personal Income Tax and Benefit Return for 2022.
Ontario residents may claim 20% of their accommodation expense for either a single trip or multiple trips. There is a limit of $1,000 for an individual or $2,000 per family, for example, a spouse, common-law partner, or eligible children. So, if an individual spends $1,000 or more on accommodation within Ontario, they are eligible to claim $200 as a refund. This amount is double for more than one person. If a family of more than one person travels, the limit is $2,000, with $400 eligible for a refund.
Only one individual per family can claim the credit. The accommodation expenses must have been paid by you, your spouse or common-law partner, or your eligible child, as set out on a detailed receipt provided by a supplier registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
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
- Vacation rental property
The accommodations can be booked either directly with the accommodation provider or through an online accommodation platform and includes the portion of the expense that is necessary to have access to the accommodation or the accommodation portion of a tour package expense.
The tax credit only applies for leisure stays, it does not apply to any stay:
- For the purpose of work or study
- Stays that are not at a short-term accommodation
- Stays for more than one month
- Other incurred costs such as car rentals, fuel, flights, groceries, parking, or admission to attractions
- Accommodation expenses reimbursed to you
To claim this credit, you must keep your receipt which includes the location of the accommodation, the amount for the accommodation portion of a stay, the GST/HST paid, the date of the stay, and the name of the payor.
The Ontario Staycation Tax Credit is a refundable personal income tax credit. This means that if you are eligible, you can get this tax credit regardless of whether you owe income tax for 2022.
For more information visit Ontario.ca.