Expiring tax credits in Canada that you should claim before it's too late
It’s never too early to prepare for tax season in Canada, and as the new year approaches, one expert suggests you start looking at receipts.
Tax preparation company H&R Block is urging taxpayers in Canada to check for expiring benefits and credits in time for the next filing year.
According to the financial company, several tax credits have or will soon expire, which means hundreds of thousands of Canadians risk throwing money away. It stresses that it’s important to claim these credits before it’s too late.
“The more time you give yourself to prepare, the easier it is to ensure you navigate the more than 400 tax credits and benefits, understand any that may be being phased out, and dig out old receipts so you don’t miss out on money that’s yours,” states Yannick Lemay, tax expert at H&R Block Canada.
A 2025 survey commissioned by the tax preparation company found that nearly two out of three Canadians (65 per cent) weren’t aware that they could amend their tax return from the past 10 years to claim missed benefits, deductions, or credits that they’re entitled to.
“Every year, hundreds of thousands of Canadians leave money on the table when they file their taxes,” states Lemay.
Here are the tax benefits and credits that have expired, or are expiring soon, that you can still claim.
Canada Carbon Rebate
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The consumer carbon tax was officially scrapped on April 1. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) began issuing the final payment on April 22 to eligible Canadians who had filed their 2024 income tax return electronically no later than April 2.
H&R Block says the government will no longer pay this rebate after October 2026. If you missed claiming the CCR or didn’t file your taxes from prior years, you could miss out on more than $1,000 each year.
The rebate was available to eligible individuals who filed their taxes for the applicable years: 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
“If you were eligible but you have not yet filed your tax return for 2024, 2023, 2022, or 2021, you are still able to receive your payments once your tax returns are assessed,” reads the CRA’s site.
The rebate was available to residents in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland and Labrador in the form of four payments each year.
GST/HST Holiday tax break
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The federal government temporarily cut GST/HST on groceries, clothes, and other essentials from Dec. 14, 2024, to Feb. 15, 2025.
This means no GST/HST should have been charged at the point of sale for qualifying products during those two months.
If you noticed that you were charged GST/HST on an eligible item and weren’t able to get it refunded by the business, or the tax was already remitted to the CRA, H&R Block advises you to apply for a rebate directly from the CRA.
“If the supplier, manufacturer, or retailer does not provide a refund for the amount or is no longer in business, you can then apply for a GST/HST rebate for the amount of the GST/HST charged to you in error,” confirms a section on the CRA’s site.
Learn more about how you can apply for this rebate. You must file your application within two years after the date of your purchase.
2024 charitable donation deadline extension expiration
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The federal government extended the deadline for claiming charitable donations on 2024 tax returns up to Feb. 28, 2025. H&R Block says this means eligible donations made up to that date can be treated as 2024 donations.
“In some cases, you can claim up to 54 per cent back in your pocket, depending on your province and income level,” explains the company.
It says charitable donations are one of the most commonly missed tax credits in Canada, so Canadians should make sure they have all of their donation receipts ready for tax season.
“If you’ve missed submitting any receipts over the last 10 years, you can still claim them through a tax return amendment,” it added.
Home Renovation and Accessibility Credits amendments
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As part of the 2025 Budget, the federal government announced that “double-dipping” restrictions will likely come into effect in 2026 for the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit (MHRTC) and the Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC). This means Canadians won’t be able to claim the same expense under both the MHRTC and the HATC.
The MHRTC could provide a valuable refundable credit for eligible expenses related to qualifying renovations to create a self-contained secondary unit for someone to reside with their family. Canadians could claim up to $50,000 in expenditures for each qualifying renovation that is completed. The tax credit is 15 per cent of your costs, up to a maximum of $7,500, for each eligible claim.
The HATC non-refundable tax credit is for eligible home renovation or alteration expenses, with an annual expense limit of $20,000. It provides a tax credit of up to $3,000 for eligible expenses to renovate or alter a home for accessibility.
H&R Block advises Canadians to speak with a tax expert to ensure they have claimed any accessibility renovations that they may qualify for using both credits while still allowed under current rules. This applies to this coming tax season and to prior applicable returns.