Can I claim rent paid?
Published Oct 29, 2026
Can I claim rent paid on my taxes? For most renters in Canada, rent isn’t tax-deductible. But there are two important exceptions: if you work from home as an employee, or run a business from home, you may be able to deduct part of your rent. And in BC, renters may also get the BC renter’s tax credit.
Claiming rent as an employee who works from home
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) lets some employees claim work-space-in-the-home expenses, including part of their rent. Under the CRA’s detailed method, you generally need to:
- have worked from home mainly (more than 50% of the time) for at least four consecutive weeks
- get a completed and signed Form T2200 or T2200S from your employer
If you qualify, you can claim a reasonable portion of your rent: your monthly rent multiplied by the percentage of your home used for work. For example, if your work space is 10% of your apartment, you’d claim 10% of the rent for the months you worked from home. Commission employees can claim some extra expenses that salaried employees can’t.
Claiming rent if you’re self-employed
If you run a business from the home you rent, the CRA lets you deduct a reasonable portion of your rent as a business expense, if your work space is your main place of business or you use it only for your business and regularly meet clients there. The CRA’s running a business from your home page explains the rules and limits.
The BC renter’s tax credit
Separately from any deduction, BC renters may get up to $400 a year through the BC renter’s tax credit, depending on income. Read can renters claim rent? for who qualifies and how to claim it.
Keep good records
Whatever you claim, keep your lease and proof of every rent payment, plus notes on how you measured your work space. The CRA can ask for them.
More for BC renters
This is general information, not tax advice. Rules change, so check the CRA pages or ask a tax professional about your situation.