staycation tax credit

[lorneb]

for the 2022 tax year, Ontario allows a tax credit for Staycations (vacations). Ufile requires an HST number, maximum 15 characters. The facility that I stayed at has the number 100860477. Ufile rejects this as an invalid format, although the facility confirms this is their hst number. Even if I try the format 100860477rt0001, the program still rejects the number as invalid format. Interesting enough, it will complete the calculations of taxes owed or credited, but because it is a 'red' error, you cannot file online with this error. Is this a programming error?

[Geo123]

Hello lorneb,

Please contact UFile Support so we may review the file confidentially.
For telephone support, please call: 514-733-8414 or 1-888-633-8414
An agent can review the issue with you.
If you prefer, you can also open a request ticket on-line https://www.ufile.ca/contact/contact-us

[Andrea Q.]

Hello,

I don't see the place where to enter the Ontario staycation tax credit information. Is there a specific page that I need to add?

Thank you,

Andrea

[Maggie3]

Hello Andrea Q.

Province of Ontario – Ontario Staycation Tax Credit

Ontario residents can claim 20% of their eligible 2022 accommodation expenses, for example, for a stay at a hotel, cottage or campground, when filing their personal Income Tax and Benefit Return for 2022. You can claim eligible 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

·         You are eligible to claim the credit if you are an Ontario resident on December 31, 2022.

·         Only one individual per family can claim the credit for the year. Your claim can include the eligible expenses of your spouse or common-law partner and your eligible children.

·         An eligible child is not entitled to claim the credit.

·         If you do not have a spouse or common-law partner, or eligible child, you can claim your own eligible expenses for the credit.

For more information on this topic please click on this link:

https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-staycation-tax-credit

To claim this credit, please follow the steps below:

1.In the left side column of the “Interview” section, click on the page “Interview setup”.

2.On the “Interview setup” page, scroll down to the section on “Other topics” .

3.In the “Other topics” section, place a check mark next to “Other deductions and credits (including school supply and home buyers’ amount)”

4.Then, click on the little blue circle with the white arrow (which jumps directly to the “Other deductions and credits” page).

5.Or you can click “Next” at the bottom of the page and then return to the left side column to click on the “Other deductions and credits” page.

6.On the “Other deductions and credits” page select ON479 line 63052 -Ontario staycation tax credit by clicking on the little plus sign beside the title.

7.Complete the page according to your information. (Note: the HST number of the facility can be located on your invoice)

The refundable credit will appear on your Federal tax return line 47900.

[Cynthia W]

Hi, I booked my stays via Expedia or Airbnb. There are no HST numbers shown on the receipts they provided. I called them but the agents said they don’t know anything about HST number. Could I skip this HST number field or leave it as 00000000 in Ufile? Is there a way to claim Staycation without HST number? Thanks. 

[Geo123]

Hello Cynthia W,

The HST number is a required field for the Ontario Staycation credit as per the CRA.  You can not enter a dummy number and must include a valid GST/HST number.

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).

https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-staycation-tax-credit#section-4

[keith B]

I appreciate what has been offered as advice, however we rented a cottage from a small operator who is not registered for HST, likely due to the fact they do not hit the minimum income limit for charging HST. Without a number, how can one make the claim? Surely there must be provision for this due to many small operators out there!

[Geo123]

Hello keith B,

You should contact the CRA as they establish the rules :

Contact the Canada Revenue Agency

If you have questions about the tax credit, please contact the Canada Revenue Agency

    phone, at 1-800-959-8281