Underused Housing Tax: First return due April 30, 2023
Canada’s Bill C-8, Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021, received Royal Assent on June 9, 2022 (S.C. 2022, c. 5). Among other things, the Bill implements Canada’s underused housing tax (UHT). The Underused Housing Tax Act (herein referred to as the “UHT Act” or the “Act”) imposes a 1% tax on the value of vacant/underused residential property owned directly or indirectly by foreign persons. In addition to setting out the rules for determining one’s tax liability, the UHT Act imposes a filing requirement for a broader group of property owners.
On January 31, 2023, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) released the prescribed form under the UHT Act (UHT-2900 – Underused Housing Tax Return and Election Form). Residential property owners who are required to file a UHT return for the 2022 calendar year must do so on or before April 30, 2023. Significant penalties may be levied for non-filing.