Save up to $1,350 on home improvements purchased before February 1, 2010.

Put your tax dollars back into your home.

What is the HRTC?
Under proposed changes, the HRTC is a non-refundable tax credit based on eligible expenditures incurred for work performed, or goods acquired, after January 27, 2009, and before February 1, 2010, under an agreement entered into after January 27, 2009. The HRTC can be claimed when filing your 2009 tax return.

The HRTC can be claimed for renovations and alterations of an enduring nature and that are integral to the eligible dwelling (such as your home or cottage) or the land that forms part of the eligible dwelling.

How is the HRTC calculated?
The 15% non-refundable tax credit can be claimed on eligible expenditures of more than $1,000 but not more than $10,000. The maximum tax credit that can be claimed to reduce your federal income tax is $1,350. However, if the total of your non-refundable tax credits is more than your federal income tax, you have no federal income tax to pay, and you will not receive a refund for the HRTC.

Example
William and his spouse Marie pay $5,000 to purchase an energy-efficient furnace for their home and $3,500 to build a deck at their cottage. They also decide to have the area around the deck landscaped for $2,500, bringing their total costs to $11,000 ($5,000 + $3,500 + $2,500). Marie claims expenses of $9,000 ($10,000 – $1,000), resulting in an HRTC of $1,350.
William and Marie may also be eligible for the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes grant.

For more information about the ecoENERGY program, visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca.

Important things to remember
You do not have to submit your supporting documents with your income tax and benefit return; however, you must ensure this information is available should the Canada Revenue Agency request it.
To avoid problems with your HRTC claim, make sure you:
• get your contracts in writing (www.hiringacontractor.com); and
• keep your receipts.
Eligible expenses must be of an enduring nature and be integral to the eligible dwelling. The cost of routine repairs, maintenance, and expenditures not integral to the dwelling are not eligible.

Examples of eligible expenses
• Renovating a kitchen, bathroom, or basement
• New windows, doors, or flooring
• Building an addition, garage, deck, shed, or fence
• A new furnace, woodstove, fireplace, water softener, or water heater
• A new driveway or resurfacing a driveway, re-shingling a roof or painting of a house
• Landscaping – new sod, perennial shrubs and flowers, trees, etc.
• Swimming pools (permanent – in-ground and above-ground)
• Fixtures – blinds, shades, shutters, awnings, lights, fans, etc.
• Associated costs such as permits, professional services, equipment rentals, and incidental expenses

Examples of non-eligible expenses
• Furniture, appliances, tools, and audio and visual electronics
• Routine repairs, maintenance and cleaning (e.g., furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care, pool cleaning, house cleaning)
• Financing costs

Where can I get more information?
For more information, go to www.cra.gc.ca/hrtc or call us at 1-877-959-1-CRA.

Are your cupboards and closets overflowing? Are you constantly searching for items you've crammed away in some out of the way nook or cranny? Do you continually trip over items that you have no storage room for?

If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, then it's probably time for a major overhaul of the storage area in your home. This can be as simple or complex as you like, depending on your needs, budget and amount of clutter. With a little forethought and organization, you should be able to greatly enhance and increase your current storage space at a reasonable cost.

Shelves
Installing shelving in your closets and cupboards is probably the easiest and most economical way to increase your present storage space. You can build shelves yourself by buying lumber and wall brackets at the hardware store, or purchase one of the many types of easy to assemble shelf units available.

Wire coated shelving has become a popular and durable option. These units are available at most hardware and storage specialty stores.

When revamping your cupboards and closets, try to make use of as much available surface area possible. For instance, you can install shelves along the sides of the closet. Innovative basket units can also be used for additional storage space for scarves and hats.

Kitchen
The kitchen is another spot where you can maximize your existing storage space. Rolling storage units - either the basket units or more permanent ones that stow away neatly under the kitchen counter are also space efficient.
Cabinet swing outs and "lazy susans" are also popular space savers for hard to reach corner cabinets. Rolling racks and carts, hanging shelves and dish organizers also make the most of premium kitchen cabinet space and can be purchased at hardware and department stores.

You may also want to install some under the cabinet storage units (baskets and special drawers) for quick and easy access to everyday items. Under cabinet appliances are also available to help keep your counter area clutter free.

Bedrooms
There are also many opportunities available to maximize storage space in your bedroom. Many department and hardware stores sell sturdy plastic or strong cardboard boxes which fit neatly under your bed, or can be stacked in a closet corner. These are excellent for storing out of season garments and items rarely used, because they keep them dust free, neat and most importantly, out of the way.

If you feel creative and want to tackle more extensive storage enhancement projects, you may want to create an extra closet or cupboard by building a unit across one entire wall of your bedroom or family room, space permitting. You can build these yourself or buy ready to assemble units.
If you have the time and inclination to build your own, make sure you plan your project carefully on paper first, so you know exactly what you'll need in terms of space and materials. It's also a good idea to consult with the experts at your local building supply centre to make sure you use the appropriate materials; you want the end product to be both durable and attractive.

Unused Space
You can also make previously unused space into handy storage areas. For instance, the space beneath a staircase provides great potential for extra storage. You can also build a window seat, complete with storage below for puzzles, games and toys. This is an excellent idea for a child's room.

When looking for storage opportunities, don't forget the attic. If you plan to finish your attic, try to make use of space over the eaves or in the kneewalls for closets. You may even want to build a special out of the way storage room in your attic or basement, or even on the main floor of your home.

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
Lao-Tzu

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Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them.
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