You may have heard the term ‘Vacant Home Tax’ in the news over the past couple of years. In its latest effort to improve affordable housing, the City of Toronto will be imposing this new tax, next year, to prevent buyers from purchasing homes and leaving them to sit empty while many Torontonians struggle to find a place to live.
Curious about what this means for homeowners? Here’s what you need to know.
How much is the Vacant Home Tax?
The City of Toronto is implementing a 1% tax on homes that sit empty the majority of the year.
When will it come into effect?
The tax will come into effect in 2022, and is payable beginning in 2023.
To whom will the tax apply?
Toronto homeowners will need to declare the status of their home each year and will be subject to the vacant home tax should they choose to keep the home vacant. A unit will be considered vacant if it has been unoccupied for more than six months of the previous calendar year. Exemptions will also apply, which will include vacancies for development or renovations, the death of the owner or rental restrictions. The tax will not apply to a principal residence. Learn more about the exemptions.
Where else is this type of tax in place?
Vancouver implemented an Empty Homes Tax back in 2017 as a measure to tackle housing affordability in the city, and as of 2021, homes deemed empty have been subject to a 3% tax. Internationally, Melbourne has a vacant home tax, while Los Angeles and Hong Kong are considering implementing this tax, as well.
How will this impact Toronto housing?
The City has calculated that $55 to $66 million could be generated each year through the Vacant Home Tax, based on the assumption that 1% of Toronto’s homes are vacant. This revenue could be used to fund affordable housing in Toronto. Additionally, the hope is that this new tax will motivate owners to rent out their properties and create more housing options in the city.
So, will it work? That remains to be seen, although critics of this tax aren’t convinced that an additional tax of a mere 1% tax will deter buyers from allowing homes to sit empty.
What do you think of Toronto’s Vacant Home Tax?
Get To Know Wright Sisters Group
Discover the expertise behind the team with 100+ years of combined Toronto real estate experience.
