How to Claim Moving & Relocation Expenses in Canada | 2023 TurboTax® Canada Tips (2024)

Each year, many Canadians move their primary residences. If you’re one of them and moved to be closer to your job, start a new business, or attend college or university full-time, you could be in luck come tax time. Did you know that you could deduct most of your moving expenses or costs related to selling your home on your personal income tax return?

Read on to find out if you are eligible for this tax benefit and what items you can—and can’t—deduct.

  1. If you moved your primary residence for a new job, to run a business, or to go to school full-time, you can deduct eligible moving expenses.
  2. To qualify for the deduction, your new home needs to be at least 40 kilometres closer to your place of work than the prior location.
  3. Some moving costs are ineligible, such as if you incur a loss on the sale of your prior home.

Who can claim moving expenses?

Many Canadians could be eligible to claim moving expenses. However, eligibility requirements must be met, and only certain types of expenses can be deducted. For instance, if you move and establish a new home for employment purposes or to run a business at a new location, you’re entitled to deduct eligible moving expenses.

To qualify for the deduction, your new home needs to be at least 40 kilometres closer to your place of work than the prior location. This can include individuals who have moved within Canada, from outside Canada to a new work location in Canada, from in Canada to a new work location outside of Canada, or between two locations outside of Canada. However, you will need to be earning income following the move to your new location to deduct your expenses. If you do not have sufficient income in the year of the move, the deduction will carryforward; which means you can deduct the moving expenses the following year if you have enough income at that time.

If you’re a full-time student, you may also be able to deduct eligible moving expenses from part of your scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, and research grants that are required to be included in your income—even if you’re moving out of Canada for your post-secondary school education. But the rule is, per the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), for anyone moving into or out of Canada, you must be a deemed or factual resident of Canada to qualify.

You also must have sufficient taxable scholarship income or T4/T4A self-employment earnings in the new location. If you do not have sufficient income in the year of the move, as with work situation above, the deduction will carryforward.

Important note: Don’t forget to enter your earned or taxable income you earn directly following the move on the entry field provided on your T1-M Form. T1-M form to input earned/taxable income following the move…

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What type of moving expenses can I claim?

There are different types of eligible moving expenses you can deduct as determined by the CRA.

Transportation and storage costs are common, which include all movers, in-transit storage, packing, and insurance. Travel costs to the new location, including vehicle expenses, meals, and accommodations for you and your family are all eligible. (To claim vehicle or meal expenses, you must use either the detailed or simplified method when filing.)

Temporary living expenses (for up to a maximum of 15 days), including meals and accommodations for you and your family, can be deducted. Costs of cancelling a lease of your old residence and the expense to maintain it (maximum of $5,000) when it was vacant after you moved are also eligible.

Incidental costs, such as changing your address on legal documents, replacing driver’s licenses, vehicle permits, and utility hookups and disconnections are deductible—as long as they are related to the move. If you purchased or sold property as part of the move, you can deduct those selling costs, including advertising, legal fees, and real estate commission and mortgage penalties (if applicable).

What types of moving expenses are ineligible?

There are some types of moving expenses that are not tax-deductible. For instance, moving costs paid by your employer that are not a taxable benefit are not eligible.

And, while the costs of selling a house—such as agent and legal fees—are tax-deductible, any money you spend making the house more attractive to a buyer is not. If you sell your home because you have to move and incur a loss on the sale, that loss is not tax-deductible either.

For more information on ineligible expenses, the CRA offers a full list.

How do I claim moving expenses on my tax return?

Use Form T1-M, Moving Expenses Deduction to calculate all of the moving expenses that you can claim on line 21900 of your T1 return.

You do not need to attach the T1-M Form to your return, nor do you need to attach all of the receipts and documents to support the claim. But you must keep these receipts and documents handy if the CRA requests them in support of your claim.

No matter your tax situation, we’ve got you covered.

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How to Claim Moving & Relocation Expenses in Canada | 2023 TurboTax® Canada Tips (2024)

FAQs

How to Claim Moving & Relocation Expenses in Canada | 2023 TurboTax® Canada Tips? ›

Use Form T1-M, Moving Expenses Deduction to calculate all of the moving expenses that you can claim on line 21900 of your T1 return. You do not need to attach the T1-M Form to your return, nor do you need to attach all of the receipts and documents to support the claim.

Is a relocation allowance taxable in Canada? ›

When you transfer an employee from one of your places of business to another, the amount you pay or reimburse the employee for certain moving expenses is usually not a taxable benefit. This includes any amounts you incurred to move the employee, the employee's family, and their household effects.

How do I deduct moving expenses on Turbotax? ›

Beginning in 2018. Beginning in 2018, moving expenses are no longer eligible for a tax deduction on your federal tax return however, some states such as California continue to provide a deduction on your state tax return if you qualify.

How to report moving expense reimbursem*nt? ›

Form 3903 can be completed for the amount of moving expenses paid by the taxpayer. If a moving expense deduction is computed, it will be reported on Schedule 1 (Form 1040) Additional Income and Adjustments to Income, on Line 14.

Which taxpayer meets the requirements to deduct moving expenses? ›

Moving expenses can be recorded on IRS Form 3903. This form is only for taxpayers who are moving for work and are an active-duty member of the armed forces. Your moving expenses will be eligible as long as you meet the necessary requirements.

How to claim moving expenses on tax return in Canada? ›

Answer. You are eligible to claim a deduction for moving expenses. Complete Form T1-M, Moving Expenses Deduction, to calculate the moving expenses deduction that you are eligible to claim on line 21900 of your return. Read Eligible moving expenses and Ineligible moving expenses.

Can I claim travel expenses on my taxes in Canada? ›

You can deduct travelling expenses as long as you meet all of the following conditions: You were normally required to work away from your employer's place of business or in different places. Under your contract of employment, you had to pay your own travelling expenses.

Is it worth claiming moving expenses on taxes? ›

Are moving expenses tax deductible? For most people, the answer is no. Military personnel can still claim the deduction but must meet certain requirements to qualify.

Are moving expenses tax deductible in Illinois? ›

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the deduction for moving expenses for most taxpayers between 2018 and 2025, except certain members of the Armed Forces and their families. Then, it reverts to previous tax law.

How to calculate tax on relocation allowance? ›

The tax rate will be the same as the tax rate of the employee's income, based on the W4 on file as well as the employee's FICA eligibility. An employee can utilize the tax withholding estimator https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator to determine the impact of the imputed income.

Are relocation expenses reimbursable? ›

A relocation reimbursem*nt is issued in order to repay the employee for the cost of relocation. These terms are negotiated and presented in the employee's relocation package.

What is the relocation expense reimbursem*nt clause? ›

A clause in which the employer agrees to contribute towards the employee's relocation expenses, to be inserted in an employment contract (for example, Standard documents, Employment contract for a senior employee or Employment contract for a junior employee).

What is a lump sum relocation tax? ›

Relocation Lump Sum Tax

A lump sum payment is when an employer provides the employee with cash or a check to cover the cost of their relocation upfront. It is the employee's responsibility to pay tax on the money they receive as it is classed additional income on top of their salary.

What is the tax deduction form for moving expenses? ›

Use form FTB 3913 to figure your moving expense deduction for a move related to the start of work at a new principal place of work (workplace) or if you are a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and, due to a military order, you move because of a permanent change of station.

What is a reasonable amount for moving expenses? ›

Gas, insurance and dollies can increase costs, as well. In total, expect to pay somewhere between $150 to $400 for a local move if you plan to do it yourself. Hiring a professional mover can make moving less stressful, but with prices for an average three-bedroom home costing around $2,200, it does come at a cost.

How many miles qualify for relocation? ›

For moving expenses to be deductible, the taxpayer must meet a distance requirement. The distance between the taxpayer's new principal place of work or business and the former residence must be 50 miles greater than the distance between the taxpayer's former principal place of work and former residence.

Do you pay tax on relocation allowance? ›

1: Relocation Benefits Are Considered Taxable Income

It doesn't matter if the funds are paid upfront in a lump sum, as after-the-fact reimbursem*nts, or even if the employer pays vendors directly.

Are allowances taxable in Canada? ›

You may have to include the value of a benefit or allowance in an employee's income, depending on the type of benefit or allowance and the reason you give it. This guide explains your responsibilities and shows you how to calculate the value of taxable benefits or allowances.

Is living out allowance taxable in Canada? ›

Living out allowance

This allowance remains tax-free as long as it is reasonable. A living out allowance can take various forms such as: being paid an allowance by your employer. your employer compensating you for extra expenses incurred.

What is the relocation income tax allowance? ›

The RITA reimburses an eligible transferred employee substantially all of the additional Federal, State, and local income taxes incurred as a result of receiving taxable travel income. Travel W-2 wages/income and withholdings are reported to the IRS.

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