Real Estate -> Interest Expense re Real Estate Purchase
Can I Deduct Interest Expense on Money Borrowed to Purchase Real Estate?
Income Tax Act s. 20(1)(c)
In general, interest expense which is incurred in order to earn income from business or property is tax deductible. If the interest is paid to a non-resident, it will still be tax deductible (but, see interest expense paid to non-residents). If you have borrowed funds to purchase real estate from which you will be earning income, the interest expense is deductible, but with restrictions if the real estate is vacant land.
Interest on funds borrowed to purchase vacant land is not deductible, unless the land is earning income such as rental income. The deductions for both interest expense and property taxes for vacant land cannot exceed the net rental income earned from the land after all other expenses have been deducted.
|
Interest costs related to the construction, renovation or alteration of a rental property are considered "soft costs", for which there are special rules. For more information on this topic, see the Soft Costs topic in the T4036 Rental Income Guide (link at bottom).
The principal portion of loan payments is not a deductible expense. When depreciable assets such as buildings or machinery and equipment are purchased, capital cost allowance can be claimed.
Note that there must be a clear paper trail showing that the borrowed funds were directly used to purchase the income-generating property.
See all our articles related to Property Rentals.
CRA Resources
T4036 Rental Income Guide- Soft Costs (costs relating to construction, renovation or alteration
Folio S3-F6-C1: Interest Deductibility - effective March 6, 2015, replaces IT-533
Tax Tip: If you purchase vacant land for future use, rent it out in order to enable the interest and property tax costs to be utilized as deductions, or as increases to the adjusted cost base of the land.
Revised: October 05, 2017