I hope the way the credits are claimed remain consistent for a while. As a tax preparer (and our clients), it has been a real roller coaster for the past several years.
Back in 2020, the credit for each of them was $700; and it had been for years. Consistent and predictable.
Renters Tax Credit
Up until 2020, the credit for renting your home was $700. It had remained that amount for years. Then for 2021 it was changed to $525. And the legislated increase to your rent was zero, so the idea was that since your rent did not increase, you needed less rent credit. Not sure how well that worked.
The credit is claimed on your personal income taxes, so you need to wait 3-6 months after the calendar year end, when you file your personal taxes, to get your credit. It was called the education property tax credit. Even though you were renting, it was under the same category on the income tax return as those who own their home.
The $525 credit has remained the same until 2024 and it was called the Renters Tax Credit; for 2025 it is now $575. And now It’s called the Renters Affordability Tax Credit. I guess it needed a new name.
Just this month, as part of the provincial budget announcements, for 2026 personal income taxes, the credit will increase to $675 instead of the previously determined $625.
Eventually we will get back to the $700 credit we had prior to 2021.
Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit – HATC
The education tax credit for those who own their own homes has been a real bouncing ball:
- 2021, the normal $700 credit was changed to $525; plus, we did get a cheque for 25% of the school tax portion of our property taxes.
- 2022, the education advance credit was reduced to $437.50 and we did get a cheque in the mail for 37.5% of the school taxes.
- 2023, it was reduced again to $350, and we received a cheque for 50% of the residential school taxes.
- 2024, someone realized it was expensive sending out all those cheques and balancing the bank statements. The $350 advance credit remained, and we did get an additional 50% of the school taxes as a deduction right on the property tax bill! Finally, we actually paid the net amount instead of waiting for cheques.
- 2025, it was changed again and both credits were removed and (almost) everyone received up to $1500 as the HATC: Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit. And it will increase in 2026 to $1600.
I won’t get into the politics of it all. I’m just summarizing all the notes my staff and I had to keep so we knew how to calculate the property tax costs for those that had rental properties, farms, and other businesses that were claiming some or all of the property tax expenses. Let’s just say it’s been a nightmare!
Paradise Village
And I feel for the residents of Paradise Village. They did not get any credits automatically on their property tax bills: because they do not own the land. And yet they get the property tax bill for their (mobile) home. So, they definitely needed to wait about six months to get their income tax refund that would include the above property tax credits.
Finally for 2025, these residents were allowed to apply for the HATC last summer and fall and they could get an immediate reduction of the net property taxes. And they can also now claim a portion of the lease they paid for the land as an additional credit on their income taxes.
So far, as we have been filing the 2025 income taxes for residents of PV (not Puerto Vallarta!), we have been asking all of them to bring us all three documents: their rent receipt plus their property tax bill plus the receipt that shows how much they paid. And those that did not get the HATC as a reduction in October 2025, we have them sign a declaration that they did not get the HATC and they are claiming it on their income taxes.
Recently, the RM of Ste Anne did get confirmation from MB taxation that those who did apply for the HATC last summer / fall do not need to reapply; the HATC will be applied for 2026 and beyond. Maybe I should not say “beyond”; who knows what may change in the future.
April 30 deadline to apply
Those in the RM of Ste Anne, including those that reside in PV (and most other rural municipalities) have until April 30 to apply for the HATC to be included on your property tax bill if you are eligible and you did not receive it on your 2025 property tax bill or get a credit before you paid your bill.
HATC eligibility
You can apply for the HATC on your property tax bill if it is your own home. Those that have more than one home on the property will NOT get the HATC on the property tax bill and must continue to request it be included in their personal income taxes.
If you rent, but have another property like a cottage, you CANNOT get the HATC on that property. It is NOT eligible for the HATC because it is not your home (what does your health card say? Your income taxes? That address is likely your home).
The personal income taxes in Manitoba have not been boring the past several years! Not when it comes to the rental credits and property school tax credits.
Tax filing deadline April 30
A reminder to have your taxes filed by April 30. Especially for those that think they may have taxes payable instead of a refund.
And more reasons to file before May: if you receive the new Canada Disability Benefit, you need to receive your 2025 notice of assessment before June 1 to renew the benefit (the renewal is automatic). Definitely file your taxes by mid-May even if you are expecting a refund and not in a hurry.
And if you are enrolled in the Canadian Dental Care Plan, you also need to renew by June 1. You must renew yourself via online or by calling the CDCP. You should get a letter in the mail from CDCP as a reminder. But you can renew starting mid April if you have your 2025 Notice of Assessment.
Anni Markmann is a Personal Income Tax Professional, living, working, and volunteering in our community. Contact Ste Anne Tax Service at 204.422.6631 or 36 Dawson Road in Ste Anne (near Co-op gas bar) or info@sataxes.ca