Claiming the Ontario staycation tax credit on an Airbnb trip? You may run into trouble
CBC
Emily Young went on three family vacations within Ontario last year thinking she would be eligible for the province's "staycation tax credit."
But when she went to file her taxes this month, Young couldn't find the HST number associated with the Airbnbs she stayed at. The HST number is required to claim the credit.
When she took her concerns to Airbnb, Young said she was told she would need to request the information directly from the host, not the platform.
One host was able to provide her with an HST number, but the two others told her to contact customer service. Young did that, but says Airbnb told her it couldn't provide the number due to "privacy reasons."
"I was hoping that I could get this resolved so that I could fill out that HST part and not be denied this vacation credit," Young told CBC Toronto.
"Something doesn't sit right."
Airbnb's customer service told Young in an email it had given her case "careful consideration" but that it was "unable" to provide the information she was looking for.
"We understand that this might not be what you'd hoped for, but we came to this outcome because the HST number is not information that we provide to our guests," said the email seen by CBC Toronto.
The short-term rental platform told CBC Toronto it has been providing the information upon request.
"We have shared the HST number with hosts and guests who have requested it," said Airbnb spokesperson Matt McNama in a statement to CBC Toronto Monday.
McNama did not comment on Young's case or provide any further information.
Ontario's staycation tax incentive was introduced in 2022 to encourage families to explore the province following some difficult years for the tourism sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The credit allows Ontarians to claim up to 20 per cent of eligible accommodation expenses, up to $1,000 per person or $2,000 per family. That works out to a maximum return of $200 per person or $400 per family.
The incentive applies to leisure stays between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022.
Young, who lives in Mississauga, said her accommodations in Prince Edward Country, Owen Sound and Midtown Toronto, came up to roughly $3,000 in total. She was hoping to make a few hundred dollars back through the tax claim.
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