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Taxation

Income Tax - Principal Residences (On-Demand - CPA PRO)

DELIVERY FORMAT
Online On-Demand
SEMINAR TYPE
PD Seminar

Overview

Many Canadians own a principal residence, but the tax implications of transactions involving principal residences are not always well known or fully understood. This seminar examines all aspects of principal residences from a federal tax perspective, including unusual situations and the unexpected issues or outcomes that can arise in such cases.

 
Access expires 180 days from purchase date

Course Description

Accountants are often surprised to discover how complex the tax rules affecting principal residences are. Many of these complexities arise when a portion of the home is used to earn income (rented out or used in a business). Complications can also arise where the property is larger than half a hectare or when the owner moves out of the property for work or to live in a care home. Where an individual owns more than one home (such as a summer cottage), the decision to designate one property over another may result in a materially different tax outcome.
 
This seminar examines the requirements for a property to undergo classification as a principal residence as well as the concepts of ownership and bare trustees, the ordinarily inhabited requirement, and the placement of housing units on multiple or large properties. Other topics include income earned from a principal residence, the concept of incidental income, change-in-use rules, and partial dispositions or residences held through trusts.

Applicable for

Although applicable to many professional accountants, this session will particularly benefit individuals who own a principal residence and financial professionals who provide advice to homeowners.

Learning Objectives

  • Apply the mechanics of the principal residence deduction (including the components of the formula and the year-by-year designation)
  • Apply the definition of the term "principal residence" including the terms like "housing unit" and "ordinarily inhabit"
  • Identify the impact of the change in use rules on residences (including partial changes in use)
  • Describe the implications when only a portion of a property qualifies as a principal residence (including large acreages and properties used to earn income)
  • Interpret the rules when a residence is owned by a trust and the October 2016 amendments in this area

Content

  • principal residences and capital property, including the doctrine of secondary intention and implications for house flippers 
  • the definition of a housing unit, including trailers and houseboats
    property owners, including bare trustees
  • conditions that meet the ordinarily inhabited rule, including situations where taxpayers have moved into care facilities
  • the designation of a property as a principal residence and the mechanics of the principal residence formula
  • properties used to earn income and the concept of incidental income
  • housing units on multiple properties and properties in excess of one-half hectare
  • partial dispositions of a property, including prior subdivisions
  • the change-in-use rules, elections to avoid these rules, and implications of filing elections
  • residences held through trusts and the impact of the October 2016 legislative amendments
  • the impact of separation and divorce on the principal residence exemption

Course Content Created: October 2025

The information is current as of the creation or last updated date. While we strive to keep our inventory updated and periodically remove outdated titles, changes in accounting, tax, legislation and technology may occur. Purchasers should note the date and verify for themselves if the course is still relevant to their needs.

Presenter

Hugh Neilson, FCPA, FCA, TEP

About This Product

On-Demand Courses by CPA PRO are either video recordings from live seminars, or video recordings produced specifically for the on-demand audience. Slides and any corresponding handout materials are included where available.These titles are eligible for Verifiable CPD Hours – in order to claim these hours as verifiable, you will be required to successfully complete a short quiz. You will be able to print or save your electronic certificate of completion.

Note that some courses comprise both formal instruction and self-directed exercises. In such cases, participants must complete both components to claim full CPD hours, or must reduce their reported CPD hours accordingly.

Please note that not all on-demand courses include downloadable materials such as course notes or slides.

How to get started

Upon completion of purchase, go to mylms.bccpa.ca and log in using your CPABC Online Services credentials. Click “Go to your Courses and Materials” to go to your Learning Center, then find and click on your course title.

Course Dates & Registration

Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Available
Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Past
Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Past
Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Past
Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Past
Level up with CPA PRO. Designed by the CPA profession for CPAs, these courses help you adapt to industry changes and advance your career with the latest industry content delivered in a way that works
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Course Details
Cost
$425
Members
$475
Non-Members
Eligible Hours
7
CPD Hours
0
Ethics Hours
0
AML Hours
Passport
10
Credits
Special Notes
Access to all paid on-demand learning courses will be for 180 days from the date of purchase. Please disregard any reference to the dates of either August 31 or March 31 which is for internal purposes only.

Starting April 1, 2026, a 2.1% fee will be applied to all credit card transactions. Learn more about this fee and how it relates to PD registrations.

Taxation

Income Tax - Principal Residences (On-Demand - CPA PRO)

DELIVERY FORMAT
Online On-Demand
SEMINAR TYPE
PD Seminar
Course Details
Cost
$425
Members
$475
Non-Members
Eligible Hours
7
CPD Hours
0
Ethics Hours
0
AML Hours
Passport
10
Credits

Overview

Many Canadians own a principal residence, but the tax implications of transactions involving principal residences are not always well known or fully understood. This seminar examines all aspects of principal residences from a federal tax perspective, including unusual situations and the unexpected issues or outcomes that can arise in such cases.

 
Access expires 180 days from purchase date

Course Description

Accountants are often surprised to discover how complex the tax rules affecting principal residences are. Many of these complexities arise when a portion of the home is used to earn income (rented out or used in a business). Complications can also arise where the property is larger than half a hectare or when the owner moves out of the property for work or to live in a care home. Where an individual owns more than one home (such as a summer cottage), the decision to designate one property over another may result in a materially different tax outcome.
 
This seminar examines the requirements for a property to undergo classification as a principal residence as well as the concepts of ownership and bare trustees, the ordinarily inhabited requirement, and the placement of housing units on multiple or large properties. Other topics include income earned from a principal residence, the concept of incidental income, change-in-use rules, and partial dispositions or residences held through trusts.

Applicable for

Although applicable to many professional accountants, this session will particularly benefit individuals who own a principal residence and financial professionals who provide advice to homeowners.

Learning Objectives

  • Apply the mechanics of the principal residence deduction (including the components of the formula and the year-by-year designation)
  • Apply the definition of the term "principal residence" including the terms like "housing unit" and "ordinarily inhabit"
  • Identify the impact of the change in use rules on residences (including partial changes in use)
  • Describe the implications when only a portion of a property qualifies as a principal residence (including large acreages and properties used to earn income)
  • Interpret the rules when a residence is owned by a trust and the October 2016 amendments in this area

Content

  • principal residences and capital property, including the doctrine of secondary intention and implications for house flippers 
  • the definition of a housing unit, including trailers and houseboats
    property owners, including bare trustees
  • conditions that meet the ordinarily inhabited rule, including situations where taxpayers have moved into care facilities
  • the designation of a property as a principal residence and the mechanics of the principal residence formula
  • properties used to earn income and the concept of incidental income
  • housing units on multiple properties and properties in excess of one-half hectare
  • partial dispositions of a property, including prior subdivisions
  • the change-in-use rules, elections to avoid these rules, and implications of filing elections
  • residences held through trusts and the impact of the October 2016 legislative amendments
  • the impact of separation and divorce on the principal residence exemption

Course Content Created: October 2025

The information is current as of the creation or last updated date. While we strive to keep our inventory updated and periodically remove outdated titles, changes in accounting, tax, legislation and technology may occur. Purchasers should note the date and verify for themselves if the course is still relevant to their needs.

Presenter

Hugh Neilson, FCPA, FCA, TEP

About This Product

On-Demand Courses by CPA PRO are either video recordings from live seminars, or video recordings produced specifically for the on-demand audience. Slides and any corresponding handout materials are included where available.These titles are eligible for Verifiable CPD Hours – in order to claim these hours as verifiable, you will be required to successfully complete a short quiz. You will be able to print or save your electronic certificate of completion.

Note that some courses comprise both formal instruction and self-directed exercises. In such cases, participants must complete both components to claim full CPD hours, or must reduce their reported CPD hours accordingly.

Please note that not all on-demand courses include downloadable materials such as course notes or slides.

How to get started

Upon completion of purchase, go to mylms.bccpa.ca and log in using your CPABC Online Services credentials. Click “Go to your Courses and Materials” to go to your Learning Center, then find and click on your course title.

Course Dates & Registration

Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Available
Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Past
Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Past
Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Past
Available on-demand. 180-day access from purchase date.
Past
Special Notes
Access to all paid on-demand learning courses will be for 180 days from the date of purchase. Please disregard any reference to the dates of either August 31 or March 31 which is for internal purposes only.

Starting April 1, 2026, a 2.1% fee will be applied to all credit card transactions. Learn more about this fee and how it relates to PD registrations.

Level up with CPA PRO. Designed by the CPA profession for CPAs, these courses help you adapt to industry changes and advance your career with the latest industry content delivered in a way that works
PLDP Wordmark