Non-Resident: Underused Housing Tax (UHT)

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UHT and Non-Residents Buying Whistler Real Estate

What is UHT on a Whistler property? The Underused Housing Tax Act is the Government of Canada’s way to find out who owns property in Canada, and track usage. For non-residents the UHT applies to all types of ownership. Therefore, each non-resident owner must file an annual UHT return. The UHT ACT requires a non-resident owner who has their property title in their personal name to use the property for 28 days, and if that happens there’s no UHT on the property. The UHT is 1% of the value of the property.

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Property Insurance

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Never Underestimate the Insurance Process

What is the insurance process when buying a Whistler property? Never underestimate the process and length of time it may take to get insurance coverage, especially if you’re buying a detached house. In my experience, the insurance agent is most interested in anything that has to do with water: the condition of the roof, the water tanks, the pipes, the plumbing, the water sprinkler system, and any heating system that depends on water. The condition of the wood-burning fireplace and everything connected to it is the second biggest concern for the insurance agent.

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Non-Resident: Withholding Tax on Rentals

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What is Withholding Tax on Nightly Rental Property?

What is non-resident Withholding Tax on nightly rentals? Non-residents who own a nightly rental property in Whistler pay 25% of the gross revenue monthly to the Government of Canada. This is called Withholding Tax. The 25% holdback on gross revenue can be reduced to 25% of net income after expenses when the non-resident and the rental manager co-sign the NR6 form which is submitted to the CRA for approval. A phase 2 property has a blanket NR6. Actual income tax is determined when the income tax return is filed by a Whistler accountant, and assessed by the CRA.

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Non-Resident: Mortgage

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How Easy is it for a Non-Resident to Get a Mortgage in Canada?

Is it easy for a non-resident to get a mortgage? It’s the same process for a non-resident buyer as a resident buyer to get a mortgage in Canada. The main difference is signing the mortgage documents. Now some banks send you the documents to get notarized by a lawyer in your area. Other Banks add a condition in the approval document that all borrowers must be at one of their Canadian branches to sign the mortgage documents at the closing date. This is something to be considered when adding a family member to the title as part of the assignment term. Is everyone able to be in Canada to sign the required mortgage documents?

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GST: Change of Use

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Change in the Use of Your Property May Trigger GST

GST changing the intent of use. When I speak with Buyers about GST I ask them their intent of the use of the property. So, what happens if the intent of use changes over the course of ownership? For example, the intent was to rent out the phase 1 property and generate as much revenue as possible, now the owners want to keep it for personal use. This enacts a change of use, and now GST may be due on the property. The opposite version is, the intent was to keep the property as residential and now the owners want to rent it out nightly. Once you get to $30,000 gross business revenue you must apply for a GST number. However, renting out your Kadenwood house at $5,000 a night for 7 nights that’s $35,000, is that a change of use? It can be a problem to change the intent of use even for a year.

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