Weekly briefing
CRA clarifies what counts for the Home Accessibility Tax Credit in 2026
Saturday, June 6, 2026 · 4 min read
The CRA's updated HATC guidance confirms grab bars, walk-in showers, and stairlifts qualify, clarifies that smart-home voice assistants do not, and broadens eligible widening-of-doorway work. Keep itemized invoices that separate labour from materials.
The short version
The Canada Revenue Agency posted updated administrative guidance on the Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC) for the 2026 tax year. Three things changed in practice.
What now clearly qualifies
- Grab bars, walk-in showers, and stairlifts (no change, but explicitly re-confirmed).
- Widening of doorways and hallways — now eligible even when done as part of a broader renovation, as long as the accessibility portion is itemized.
What does not qualify
- Smart speakers / voice assistants, even when marketed as "aging in place" devices.
- General repainting or flooring replacement, unless it is medically required (e.g. removing trip hazards on prescription).
What to ask your contractor
"Can you itemize the accessibility scope on a separate line, with labour and materials broken out?"
That single sentence is the difference between a clean claim and a denied one.
Editorially reviewed · last updated Jun 14, 2026. This is general information, not medical or legal advice.