How long do I have to live in a house to avoid capital gains Canada?
James Williams
Updated on March 07, 2026
The law applies to sales after May 6, 1997. To claim the whole exclusion, you must have owned and lived in your home as your principal residence an aggregate of at least two of the five years before the sale (this is called the ownership and use test). You can claim the exclusion once every two years.
Do you pay tax when you sell your business in Canada?
Fortunately in Canada, the first $800,000 of profit from selling your business is tax-free, often referred to as the lifetime capital gains exemption. However, it’s actually possible to sell your business for over $800,000 and not pay any taxes.
Can you have two primary residences in Canada?
For years before 1982, more than one housing unit per family can be designated as a principal residence. Therefore, a husband and wife can designate different principal residences for these years. However, a special rule applies if members of a family designate more than one home as a principal residence.
How to contact a tax expert in Canada?
Whatever element of Canadian tax you need assistance with, whether you are a foreign national living in Canada or a Canadian national living abroad, we can connect you with a Canadian tax expert able to provide you with specialist tax services.
What do you need to know about selling in Canada?
E-commerce sellers, both from inside and outside of Canada, need to be aware of two types of tax implications when they sell and ship products to Canada: Sales Tax Implications and Income Tax Implications. The Canadian tax policies are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Where does the Harmonized Sales Tax apply in Canada?
The harmonized sales tax (HST) is a blended federal/provincial sales tax that includes a 5 percent federal component and a provincial component of 8 percent or 10 percent. HST applies in the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Do you pay sales tax when selling hearing aids in Canada?
For example, an e-commerce seller is selling hearing aids to Canadian customers and is a small business supplier. They are paying Canadian sales taxes of $3,000 for advertising and warehouse services. If they register they will be entitled to a refund from the Canadian government for $3,000 of Input Tax Credits.