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The Global Insight

How much of a car lease is tax deductible in Canada?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on March 07, 2026

The maximum deduction permitted by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for lease payments is $800 per month plus taxes. Since the lease amount of $516 per month for the Toyota is less than the maximum amount of $800, plus taxes, the full amount of the Toyota lease is tax deductible.

Can you claim leasing a car on your taxes?

If you lease a car you use in business, you may not deduct both lease costs and the standard mileage rate. You may either: Deduct the standard mileage rate for the business miles driven. If you choose this method, you must use the standard mileage rate method for the entire lease period (including renewals).

How are leases treated for income tax purposes Canada?

In general, the Canadian tax treatment for a true lease is as follows: the lessee deducts the lease payments as lease expenses, and the lessor recognizes the rental income and deducts from it the capital cost allowance (CCA) and other related expenses.

How much of a lease can I write off in Canada?

You can deduct the business percentage of your lease payments. For leased vehicles, the limit on the monthly lease payment that you can deduct is $800 per month plus HST, which works out to a maximum of $9,600 in expenses that are tax-deductible annually.

Are lease payments tax-deductible in Canada?

What are the tax benefits of leasing a car in Canada?

Tax benefits of leasing a car If you buy a car for business purposes in Canada, you will be able to claim the Capital Cost Allowance (CCA), which is a vehicle depreciation deduction. That being said, CCA only lets you claim part of the value of your car each year. When you lease a car, however, things are a bit different.

Is it better to lease or buy a car in Canada?

FYI: In Canada, vehicles that cost $30,000 before HST are technically luxury vehicles under the Canada Revenue Agency guidelines. Make sure that you take that into consideration when deciding to lease or buy your car. Essentially, the higher the price of the car, the more preferable leasing usually becomes.

Do you have to pay GST when you lease a car?

GST/HST on the lease of a specified motor vehicle. Generally, when you lease a specified motor vehicle from a business that is a GST/HST registrant, you have to pay the GST/HST on your lease payments. If you trade a used vehicle for full or partial payment for a lease, the GST/HST treatment depends on if you have to charge tax on the trade-in.

Can you deduct car lease payments on your taxes?

Tagged car lease, payments, tax deductible expense. If you lease a passenger vehicle to earn income, you can claim a–portion if not all–of your lease payments on your taxes. Keep reading to find out what you need to know about deducting car lease payments on your next CRA tax return. Are car lease payments tax deductible?