When tax season comes around, understanding the deductions available to you can give you an edge, save you time, and allow you to keep more of your hard-earned income.
For many real estate agents, tax season means sifting through a mountain of receipts and expenses. In this article, we’ll explore how to organize that mountain, maximize write-offs for real estate agents, and conquer another year of taxes!
We will explore common and less known tax deductions for self-employed real estate agents. (If your employment status is unclear, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a guide to help you determine if you're considered self-employed or an employee.)
What Can A Real Estate Agent Deduct On Taxes?
Being self-employed allows you to claim business expenses to reduce your taxable income. The rule of thumb is that if the expense was reasonable and helped you generate business income, you can likely write it off.
Here are the most common tax deductions for real estate agents:
6 Tax Write-Offs For Real Estate Agents in Canada
1. Licensing and Membership Fees
Fees associated with obtaining or renewing your real estate licence with your provincial regulatory board are fully deductible business expenses. The same applies to membership dues paid to professional organizations like the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and your provincial or territorial real estate association, like the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA).
2. Professional Development
You can deduct expenses like courses, seminars, and workshops that help you maintain or improve your business skills. This can include courses on digital marketing for real estate agents and pursuing designations beyond your licence, such as training to be a Certified Real Estate Specialist (CRES).
3. Vehicle-Related Expenses
The cost of gas, car maintenance, and insurance can add up quickly for real estate agents who travel frequently to meet clients, show properties, and attend events. Fortunately, you can write off certain vehicle expenses. Make sure to keep an updated record of the following:
Fuel (or electricity costs for zero-emission vehicles)
Repairs and maintenance
Insurance
Interest on vehicle loans (if applicable)
Leasing expenses (if applicable)
If you’re using one vehicle for both personal and business purposes, then you are only allowed to deduct the portion incurred for business. The CRA requires keeping a log of business trips, including the date, origin, destination, purpose, and distance traveled. Doing this manually is time-consuming, so we recommend using apps like MileIQ to simplify mileage tracking.
3. Meals and Entertainment
Taking clients out for lunch or attending industry events can be a valuable way to build relationships and generate new business. The CRA allows a partial deduction of up to 50% for meals and entertainment costs, with additional rules for attending conventions. These expenses are easy to forget, so when you meet with clients, make it a habit to note the purpose of the meeting or event to support your claims.
4. Home Office Expenses
If you use part of your home either (1) as your primary workspace or (2) only for business activities like meeting clients, then it falls under business-use-of-home expenses. You can deduct a portion of heating and electricity, as well as property taxes and mortgage interest, relative to the area of your workspace.
Certain equipment and furniture used for business purposes may also be eligible for a Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) deduction spread over several years.
5. Marketing and Advertising
Both digital and traditional methods of marketing your business fall into this category of expenses. Think of expenses that help you promote your real estate business and increase sales, such as online or newspaper advertisements, brochures, and business cards.
6. Accounting and Legal Fees
You can deduct the fees paid to accountants and other professionals for financial or legal services. This includes bookkeeping, tax assistance, and legal fees incurred for business-related activities, such as contract review or representation in a dispute with a client. You can also consider accounting software like ReInvestWealth as a business expense and write it off.
Tips to Maximize Your Tax Benefits as a Real Estate Agent in Canada
As a real estate agent, you're a business owner, and effective record-keeping is key to maximizing your tax deductions. Here are some tips for a smoother tax season:
Keep an updated record of all business-related expenses, and save all invoices and receipts. Accounting software like ReInvestWealth can help with this by automatically categorizing your business expenses. Logging transactions throughout the year, instead of trying to remember each one, will save you the headache during tax filing!
Use a dedicated business bank account for all your business transactions. This simplifies record-keeping and minimizes confusion, plus you’ll have a clear audit trail if anything needs to be verified.
Save your receipts virtually with a tool like Smart Receipt Shoebox, to avoid a physical mess of receipts and potential losses or damages.
By following these best practices, you can easily identify eligible deductions and minimize your tax burden. The list above is not exhaustive, and depending on your situation, there may be more expenses that are applicable to your real estate business. You can refer to the CRA website for complete guidelines or consult with a qualified accountant who can provide personalized advice.
Even an AI bookkeeper can help you identify write-offs that you may have missed!