01/13/2026
Ever wonder what happens tax-wise when your rental property is costing you money?
I sat down with Ravind Nanubhai, CPA and Owner of Think Tax Professional Corporation .ca, to break it down in simple terms.
Here’s the scenario:
You own an investment property. You have tenants, but the rent does not fully cover your mortgage and expenses.
So the big question… can you claim that loss?
The short answer, yes. If your rental expenses exceed your rental income, that loss can be applied against your personal income, including employment income reported on a T4. This can help reduce the taxes you owe.
But there is an important catch.
If this loss continues year after year, the CRA may take a closer look. They may assess whether there is a "reasonable expectation of profit" and whether you are genuinely carrying on a rental business. If they determine otherwise, they may deny the losses.
We also talked about selling an investment property at a loss.
Since it is an investment, there is no capital gain, but there is a capital loss. That loss cannot be used against regular income. Instead, it can be applied against other capital gains. If you do not have any capital gains right now, you can carry that loss forward and use it in future years when you do.
These are the kinds of conversations every investor should be having before buying, holding, or selling.
If you want more real-world tax insights like this, drop a comment or send me a message.