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What is the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) and How Does It Work?
What is the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) and How Does It Work?

The Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) allows first-time homebuyers to withdraw funds from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to buy or build a qualifying home without paying taxes on the withdrawal.

Samuel Jones avatar
Written by Samuel Jones
Updated over a month ago

Key HBP Facts

  • Who Can Use the HBP

    • First-time homebuyers or those who haven’t owned a home in the previous four years

    • Must intend to occupy the home as your principal residence within one year of purchase or build

  • Maximum Withdrawal

    • You can withdraw up to $35,000 from your RRSP under the HBP

  • Repayment Requirement

    • Withdrawn funds must be repaid to your RRSP over a 15-year period starting the second year after the withdrawal

    • Annual repayments are 1/15th of the total amount withdrawn

Important Deadline

  • You must buy or build the qualifying home by October 1 of the year after the withdrawal

    • Example: If you withdraw funds in 2023, you must buy or build the home by October 1, 2024

Why Use the HBP?

  • Access Your Savings Tax-Free

    • Withdraw from your RRSP without triggering immediate tax payments

  • Support Your Home Purchase

    • Use the funds for a down payment or other home-buying costs

  • Flexible Repayment Terms

    • Repay gradually over 15 years without interest

How to Participate in the HBP

  • Check if you meet the eligibility requirements for first-time homebuyers

  • Fill out Form T1036 – Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) Request to Withdraw Funds from an RRSP and submit it to your RRSP provider

  • Use the withdrawn funds toward your qualifying home purchase or build

Early Repayment Benefits

  • Save on Taxes

    • Repaying more than the minimum amount or repaying early reduces the taxable amount you would need to add to your income if a repayment is missed

  • Grow Your Retirement Savings

    • Early repayments return funds to your RRSP sooner, allowing them to benefit from tax-deferred growth

  • Flexibility

    • You can make lump-sum payments or contribute more than the required amount annually, accelerating your repayment timeline

Why This Matters

The HBP is a valuable tool for first-time homebuyers to access their savings and make homeownership more affordable.

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