Home › Self-employed › Real estate agents
Real Estate Agent Expenses and Taxes in Canada
Agents pay their own brokerage fees, marketing and car costs — and commissions arrive in large, uneven amounts.
What real estate agents can usually deduct
- Brokerage, desk and board fees; licensing and association dues
- Marketing: listings, photography, signs, ads, website
- Vehicle: business-use % for showings and client meetings
- Client gifts (within reasonable limits) and 50% of business meals
- Phone, software (CRM) and home office
Only the business part of a cost is deductible, and you need a receipt or record for each. See CRA's guide T4002.
GST/HST
Commissions are taxable for GST/HST; most agents pass $30,000 quickly and must register. Check with our GST/HST calculator.
Keep good records
Set aside tax from every commission cheque — uneven income makes instalments likely. Keep records for six years.
What to set aside — quick estimate
Income tax + CPP/QPPSet aside each monthEffective rate
Full breakdown by bracket:Open the tax calculator
Your province
- Self-employed tax in Ontario
- Self-employed tax in Quebec
- Self-employed tax in British Columbia
- Self-employed tax in Alberta
- Self-employed tax in Manitoba
- Self-employed tax in Saskatchewan
- Self-employed tax in Nova Scotia
- Self-employed tax in New Brunswick
- Self-employed tax in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Self-employed tax in Prince Edward Island
- Self-employed tax in Yukon
- Self-employed tax in Northwest Territories
- Self-employed tax in Nunavut
Built for real estate agents in Canada. PlanTaxes.Pro finds your receipts in Gmail, sorts them into T2125 categories, adds the GST/HST and shows what to set aside. Opens November 27 — join the list for 20% off.
Questions
Can realtors deduct staging and photography?
Yes, when you pay them as part of marketing a listing for your business.
Do agents charge HST on commission?
Yes, once registered, at the rate where the property is located.