Whether you rent or own your home in Manitoba, it can cost a lot. Homeowners have to pay property taxes, and renters have to pay rent. In Manitoba, you also have to pay school taxes, which only adds to your tax burden. Luckily, the Manitoba government offers a program, called the Education Property Tax Credit (EPTC), to help offset some of the taxes residents must pay.
What Is The Education Property Tax Credit (EPTC)?
The EPTC is a provincial tax credit in Manitoba that is designed to offset some of the school taxes paid by homeowners. If you are a homeowner, your credit will be directly applied to your municipal property tax statement.
How Does The Education Property Tax Credit (EPTC) Work?
Homeowners can get up to $350 with the EPTC to offset the cost of property taxes. Homeowners can either apply for the credit directly to their municipal property taxes if they notify their municipality before their municipal property tax statement is printed.
If the statement is already printed, they can claim it on their tax return that year. The credit will then be applied to their subsequent property tax statements.
Note: If you’re a senior, you can get up to $250 more if your household income is less than $40,000.
Who’s Eligible For The Education Property Tax Credit (EPTC)?
To be eligible for the EPTC, you must:
- Be a resident of Manitoba at the end of the year that you are claiming the EPTC
- Pay rent or school taxes on a principal residence in Manitoba
- File your income tax return even if you did not earn any taxable income
How Do I Claim The Education Property Tax Credit (EPTC)?
To claim the EPTC, you must fill in the “Declaration for the education property tax credit” section of your Manitoba Credits form (Form MB479).
You will receive your cheque for the Education Property Tax Rebate in the month that municipal property taxes are due.
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Get StartedOther Property Tax Credits In Manitoba
There are a few other related property tax credits that can help you save money in Manitoba.
The School Tax Rebate
The province of Manitoba introduced a new program in 2021, called the Education Property Tax Rebate or School Tax Rebate. Homeowners (residential and farm properties) who qualify for the Education Property Tax Rebate will receive a rebate of 50% of the school division special levy payable. This is to help offset some of the school taxes paid by property owners.
No application is required, a cheque will be sent in the mail during the month their property taxes are due.
It’s also important to note that this rebate will cause the existing education property tax credits like the EPTC to be reduced proportionally. The goal is to provide a net reduction of 50% in school taxes.
Seniors’ School Tax Rebate
The Seniors’ School Tax Rebate is designed to help seniors cover some of their property tax obligations. Seniors can claim up to $235. Only a senior or their spouse / common-law partner can claim this rebate. To be eligible, seniors must:
- Be 65 years of age or older by the end of the year
- Be residents of Manitoba
- Own their home or be responsible for paying the school taxes on their home
- Live in the home they pay property taxes on
Seniors with a family net income of $63,500 are not eligible for the benefit. Moreover, only those with an income lower than $40,000 may receive the full rebate.
Renter’s Tax Credit
If you rent a home you can claim up to $43.75 a month for each month you rent the home. That equals a yearly amount of $525.
Farmland School Tax Rebate
The Farmland School Tax Rebate (FSTR) helps offset property taxes paid on properties assessed as farmland in Manitoba. Landowners must apply to the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) to receive this rebate. They can receive up to $2,500, which corresponds to up to 40% of the farmland school taxes they pay.
How Much Can You Get?
| 2023 | |
| Education Property Tax Credit | Up to $350 |
| Renter’s Tax Credit | Up to $525 |
| Seniors School Tax Rebate | Up to $235 Minus 1.0% on family net income over $40,000 |
| Farmland School Tax Rebate | Up to 40% of school tax to a maximum of $2,500 |
Bottom Line
The Education Property Tax Credit (EPTC) is designed to offset some of the education property taxes paid by homeowners and renters in Manitoba. Residents can now self-assess and notify their municipal office. They will either receive the credit on their property tax bill or their income tax return. It depends on when they perform the self-assessment.
Keep in mind there are also other related credits to help offset some of these taxes, including the Seniors’ Education Property Tax Credit and the Farmland School Tax Rebate.
