Stop Unfair UHT Penalties on Canadians: Protect Homeowners, Restore Tax Fairness
The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) was intended to target foreign owners of vacant Canadian housing. But in practice, it has become a trap for average Canadians, many of whom owe no tax at all, yet face massive penalties simply for not filing a little-known form.

Under current rules, if you co-own a residential rental property — even with your spouse or sibling — you could be deemed a “partnership” and required to file a UHT return each year, even if:

The property is rented and fully occupied
You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
You owe no UHT tax
Failing to file triggers automatic penalties of:

$5,000 per individual
$10,000 per corporation or deemed partnership
This system is unfair, confusing, and punitive. It disproportionately harms Canadian families, retirees, and small property owners who are just trying to build financial stability — not avoid taxes. Many are learning about the UHT for the first time after receiving a penalty notice.

 
Why This Is Personal
As a second-generation accountant, I was raised to believe that professionals have a duty to protect the public. My work is rooted in trust, and it breaks that trust when good people are punished not for avoiding taxes — but for simply not knowing they were supposed to file a form.

I've seen too many hardworking Canadians penalized for paperwork they never even knew existed. This isn’t just a policy flaw — it’s a violation of tax fairness.

 
We Call on the Government of Canada to:
Eliminate UHT filing obligations for Canadian citizens and permanent residents where no tax is owed.
Cancel penalties for first-time non-filers who qualify for exemptions.
Clarify confusing terms like “partnership” in plain language.
Publish accessible guidance that protects — not penalizes — Canadians.
Let’s fix this. Let’s stop weaponizing complexity against honest Canadians. Let’s make our tax system clearer, kinder, and fairer — starting now.

Sign this petition to demand action from Parliament and the CRA. Together, we can protect homeowners, restore trust, and stop unfair UHT penalties.