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A notarized declaration used in Ontario to confirm that a particular property is or was your primary home, typically needed for capital gains tax exemption claims or real estate closings.
Also known as
Principal Residence Attestation
I, ______, of the City/Town of ______, in the Province of ______, DO SWEAR AND STATE:
I was born on ______.
I am a resident at the property located as ______ (hereinafter referred to as the "Property").
I have been a resident at the ______ since ______.
The Property is currently my principal residence where I ordinarily reside, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Canada Revenue Agency Income Tax Folio S5-F1-C1.
Neither I nor my spouse or common-law partner (who was not separated or living apart from me at any time during the year under a judicial separation or written separation agreement), nor any of my children (if applicable—under 18 years of age and unmarried and not in a common-law partnership throughout the year), have designated any other property as a principal residence.
I undertake to notify ______ in writing within thirty (30) days if the Property ceases to be my, or our, principal residence.
This attestation is being sworn for submission to ______ and for no other improper reason.
How it works
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A Principal Residence Attestation is a sworn statement confirming that a specific property was your principal residence during a defined period. It carries the same legal weight as testimony given in court. The document is used to support tax exemption claims, housing applications, and estate matters where residency must be independently verified.
The attestation does not replace the CRA's designation forms (T2091 or Schedule 3). It is a supporting document that confirms the underlying facts of occupancy, particularly useful in late filings, audits, or situations where the requesting party needs sworn evidence beyond a self-reported form.
Several common situations call for a sworn statement of principal residence. The requesting party (a lawyer, accountant, housing provider, or government agency) will typically tell you whether a sworn attestation is required or whether a simple letter will suffice.
The attestation captures the key facts that establish residency. You will need this information ready before your appointment or before filling in the template online.
Under Canadian tax law, if you designate a property as your principal residence for every year you owned it, the capital gain on its sale is generally exempt from tax. Since 2016, you must report the sale on your tax return and file a designation even when the gain is fully exempt. Only one property per family unit (you, your spouse or common-law partner, and minor children) can be designated for any given tax year.
If you missed the filing deadline, the CRA may accept a late designation with a penalty. A sworn attestation strengthens a late claim by providing independent evidence of occupancy. Your accountant or tax lawyer can advise whether an attestation is needed in your specific situation.
Commissioning is the formal process of swearing or affirming a document before an authorised official. You may choose to swear (on a religious text) or affirm (a non-religious equivalent with identical legal effect). Both are equally valid in Ontario.
Notarisation at our office is a flat $19.90 per stamp. A single-page attestation with one jurat requires one stamp. The appointment itself takes only a few minutes once your document is complete. Bring your photo ID and the filled-in attestation (unsigned). You can prepare the document using our online template before arriving.
A sworn attestation carries serious legal consequences if the statements in it are untrue. If the CRA determines the property was not genuinely your principal residence, you will owe capital gains tax plus interest and potential penalties. Separately, making a false sworn statement is perjury under section 131 of the Criminal Code of Canada, an indictable offence carrying up to 14 years' imprisonment.
Frequently asked
Fill it in online, download a ready-to-sign PDF, then bring it in and we will notarize it, in person across Ottawa or online.