You clean homes for your own clients, set your own schedule, and get paid directly — often in cash or e-transfer. That makes you self-employed, and the CRA expects every dollar reported, cash included. The upside: your supplies, mileage, and the people you hire to help are all deductions.
Your income goes on Form T2125, and your costs come off the top.
Yes, the cash counts
This is the rule cleaners most often get wrong. “It was cash” is not an exemption. All of your cleaning income is reportable, regardless of how you’re paid, with no minimum. The CRA matches bank deposits and e-transfers; regular money in with nothing on a return is an audit flag. Report it, deduct against it, and you’re fine.
No tax is withheld, you pay both halves of CPP (roughly 11.9% of net income), and a 20–25% set-aside keeps April calm.
What house cleaners can deduct
| Expense | Deductible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning supplies | Yes | Products, cloths, bags, gloves — deduct as you buy |
| Equipment | Yes | Vacuum, steamer, mop systems; over $500 = CCA |
| Mileage between jobs | Yes | Driving client to client is deductible — keep a log |
| Helpers / subcontractors | Yes | Paying someone to clean with you is deductible |
| Insurance & bonding | Yes | Liability insurance and bonding for client trust |
| Phone | Business portion | Booking and scheduling |
| Booking / payment software | Yes | Scheduling apps, payment processing fees |
| Marketing | Yes | Flyers, online ads, your website |
| Laundry of work supplies | Yes | Washing cloths and microfibre you reuse |
Mileage is a big one for cleaners running between houses. Keep a log — date, destination, kilometres, purpose — because the CRA denies vehicle claims without one. Driving from your home to your first job and home from your last can be personal commuting, but trips between clients are business. Our vehicle expenses guide explains.
Paying helpers
Bring someone on to clean with you? What you pay them is a deductible subcontractor cost — get an invoice or at least a clear record of who you paid and when. But watch the line: if you control their hours, supply everything, and they work only for you, the CRA may call them your employee, which means CPP and EI obligations. Our hiring subcontractors guide covers how to stay onside.
Equipment over $500
The standard rule: supplies and small equipment are deducted in full the year you buy them; equipment over $500 (a commercial vacuum, a carpet machine) is a capital asset deducted over years through CCA (Class 8, 20%).
GST/HST: watch the $30,000 line
Cross $30,000 over four consecutive quarters and registration is mandatory. A full-time cleaner with a steady book can reach it. Residential cleaning is generally taxable, so once registered you charge GST/HST and claim back the GST/HST on supplies and equipment. The Quick Method often suits cleaners well since overhead is modest.
Deadlines
| Deadline | What’s due |
|---|---|
| April 30 | Tax balance owing (payment) |
| June 15 | T1 + T2125 filing (self-employed) |
Let Accountly track it between jobs
Accountly logs your income (cash and e-transfer), captures supply receipts from a photo, tracks mileage between clients, and watches the $30,000 GST/HST line. Your T2125 is ready without the year-end scramble.
Start free. About five minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to report cash income from cleaning houses?
Yes. All cleaning income is reportable on a T2125 regardless of how you’re paid — there’s no minimum, and the CRA matches bank deposits and e-transfers.
Can I deduct mileage driving between cleaning jobs?
Yes, with a mileage log. Trips between clients are business kilometres; your home-to-first-job and last-job-to-home trips may count as personal commuting.
Can I write off cleaning supplies and equipment?
Yes. Supplies and small equipment are deducted in full the year you buy them; equipment over $500 (commercial vacuum, carpet machine) is deducted over time through CCA.
How do I handle paying someone who cleans with me?
Their pay is a deductible subcontractor cost — keep a record or invoice. If you control their work and they work only for you, the CRA may treat them as an employee, which brings CPP and EI obligations.
Do house cleaners have to charge GST/HST?
Once revenue exceeds $30,000 over four consecutive quarters, registration is mandatory and you charge GST/HST on your (taxable) cleaning services while claiming it back on supplies and equipment.
How much should I set aside for taxes as a cleaner?
Reserve 20–25% of income for income tax and CPP, plus any GST/HST you collect once registered.
The information in this guide is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as accounting, tax, business, or legal advice. Accountly does not provide professional services or act as your accountant, tax advisor, or lawyer. No client relationship is created by your use of this material. Always seek advice from qualified professionals who understand your particular circumstances before acting on any information contained herein.
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