By Canadian Immigrant Magazine |
A new tax season is upon us. Let’s warm up this winter with a primer on the changes to the tax return.
The T1 tax return has a new look
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has reworked the tax return. More specifically, the line numbers that were 3 or 4 digits are now 5 digits, the language has been simplified on the forms, and Schedule 1 has been eliminated to become part of the expanded T1 tax return.
Home Buyer’s Plan limit increase
The withdrawal limit for the Homer Buyer’s Plan has been increased from $25,000 to $35,000.
Cannabis products eligible for the medical expense tax credit
Marijuana, marijuana plants or seeds, cannabis or cannabis oil purchased after October 16, 2018, can be eligible for the medical expense tax credit if used for personal medical purposes and in accordance with the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations or section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Canada Training Credit (2020)
Starting in 2019, you can accumulate a $250 per year limit towards an upcoming 2020 refundable tax credit called the Canada Training Credit (CTC). The credit itself will reimburse a portion of eligible tuition and other fees paid for courses taken in 2020 and subsequent taxation years.
To accumulate the limit, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- file a tax return for the year;
- be at least 25 years old and less than 65;
- be resident in Canada throughout the year;
- have a total of $10,000 or more of income from:
- maternity and parental benefits;
- working income (income from an office or employment, business income, the taxable part of scholarship income and research grants, the tax-exempt part of earnings of status Indians and emergency service volunteers, and income under the Wage Earner Protection Program Act).
- have individual net income for the year that does not exceed the top of the third tax bracket in that year ($147,667 in 2019).
The lifetime limit you can accumulate is $5,000.
The credit you can claim in 2020 will be the lesser of:
- half of the eligible tuition and other fees paid in respect of the year, and
- your Canada training credit limit for the taxation year.
Eligible tuition fees for this credit are the same as for the tuition tax credit.
No double-dipping is allowed, so keep in mind that the amount you claim for this credit will be subtracted from the amount of tuition fees you can claim for the tuition tax credit.