Canadian Tax Credits and Benefits for Families Guide
Author: Canada Revenue Agency
Published: 2011/03/10 - Updated: 2026/01/20
Publication Type: Informative
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Publications
Synopsis: This information from the Canada Revenue Agency provides families in Canada with a practical overview of available tax benefits, credits, and deductions that can reduce tax liability or increase refunds. The guidance carries significant weight because it comes directly from the CRA, the federal agency responsible for administering tax laws in Canada. Families raising children, those caring for dependents with disabilities, low-income workers, and seniors saving for retirement will find specific credits they may be eligible to claim, including the Child Disability Benefit, Working Income Tax Benefit with disability supplement, medical expense deductions, and the disability amount tax credit. The information walks readers through lesser-known opportunities like children's fitness credits and public transit deductions while explaining how to access these benefits through electronic filing systems that speed up refund processing.
Introduction
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a number of benefits, credits, and services to help families meet their financial obligations throughout the year, reduce the amount they owe at tax time, and provide them with convenient online options.
Main Content
Read on to see if the following tips can help you or your family.
- Child benefit amounts: Use our online benefit calculator to estimate whether you qualify for these benefits:
- Child Disability Benefit: A tax-free monthly benefit to help eligible families who care for children under the age of 18 who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit.
- Canada Child Tax Benefit: A tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under the age of 18.
- Universal Child Care Benefit: A monthly taxable benefit for eligible families of all children under the age of six, to help support child care choices.
- Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB): Working individuals and families with low income may be able to claim this refundable tax credit. The WITB includes a supplement for individuals who are entitled to the disability amount. Eligible individuals and families may also apply for advance payments.
- Children's fitness amount: Did your children play soccer, take ballet classes, or participate in another prescribed program of physical activity? If so, you can claim up to $500 of the money spent on these activities per child for a non-refundable tax credit of up to $75.
- Child care expenses: Did your children attend daycare or another program such as a summer day camp? You may be able to claim the amounts you spent on eligible childcare.
- Goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit: All you need to do to apply for this quarterly payment for low- and modest-income individuals and families is to file your income tax and benefit return.
- Public transit amount: If you or your eligible dependent use public transit and have bought certain transit passes or electronic payment cards, you may be able to claim this non-refundable tax credit.
- Home buyers' amount: Did you buy a home? You may be able to claim a non-refundable tax credit of up to $750 for the purchase of a qualifying home.
- Medical expenses: You may be able to claim a non-refundable tax credit based on the medical expenses paid for any 12-month period.
- Disability amount: If you or a family member had a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions and meet certain conditions, you may be able to claim this non-refundable tax credit.
- Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP): If you saved for your retirement by investing in RRSPs, you may be able to deduct your RRSP contributions.
- Safe and secure electronic services: Family life is busy. File your return on your own schedule using NETFILE, access your CRA account anytime using My Account, sign up for direct deposit, and more. Electronic transactions mean faster refunds!
Don't forget to register for your CRA user ID, even if you have used My Account in previous years.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: While tax regulations shift from year to year, the fundamental strategy remains unchanged: families who understand available credits and benefits typically keep more money in their pockets. The disability-related provisions outlined here - from the disability amount to the Working Income Tax Benefit supplement - represent recognition in Canadian tax policy that extra costs accompany disability, and that tax relief can meaningfully offset these expenses. For families juggling medical appointments, specialized equipment, modified transportation, and adaptive programs for children, taking time to identify every applicable credit transforms tax season from a bureaucratic burden into an opportunity to reclaim resources. The move toward electronic filing and direct deposit mentioned throughout this guidance isn't just about convenience; it also reduces barriers for people with mobility limitations or those living in remote areas who might otherwise struggle to access in-person tax preparation services.Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Canada Revenue Agency and published on 2011/03/10, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.