Canada Revenue Agency
Symbol of the Government of Canada
Skip to content | Skip to institutional links

Common menu bar links

 

Institutional links

Students and Income Tax (including Apprenticeships)

P105(E) Rev. 12

If you have a visual impairment, you can get our publications in braille, large print, etext, or MP3 by going to About multiple formats page or by calling 1‑800‑959‑2221. You can also get your personalized correspondence in these formats by calling 1‑800‑959‑8281.

Table of contents

What's new?

My Account: new login option

You can now use your online banking information to log in to My Account. You can still use your CRA user ID and password, if you prefer. For more information, go to My Account.

Before You Start

Is this pamphlet for you?

If you were a student during the year, this pamphlet will give you helpful information about filing your income tax return.

If you are in Canada as an international student, go to International students in Canada or refer to our contact information at the end of this pamphlet.

If you were a student who was enrolled at a foreign university, college, or other post‑secondary educational institution outside Canada, see Information Sheet RC192, Information for Students – Educational Institutions Outside of Canada.

If you are a student with a disability, go to Persons with disabilities or see Guide RC4064, Medical and Disability‑Related Information. That guide has information about services and programs that may benefit you, and deductions and credits that may apply to you.

The terms spouse and common law partner, used throughout this pamphlet, are defined in your tax guide.


Top of Page

Do you have to file a return?

As a student, you must file a return if any of the following situations apply:

  • you have to pay tax for the year;
  • you have not repaid all amounts withdrawn from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) under the lifelong learning plan. For details, see Guide RC4112, Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP);
  • you have to contribute to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). This can apply if, for 2012, the total of your pensionable employment income is more than $3,500. See line 222 of the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide for details; or
  • you received working income tax benefit (WITB) advance payments in 2012, or you want to apply for WITB advance payments for 2013.

Even if none of these requirements apply, you may want to file a return if any of the following situations apply:

  • you want to claim a refund;
  • you want to apply for the good and services tax/harmonized sales tax credit (GST/HST credit) (including any related provincial credit). For example, you may be eligible if you turn 19 before April 2013;
  • you or your spouse or common‑law partner want to begin or continue receiving Canada child tax benefit payments;
  • you want to carry forward or transfer the unused part of your tuition, education, and textbook amounts; or
  • you want to report income for which you could contribute to an RRSP, in order to keep your RRSP deduction limit for future years up to date.

For a complete list detailing when you have to file a return, see the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.

Which tax package should you use?

Generally, you have to use the package for the province or territory where you resided on December 31. If you were living in a province or territory other than the one you usually reside in, use the package for your usual province or territory of residence. For example, if you usually reside in Ontario, but you were going to school in Alberta, you would use the package for Ontario.

If you resided in Quebec on December 31, use the package for residents of Quebec to calculate your federal tax only. You will also need to file a provincial income tax return for Quebec.

What should you do if you move?

If you move, let us know your new address as soon as possible. If you use direct deposit, advise us if you change your account number.

Keeping us informed will ensure that you keep getting any GST/HST credit, universal child care benefit payments, and Canada child tax benefit payments to which you may be entitled (including those from certain related provincial or territorial programs). Otherwise, your payments may stop, whether you receive them by cheque or by direct deposit.

Each year we conduct a number of review activities at different times during the year. Therefore, if you move, it is very important to make your change of address with us as soon as possible to allow us to communicate with you.

If you have registered with the My Account service, you can change your address by going to My Account . Otherwise, you have to tell us your new address by phone, or in writing.

If you are writing, send your letter to your tax centre. Make sure you sign it and include your social insurance number, your new address, and the date of your move. If you are writing for another person, including your spouse or common‑law partner, include their social insurance number and have them sign the letter authorizing the change to his or her records.

How can you get the tax package you need?

You can get most of our publications, including the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide and forms book, by going to Forms and publications.

Social insurance number (SIN)

Before you file your return, you need a SIN. We use your SIN to identify you for income tax purposes and to update your record of earnings for your contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP).

You have to give your SIN to anyone who prepares information slips (such as a T4 slip) for you. Check your slips. If your SIN is missing or is incorrect, advise the slip preparer.

For more information, or to get an application for a SIN, contact Service Canada. You will find the addresses and telephone numbers of their offices on the Web site mentioned above or in the government section of your telephone book.

Representatives

You can authorize a representative (such as your father, mother, spouse or common‑law partner, tax preparer, or accountant) to deal with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on your behalf. When you give us consent (either through My Account on our Web site or in writing) to deal with a representative, you are letting that person represent you for income tax matters, depending on the level of authorization you specify for the tax year, or years.

Note
Your consent will stay in effect until you cancel it, it reaches the expiry date you choose, or we are notified of your death. Your representative may request by telephone, or in writing, that the consent you have given him or her be cancelled.

For more information, go to authorize my representative or get Form T1013, Authorizing or Cancelling a Representative.


Top of Page

Filing your return

You can file your return using EFILE or NETFILE, or you can file a paper return (see note below).

EFILE

Your EFILE service provider can complete and file your return for you.

NETFILE

You can file your return by Internet if you prepare your return with a tax preparation software or Web application. Most individuals are eligible to NETFILE. For more information, or to file your return, go to NETFILE.

Notes
You cannot change your address when you file your return using NETFILE. For information about how to change your address, see the section "What should you do if you move?".

The CRA does not require you to print a paper copy of your return for your own records. However, annual tax software revisions, as well as updating or replacing the computer that stores your tax data, may affect your ability to print a copy of your return in the future.

What date is your return due?

Generally, your return for the tax year has to be filed on or before April 30 of the following year.

Notes
When a due date falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, or a holiday recognized by the CRA, we consider your return to be filed on time, or your payment to be paid on time if we receive it or it is postmarked on the next business day.

If you file your return after the due date, your GST/HST credit and Canada child tax benefit payments (including those payments from certain related provincial or territorial programs) may be delayed. In addition, you may have to pay a late‑filing penalty and interest charge. For details, see the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.

What do you include with your return and what records do you keep?

If you are filing a paper return, include one copy of each of your information slips. These slips show the amount of income that was paid to you during the year and the deductions that were withheld from that income. Notes on each slip tell you where to report the income on your return.

Some common information slips are:

  • T4 slips, which show employment income and payroll deductions;
  • T4A slips, which show scholarship, fellowship, and bursary income, or payments from a registered education savings plan; and
  • T5 slips, which show investment income such as interest from bank accounts or from Canada Savings Bonds.

The information in your tax package will tell you when to attach other supporting documents such as certificates, forms, schedules, or official receipts.

Even if you do not have to attach certain supporting documents to your return, or if you are filing your return electronically, keep them in case we select your return for review. You should keep your supporting documents for six years.

You should also keep a copy of your return, the related notice of assessment, and any notice of reassessment. These can help you complete your return for the following year. For example, your notice of assessment will give you your tuition, education, and textbook amounts carry‑forward balance.


Top of Page

What if you are missing information?

If you have to file a return, make sure you file it on time even if some slips or receipts are missing. You are responsible for reporting your income from all sources to avoid possible interest and/or penalties that may be charged. If you know that you will not be able to get a slip by the due date, attach a note to your paper return stating the payer's name and address, the type of income involved, and what you are doing to get the slip. Use any stubs you may have to calculate the income to report and any related deductions and credits you can claim. Enter the estimated amounts on the appropriate lines of your return. Attach the stubs to your paper return. If you are filing electronically, keep all of your documents in case we ask to see them.

To get a missing slip or receipt, contact the person who should have sent it to you. For example, if you are missing a T4 slip, contact your employer.

When can you expect your refund?

We usually process paper returns in four to six weeks. We can process returns filed electronically in as little as eight business days.

Note
If you have an outstanding government debt, such as a Canada Student Loan or a training allowance overpayment, we may keep some or all of your refund to apply against your debt.

Definitions

Your educational institution uses the following definitions when preparing your tax certificate. If you have any questions regarding the information provided on the tax certificate you received, please contact your educational institution directly.

If you would like more technical information about the credits and deductions referred to in this pamphlet, see the references section for a list of related publications.

Full‑time student

A student is considered a full‑time student when he or she regularly attends a college, university, or other educational institution that offers courses at a post‑secondary school level and the student takes, during a semester, 60% or more (typically four or more full courses) of the usual course load for the qualifying educational program in which the student is enrolled.

Note
Full‑time attendance begins at the start of each academic period. This period is usually from September to April.

A student is also considered a full‑time student if they were enrolled in a qualifying educational program and:

  • the student attended only part‑time and can claim the disability amount; or
  • the student attended only part‑time because he or she had a mental or physical impairment certified in a letter, or on certificate T2202, by a medical doctor, optometrist, audiologist, occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, or speech‑language pathologist but the student does not qualify for the disability amount.
The student is responsible for requesting from their educational institution that they complete the T2202 certificate. The educational institution is certifying that the student, although enrolled on a part‑time basis, is taking courses from a qualifying educational program (see below).

Notes
The student is not considered to be in full‑time attendance at a university outside of Canada if he or she is taking courses by correspondence (which includes courses where assignments are submitted electronically).

If the student is taking courses over the Internet, he or she will be considered to be in full‑time attendance only if the program requires the student to be in virtual attendance, on a full‑time basis, for classes and other course‑related activities.

Part‑time student

Guidelines to determine if a student is considered a part‑time student include:

  • the student is enrolled in a specified educational program;
  • only a few subjects or evening classes are taken;
  • courses are taken only by correspondence; or
  • although the student attends classes during the day, the student is carrying a minor course load while at the same time devoting the majority of their time to other activities such as employment.

Designated educational institution

Designated educational institutions include:

In Canada

  • Canadian universities, colleges, and other educational institutions providing courses at a post‑secondary school level; and
  • Canadian educational institutions certified by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada providing courses (if the student is 16 or older at the end of the year) that develop or improve skills in an occupation, other than courses designed for university credit. Visit the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada web site for more information.

Outside Canada

  • universities outside Canada where the student is enrolled full‑time in a course that lasts at least three consecutive weeks and leads to a degree at the bachelor level or higher; and
  • universities, colleges, or other educational institutions in the United States that provide courses at the post‑secondary school level if the student is living in Canada (near the border) throughout the year and commutes to that institution.

For a list of prescribed universities outside Canada go to prescribed universities.

Qualifying educational program

This is a program that lasts at least three consecutive weeks and requires a minimum of 10 hours of instruction or work in the program each week (not including study time). Instruction or work includes lectures, practical training, and laboratory work. It also includes research time spent on a post‑graduate thesis.

Specified educational program

This is a program that lasts at least three consecutive weeks and requires that each student spend not less than 12 hours of instruction in the month on courses in the program. Instruction or work includes lectures, practical training, and laboratory work. It also includes research time spent on a post‑graduate thesis.

Eligible tuition fees

Eligible tuition fees include the following amounts:

  • admission fees;
  • charges for the use of library or laboratory facilities;
  • examination fees that are integral to a program of study;
  • ancillary fees, including the cost of identification card and certain prerequisite study materials, which exceed $100;
  • application fees (but only if the student later enrolls in the institution);
  • charges for a certificate, diploma, or degree;
  • mandatory computer service fees;
  • academic fees;
  • the cost of any books that are included in the total fees for a correspondence course taken through a post‑secondary educational institution in Canada; and
  • fees, such as athletic and health services fees, paid to a university, college, or other educational institution in addition to the tuition for post‑secondary courses, when such fees are required to be paid by all students. The amount of eligible fees is limited to $250 if the fees do not have to be paid by all students.

Eligible tuition fees do not include the following amounts:

  • students' association fees;
  • medical expenses;
  • transportation and parking;
  • meals and lodging;
  • goods of lasting value that will be kept by the student, such as a computer, microscope, uniform/lab coat, or an academic gown;
  • examination fees to begin study in a profession or field, such as a medical college admission test;
  • initiation or entrance fees to a professional organization; or
  • cost of books (other than books that are included in the total fees for a correspondence course). The student may be entitled to the textbook amount which they would claim on their return.

Licensing examination fees

Examination fees paid to an educational institution, professional association, provincial ministry or other similar institution, to take an occupational, trade or professional examination that is required to obtain a professional status recognized by federal or provincial statute, or to be licensed or certified as a tradesperson, to allow the student to practice the profession or trade in Canada, may be eligible for the tuition tax credit. The individual should be provided with a receipt to substantiate his or her eligible exam fees. The receipt should contain certain information as detailed below:

NAME OF INSTITUTION: ____________________

IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED:

THAT the following examination ____________________ was taken by ____________________ on ____________________;

THAT, out of the total fees paid for the examination, the sum of ____________________ constitutes the amount of eligible fees paid for purposes of paragraph 118.5(1)(d) of the Income Tax Act;

THAT the examination is required to obtain a professional status recognized by federal or provincial statute or to be licensed or certified as a tradesperson where that status, license or certification allows the person to practice the profession or trade in Canada;

THAT no part of the above amount was levied for travel, parking, equipment of enduring value, or any charges other than examination fees and ancillary fees (for example, ancillary fees may include the cost of examination materials used during the examination, such as identification cards and certain prerequisite study materials).

Signature of Authorized Officer:

Types of income you may have

Most income you receive is taxable and you have to include it on your return.

The most common types of income you may receive as a student include:

  • employment income;
  • tips and occasional earnings;
  • investment income;
  • scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, study grants, and artists' project grants;
  • apprenticeship grants;
  • research grants; and
  • registered education savings plan payments.

Note
You do not have to include the following as income:

  • your GST/HST credit;
  • Canada child tax benefit payments, or related provincial or territorial program payments;
  • most scholarships or bursaries, lottery winnings; or
  • most gifts and inheritances.

The following section includes information on some of these types of income. For more information on these or other types of income, see the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.

Scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, and study grants (awards)

Elementary and secondary school scholarships and bursaries are not taxable.

A post-secondary program that consists mainly of research is eligible for the education amount, and the scholarship exemption, only if it leads to a college or CEGEP diploma, or a bachelor, masters or doctoral degree (or an equivalent degree). Post-doctoral fellowships are taxable.

Full‑time enrolment

Post‑secondary school scholarships, fellowships, and bursaries received are not taxable if you are eligible to claim the full‑time education amount. This qualifies you for the full scholarship exemption.

The scholarship exemption will be limited to the extent that the award was intended to support the student's enrolment in the program. To determine what portion of your award was intended to support your enrolment, you should consider such factors as:

  • the duration of the program;
  • any terms and conditions that apply to the award; and
  • the period for which support is intended to be provided by the award.

Part‑time enrolment

If you can claim the part‑time education amount for a program, the scholarship exemption will be limited to the tuition fees and costs incurred for program‑related materials. As you are also eligible for the basic scholarship exemption of $500, refer to the chart to calculate the portion of the award that must be included in income.

If you do not qualify for either the full‑time or the part‑time education amount and you have not received an artists' project grant (see below), you can reduce the amount you received by the $500 basic scholarship exemption, and put the remaining balance on line 130 of your tax return. The exemption can only be taken if the amount received is equal to or greater than $500.


Top of Page

Artists' project grants

If you received an artists' project grant, whether separately from or in addition to other scholarship income, that you used in producing a literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work (other than a grant received for work completed as part of a business or employment), you may claim the scholarship exemption to reduce the total amount that must be included in your income as scholarship income (including artists' project grants).

The scholarship exemption is calculated by adding all of the following:

  • the total of all awards you received that are related to a program of study for which you are able to claim the full‑time education amount;
  • the tuition fees and costs incurred for program‑related materials for a program of study for which you are able to claim the part‑time education amount;
  • the total of all amounts, where each amount is the lesser of each artists' project grant you received and the expenses associated with that grant (other than the ineligible expenses described below); and
  • the lesser of $500 and the total of all awards that you received (including artists' project grants) that exceeds the amounts described in the first two bullets added together.

You have to include in your income for the year the total of all your awards (including artists' project grants) that is greater than your scholarship exemption as determined above.

When determining your expenses, you cannot claim:

  • personal living expenses while at your usual place of residence;
  • expenses for which you can be reimbursed; or
  • expenses that are otherwise deductible when you calculate your income for the year.

For more information, see S1-F2-C1: Education and Textbook Tax Credits.

Apprenticeship grants

Apprentices can receive up to $4,000 in grants to pay tuition, travel, tools, or other expenses.

If you received either of the following apprenticeship grants in the year, report the income shown in box 105 of your T4A slip on line 130 of your tax return.

Apprenticeship incentive grant

This grant helps registered apprentices in designated Red Seal trades get started. This is a taxable cash grant of $1,000 per year per level, up to a maximum of $2,000.

Apprenticeship completion grant

This grant helps registered apprentices who have completed their training become certified journeypersons in designated Red Seal trades. This is a taxable cash grant of $2,000.

For more information about these grants, visit the Service Canada Web site.

Note
Depending on your employment arrangement, apprentices may also be eligible to deduct the cost of their tools as well as claim a GST/HST rebate. For more information, see Guide T4044, Employment Expenses or go to Forms and publications.

Research grants

Subtract your expenses from the grant you received and report the net amount on line 104 of your return. Your expenses cannot be more than your grant.

Attach a list of your expenses to your paper return.

Expenses you can deduct must have been necessary to carry out the research project. These expenses include:

  • travelling expenses, including all amounts for meals and lodging while away from home in the course of your research work;
  • fees paid to assistants; and
  • the cost of equipment, and laboratory fees and charges.

Expenses you cannot deduct include:

  • personal and living expenses (other than the travelling expenses mentioned above);
  • expenses that have been reimbursed, except when the amount reimbursed is included in the grant received;
  • expenses that are otherwise deductible when you calculate your income for the year;
  • expenses that are unreasonable under the circumstances; and
  • expenses paid for you by a university, hospital, or similar institution.

For more information, see S1-F2-C1: Education and Textbook Tax Credits.

Registered education savings plan (RESP)

If you received educational assistance payments (EAPs), such as interest income earned in an RESP, report the total amount you received on line 130 of your return. The amount you received is shown in box 040 or 042 of your T4A slip. A beneficiary is entitled to receive EAPs for up to six months after ceasing enrolment, provided that the payments would have qualified as EAPs if the payments had been made immediately before the student's enrolment ceased. For more information, see Information Sheet RC4092, Registered Education Savings Plans.

Note
If you are enrolled on a full‑time basis at a university outside Canada, the minimum time period for enrollment is three consecutive weeks for EAP purposes. This measure does not apply to students enrolled on a part‑time basis or at an educational institution other than a university.


Top of Page

Common deductions from income

The most common deductions that apply to students are moving expenses and child care expenses. For more information on other types of deductions, see the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide or go to Forms and publications.

Moving expenses

If the tax slip or certificate you received from your educational institution has an amount in Box C (full‑time enrollment), you qualify to claim moving expenses if you move for one of the following reasons.

Attendance at a post‑secondary educational institution

These expenses can only be deducted from the taxable part of your scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, certain prizes, and research grants. You can claim moving expenses that you incur at the start of each academic period or when you move back after a summer break.

You move for employment

This includes summer employment or if you run a business. These moving expenses must be deducted from employment or self‑employment income you earned at the new location. You can also claim these expenses if you move back after a work semester as a co‑operative student. You cannot claim these expenses if they were paid by your employer.

In both cases above, your new home must be at least 40 kilometres closer to the educational institution or new place of work.

For the purpose of moving expenses, correspondence courses are not included. If you are a co‑operative student who attends an educational institution for an academic period and then you work for a similar period in a business or industry that relates to your academic studies, you are considered a full‑time student only during the months you attend the educational institution.

Notes
If your eligible moving expenses are more than the taxable portion of the scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, certain prizes, and research grants that you received and reported on your return for the year, you can carry forward the unused portion and deduct it from the taxable portion of the scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, certain prizes, and research grants you receive and report for the following years.

In addition, if you pay expenses after the year of your move, you may be able to claim them on your return for the year you pay them. You may carry forward unused amounts until you have enough eligible income to claim them.

For a list of allowable moving expenses and the instructions for claiming them, see Form T1‑M, Moving Expenses Deduction or go to Forms and publications.


Top of Page

Child care expenses

You or your spouse or common‑law partner may have paid for someone to look after your child so one of you could earn income, go to school, or conduct research. The expenses are deductible only if, at some time in the year, the child was under 16 or had a mental or physical impairment.

Generally, only the spouse or common‑law partner with the lower net income (even if it is zero) can claim these expenses. However, the individual with the higher net income may still be able to claim the child care expenses if their spouse or common‑law partner was enrolled in an educational program or if another specific situation applied. For more information on other situations or to make your claim, see Form T778, Child Care Expenses Deduction.

Note
You can claim a non‑refundable tax credit of $2,131 for each of your or your spouse's or common‑law partner's children if they lived with you throughout 2012 and were under the age of 18 at the end of the year. For more information, see line 367 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.

Non‑refundable tax credits

Federal non‑refundable tax credits reduce your federal tax up to the amount of tax owing. They are called non‑refundable tax credits because you can only use them to reduce your tax payable to zero. You cannot get a refund for these tax credits.

All federal non‑refundable tax credits are reported on Schedule 1 of your personal tax return. The most common federal non‑refundable tax credits that apply to students are:

  • Canada employment amount (field 363);
  • public transit amount (field 364);
  • interest paid on student loans (field 319); and
  • tuition, education, and textbook amounts (field 323).

The federal non‑refundable tax credits are calculated by multiplying the total dollar amount by the lowest personal tax rate percentage, which is currently 15%.

Residents of all provinces and territories except Quebec calculate their provincial or territorial non‑refundable tax credits on Form 428.

The rules for claiming provincial or territorial non‑refundable tax credits are the same as for federal non‑refundable tax credits. However, the value and calculation of the credits are different.

Canada employment amount

If you were an employee in 2012, you can claim an employment amount in field 363 of your Schedule 1.

Claim the lesser of:

  • $1,095; and
  • the total of the employment income you reported on line 101 and line 104 of your return.

Public transit amount

Provided these costs have not already been claimed by someone else, only you (the student), or your spouse or common‑law partner, can claim the cost of transit passes purchased for use by:

  • you;
  • your spouse or common‑law partner; and
  • your children (or the children of your spouse or common‑law partner) who are under 19 years of age on December 31.

You can claim these in field 364 of Schedule 1.

Types of transit passes

Passes for shorter duration periods:  You can claim in field 364 of your Schedule 1 the cost of a pass that entitles you to unlimited travel for an uninterrupted period of at least five days, and you have purchased enough of these passes in the year so that you are entitled to unlimited travel for at least 20 days in any 28‑day period.

Passes for longer duration periods:  The cost of a pass for a longer duration, such as a monthly pass, or annual pass which allows for unlimited travel within Canada on public transit during the year including local buses, streetcars, subways, commuter trains or buses, and local ferries, can also be claimed in field 364 of your Schedule 1.

Electronic payment cards: The cost of these can be claimed if they are used to make at least 32 one‑way trips during an uninterrupted period of not more than 31 days

Reimbursement of an eligible expense – If you have been reimbursed for some or all of the cost of the pass, you cannot claim the entire expense. Only claim the part of the amount for which you have not been or will not be reimbursed, including subsidies. However, if you have included the cost in your income, for example an amount appearing on your T4 slip, then you can deduct the full cost on your return, provided you have not deducted it in some other area of the tax return.

Receipts – Whether you are filing electronically or on paper, keep all of your documents in case we ask to see them at a later date.


Top of Page

Interest paid on your student loan

If you received a loan under the Canada Student Loans Act, the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, or similar provincial or territorial government laws for post‑secondary education, only you can claim, in field 319 of your Schedule 1, the interest that you, or a person related to you, paid on that loan during 2012 or, starting from the oldest year first, the carry forward amounts from the last five years.

You cannot transfer this amount to another person. You can only claim this amount if you have not claimed it before. The interest claimed must only be interest on the student loan and not on any other type of loan, or paid on a student loan that has been combined with any other loan. If you renegotiated your student loan with a bank or another financial institution, or included it in an arrangement to consolidate your loans, you cannot claim this interest amount. In addition, you cannot claim interest paid for a judgment obtained after you failed to pay back a student loan.

Tax Tip
If you do not have to pay taxes for the year the interest is paid, it is to your advantage not to claim the interest on your tax return for that year. You can carry the interest forward and use it to reduce any tax you owe on any of your returns you will file for the next five years, as long as the same amount hasn't been claimed more than once.

Receipts – If you are filing a paper return, include your receipts for the amounts you claim. If you are filing electronically, keep your receipts in case we ask to see them at a later date.

Tuition, education, and textbook amounts

To claim your tuition, education and textbook amounts you must have received one of the following documents from your educational institution. These documents show the number of months you were enrolled either on a part‑time (Box B) or a full‑time (Box C) basis:

Note
Contact your educational institution if you have not received one of these documents.

Complete Schedule 11 to report your eligible tuition, education, and textbook amounts for the year, and any unused amounts carried forward from previous years that are shown on your notice of assessment or notice of reassessment for the previous year. The eligible tuition fees, education amounts, and textbook amounts should be based on the calendar year the course was taken and not the year the fees were paid.

You also may need to complete a provincial or territorial Schedule (S11), unless you lived in Quebec. Attach these schedules to your return.

For more information on how your educational institution determined the figures that appear on your tax certificate, or if you did not receive a tax slip or certificate and you believe you should have, see Definitions to determine if you qualify for the tax credits.

Eligible tuition fees

The tax certificate you received from your educational institution will indicate the amount of eligible tuition fees that you paid for that calendar year. To qualify, the fees you paid to attend each educational institution must be more than $100. For example, if you attended two educational institutions in the year, the amount on each of your tax certificates must be more than $100.

Report the total eligible tuition fees on line 2 of Schedule 11.

You cannot claim the following tuition fees:

  • fees paid or reimbursed by your employer, or an employer of one of your parents, where the amount is not included in your or your parent's income;
  • fees paid by a federal, provincial, or territorial job training program, where the amount is not included in your income; or
  • fees paid (or eligible to be paid) under a federal program to help athletes, where the payment or reimbursement has not been included in your income.

Contact us if you are not sure if you can claim your fees.


Top of Page

Education amount

The tax information certificate you received from your educational institution will indicate if you were in full‑time (Box C) or part‑time (Box B) attendance.

If you were in full‑time enrollment (Box C), you can claim $400 times the total number of months indicated on your tax form. This amount goes on line 6 of Schedule 11 of your tax return.

Note
If the following relates to you, you can claim the full‑time education and textbook amounts:

  • you attended only part‑time and can claim the disability amount; or
  • you attended only part‑time because you had a mental or physical impairment certified in a letter, or on certificate T2202, by a medical doctor, optometrist, audiologist, occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, or speech‑language pathologist but you do not qualify for the disability amount.

You are responsible for requesting from your educational institution that they complete the T2202. The educational institution is certifying that, although you were enrolled on a part‑time basis, you are taking a course(s) from a qualifying educational program.

If you were in part‑time enrollment (Box B), you can claim $120 times the total number of months indicated on your tax form. This amount goes on line 3 of Schedule 11 of your tax return.

You can claim the education amount if:

  • you claim either the full‑time or the part‑time amount but not both;
  • you were under 16 at the end of the year but were enrolled in a course(s) at the post‑secondary level; or
  • you received a salary or wages while you were taking a course related to your job.

You cannot claim either the full‑time or the part‑time education amount if:

  • you received a grant, or were reimbursed for the cost of your courses by your employer or another person with whom you deal at arm's length;
  • you received a benefit as part of a program (such as free meals and lodging from a nursing school); or
  • you received an allowance for a program such as a training allowance.

Notes
A grant, reimbursement, benefit, or allowance does not include any scholarship, fellowship, bursary, or prize you received, or any benefit you received under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, Canada Student Loans Act, or an Act respecting financial assistance for education expenses of the province of Quebec.

These amounts also do not include any financial assistance provided under Part II of the Employment Insurance Act (as shown in box 20 of your T4E slip), a labour‑market development agreement as part of a similar provincial or territorial program, or a program developed under the authority of the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act.

A post‑secondary program that consists mainly of research will be eligible for the education amount, and the scholarship exemption, only if it leads to a college or CEGEP diploma, or a bachelor, masters, or doctoral degree (or an equivalent degree). Accordingly, post‑doctoral fellowships will continue to be taxable.


Top of Page

Textbook amount

You can claim this amount only if you are entitled to claim the education amount (see above).

The amount is:

  • $65 for each month you qualify for the full‑time education amount (total of Box C times $65). Enter this amount on line 7 of Schedule 11; or
  • $20 for each month you qualify for the part‑time education amount (total of Box B times $20). Enter this amount on line 4 of Schedule 11.

Transfer or carry forward amount

You have to claim your tuition, education, and textbook amounts first on your own return, even if someone else paid your fees. The amount you must use on your own tax return is equal to the amount of credit required to reduce the taxes you owe. The calculation for this amount is included on Schedule 11.

Once you have completed Schedule 11, if you still have unused credit available, you can now choose one of the following options:

Transfer the amount

You may transfer a maximum of $5,000, minus the amount you used to reduce your tax owing as calculated on Schedule 11. You can transfer (all or some) to your spouse or common‑law partner (who would claim it in field 360 of his or her Schedule 2) or to your or your spouse's or common‑law partner's parent or grandparent (who would claim it in field 324 of his or her Schedule 1).

Depending on their province or territory of residence, your spouse or common‑law partner may have to complete Schedule (S2) to calculate their provincial or territorial transfer amounts.

To designate your transfer, complete the back of certificate T2202, Education and Textbook Amounts Certificate, part 3 of certificate TL11A, Tuition, Education, and Textbook Amounts Certificate – University Outside Canada, part 4 of certificate TL11B, Tuition, Education, and Textbook Amounts Certificate – Flying School or Club, part 4 of certificate TL11C, Tuition, Education, and Textbook Amounts Certificate – Commuter to the United States, or certificate T2202A, Tuition, Education, and Textbook Amounts Certificate.

Carry forward the amount

You can carry forward and claim in a future year the part of your tuition, education, and textbook amounts you cannot use (and do not transfer) for the year. You have to claim your carry‑forward amount in the first year that you have to pay income tax. To calculate the amount you are carrying forward, you have to file an income tax return and complete Schedule 11.

Note
If you carry forward an amount, you will not be able to transfer it to anyone.

Depending on your province or territory of residence, you may have to complete Schedule (S11) to calculate your provincial or territorial transfer or carry‑forward amounts. Attach these schedules to your return.

Child and family benefits

You may be eligible to receive other credits and benefits. Here is a list of credits and benefits that you may be eligible to receive:

  • goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit and related provincial credits;
  • Canada child tax benefit (CCTB) and related provincial and territorial credits; or the
  • universal child care benefit (UCCB).

For more information on your eligibility and how to apply for related credits and benefits, go to Child and Family Benefits. You can apply online for child benefits, and get information online about child and family benefits, by going to My Account. You can also call us at 1‑800‑959‑1953 for questions about GST/HST credits and 1‑800‑387‑1193 for questions about CCTB and UCCB.

Other provincial or territorial credits

If you lived anywhere in Canada except Quebec on December 31, you may be eligible to claim provincial or territorial credits on your return. Check your income tax package to see if there are any provincial or territorial credits you can claim.

If you lived in Quebec on December 31, you have to complete a provincial income tax return for Quebec to claim your provincial credits.

References

To get our forms or publications, go to Forms and publications or call 1‑800‑959‑2221.

Guides

Forms

Interpretation Bulletins

Other publications

For more information

Residents of Canada

If you need help after reading this pamphlet, visit our Web site or call 1‑800‑959‑8281.

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program – If you need help to complete your tax return, your income is low, and your tax situation is simple, our volunteers are specially trained to help you. For more information about this free program, or if you want to become a volunteer, go to Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) or call us at 1‑800‑959‑8281 from anywhere in Canada and the United States (local time).

My Account

My Account is a secure, convenient, and time‑saving way to access and manage your tax and benefit information online, seven days a week! If you are not registered with My Account but need information right away, use Quick Access to get fast, easy, and secure access to some of your information.

You can now use your online banking information to log in to My Account. You can still use your CRA user ID and password, if you prefer.

For more information go to My Account.

Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS)

For personal and general tax information by telephone, use our automated service, TIPS, by calling 1‑800‑267‑6999.

Tax information videos

We have a number of tax information videos for individuals and small businesses on topics such as preparing your income tax and benefit return, and reporting business income and expenses. To watch our videos, go to Video Gallery.

Teletypewriter (TTY) users

TTY users can call 1‑800‑665‑0354 for bilingual assistance during regular business hours.

Contacting Us

Calls from Canada and the U.S 1‑855‑284‑5942
Calls from outside Canada and the U.S 613‑940‑8495
Fax 613‑941‑2505

Regular hours of service

Monday to Friday (holidays excluded)
8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time)

Extended hours of telephone service

From mid‑February to the end of April (except Easter Weekend)
Monday to Friday – 8:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
Saturdays – 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time)

Our service complaint process

If you are not satisfied with the service that you have received, please contact the CRA employee you have been dealing with or call the telephone number that you have been given. If you are not pleased with the way your concerns are addressed, you can ask to discuss the matter with the employee's supervisor.

If the matter is not settled, you can then file a service complaint by completing Form RC193, Service‑Related Complaint. If you are still not satisfied, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsman.

For more information, go to CRA – Service Complaints or see Booklet RC4420, Information on CRA Service Complaints.

Your opinion counts

If you have comments or suggestions that could help us improve our publications, send them to:

Taxpayer Services Directorate
Canada Revenue Agency
395 Terminal Avenue
Ottawa ON  K1A 0L5

Date Modified: 2013-03-05

Top of Page
Important Notices