General Income Tax and Benefit Guide 2015: How To Fill in and File Your 2015 Tax Return
General Income Tax and Benefit Guide 2015: How To Fill in and File Your 2015 Tax Return
Go to cra.gc.ca/getready
his guide will help you complete your 2015 income tax and benefit return. It is important to use the forms book for the
province or territory where you lived at the end of the year so that your provincial or territorial tax and credits can be
calculated properly. In your forms book you will find a copy of the return and schedules needed to calculate your federal
and provincial or territorial tax and credits. To make sure you are using the correct forms book, see Which forms book or
other tax package should you use? on page 8.
Table of contents
Some subjects in this guide relate to a numbered line on the return. We provide information about these subjects in the
same order that the lines appear on the return or schedule. To find information about other subjects, see the index on
page 77.
Page
Page
42
42
10
58
12
13
61
14
67
15
70
Identification .......................................................................
15
73
16
75
17
Index ........................................................................................
77
18
30
40
La version franaise de ce guide est intitule Guide gnral dimpt et de prestations 2015.
Unless otherwise noted, all legislative references are to the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Regulations.
If you are blind or partially sighted, you can get our publications
in braille, large print, etext, or MP3 by going to
cra.gc.ca/alternate. You can also get our publications and your
personalized correspondence in these formats by
calling 1-800-959-8281.
cra.gc.ca
cra.gc.ca
e list the service enhancements and major changes below, including announced income tax changes that are not yet
law at the time of printing. If they become law as proposed, they will be effective for 2015 or as of the dates given. For
more information about these changes, see the areas outlined in green in this guide.
Our services
MyCRA This is a new mobile application that lets you
securely view and change key tax information. See page 14.
Auto-fill my return The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
can automatically fill in much of your tax return if you file
electronically. See page 10.
Family tax cut (line 423) For 2014 and later years, the
calculation for the family tax cut has been revised to allow
unused tuition, education, and textbook amounts
transferred from a spouse or common-law partner.
See line 15 of Schedule 1-A, Family Tax Cut.
Other changes
Repeated failure to report income penalty We may now
charge you this penalty only if the amount of income you
failed to report on your return was $500 or more. The
calculation of the penalty has changed. See page 9.
cra.gc.ca
Go to cra.gc.ca/myaccount
to register, or go mobile with the
MyCRA mobile app, available
at cra.gc.ca/mobileapps.
GO TO cra.gc.ca/myaccount TODAY
cra.gc.ca
Protect yourself
against scammers
cra.gc.ca
General information
Even if none of these requirements apply, you can file a
return if any of the following situations apply:
cra.gc.ca
Exceptions
In the following situations, use the forms book or tax
package specified:
A. If on December 31, 2015, you had residential ties
(see the definition in the previous section) in more than
one province or territory, use the forms book for the
province or territory where you have your most
important residential ties. For example, if you usually
reside in Ontario but were going to school in Alberta or
Quebec, use the forms book for Ontario.
B. If you are filing a return for a person who died in 2015,
use the forms book for the province or territory where
that person resided at the time of death.
C. If you emigrated from Canada in 2015, use the forms
book for the province or territory where you resided on
the date you left. Mail your return to the International
and Ottawa Tax Services Office, Post Office Box 9769,
Station T, Ottawa ON K1G 3Y4 CANADA.
D. If you resided outside Canada on December 31, 2015,
but kept significant residential ties (see the definition
in the previous section) with Canada, you may be
considered a factual resident of Canada. Use the forms
book for the province or territory where you kept your
residential ties.
You also have to complete Form T1248, Information
About Your Residency Status Schedule D, and attach it
to your return. Mail your return to the International
and Ottawa Tax Services Office, Post Office Box 9769,
Station T, Ottawa ON K1G 3Y4 CANADA. If, under a
tax treaty, you are considered to be a resident of
another country, this may not apply.
E. Generally, if you are not considered to be a factual
resident of Canada (see the previous section), and on
December 31, 2015, you resided outside Canada and
were a government employee, a member of the
Canadian Forces or their overseas school staff, or
working under a Canadian International Development
cra.gc.ca
Tax Tip
Even if you cannot pay your full balance owing on or
before April 30, 2016, you can avoid the late-filing
penalty by filing your return on time.
$100; and
Interest
Late-filing penalty
If you owe tax for 2015 and do not file your return for 2015
within the dates we specify under What date is your
return for 2015 due? in the previous section, we will
charge you a late-filing penalty. The penalty is 5% of
your 2015 balance owing, plus 1% of your balance owing
for each full month your return is late, to a maximum
of 12 months.
cra.gc.ca
NETFILE
NETFILE is a secure service that allows you to file your
return through the Internet if you prepare your return with
tax preparation software or a web tax application. For a list
of available software and applications, including free ones,
go to cra.gc.ca/netfilesoftware.
Most individuals are eligible to use NETFILE. For more
information or to file your return, go to cra.gc.ca/netfile.
Notes
Before filing online, your information, including your
address, must be up to date. If you have registered with
the My Account service, you can change your
information online before filing your return by going to
cra.gc.ca/myaccount.
Auto-fill my return
Auto-fill my return is a new secure CRA service that allows
you or your authorized service provider to electronically
request and receive tax information that the CRA has
available at the time you are filing your return, to help fill
in certain parts of your return. CRA will have most tax
information slips and other tax-related information, such as
T4, RRSP information and carry forward amounts. To use
this service you must be registered with My Account, and
be using a certified software product that offers this service.
For more information go to cra.gc.ca/auto-fill.
10
cra.gc.ca
Filing a pap
per return
n
Note
he AgriStabilitty and
If you are partticipating in th
AgriInvest pro
ograms and you are filing a paper return,,
use the envelo
ope provided in
i Guide RC40
060
or Guide RC4408.
W
What do yo
ou include
e with you
ur return
an
nd what re
ecords do
o you kee
ep?
If y
you are filing your return ellectronically, keep all relateed
doccumentation.
If y
you are filing a paper return
n, include onee copy of each of
you
ur information
n slips. These slips show th
he amount of
inccome that was paid to you during
d
the yearr and the
ded
ductions that were
w
withheld
d from that inccome. Attach
you
ur Schedule 1 (federal tax) and
a if you werre not a resideent
of Q
Quebec on Deecember 31, 2015, also attach
h your
pro
ovincial or terrritorial Form 428
4 (provincial or territorial
tax
x). Attach only
y the other sup
pporting docu
uments that aree
req
quested in the
e guide to supp
port a credit or
o deduction.
If a tax professional prepares or
o sends us your return, sho
ow
thee preparer all your
y
supportin
ng documentss, such as yourr
info
ormation slipss, receipts, nottice of assessm
ment from last
yeaar, and instalm
ment paymentss summary (on
n Form INNS1
1
or F
Form INNS2)..
If y
you make a cla
aim without th
he requested supporting
doccument, we may
m disallow th
he credit or deeduction you
claiimed. It could
d also delay thee processing of
o your return..
Keep your supporting docum
ments for six ye
ears. Even if
you
u do not have to attach certa
ain supporting
g documents to
t
you
ur return, or iff you are filing
g your return electronically,
e
keeep them in casse we select yo
our return for review.
r
We may
m
ask
k for documen
nts other than official
o
receiptts, such as
can
ncelled chequees or bank stattements, as pro
oof of any
ded
duction or cred
dit you claimeed. Also keep a copy of yourr
retu
urn for 2015, the
t related nottice of assessm
ment, and any
nottice of reassesssment. These can
c help you complete
c
yourr
retu
urn for 2016.
Com
mmunity V
Volunteer Income T
Tax
Prog
gram (CVIITP)
If you n
need help to p
prepare your in
ncome tax and
d benefit
return and you havee a modest inco
ome and a sim
mple tax
situatio
on, community
y organization
n volunteers m
may be able
to prep
pare your retu
urn for you. Fo
or more inform
mation about
the CV
VITP or to find
d out how to beecome a volun
nteer, go to
cra.gc.cca/volunteer o
or call us at 1-8800-959-8281.
cra.gc.ca
c
11
The CCTB and the CDB are based on the net income
(line 236) shown on your return and, if applicable, your
spouses or common-law partners return, minus any
amount you or your spouse or common-law partner
reported on lines 117 and 125. If you or your spouse or
common-law partner deducted an amount on line 213
and/or the amount for a repayment of registered disability
savings plan income included on line 232, we will add these
amounts to your or your spouses or common-law partners
net income. Therefore, to qualify for these benefits, you
both have to file a return every year, even if there is no
income to report.
For more information, go to cra.gc.ca/benefits, see
Booklet T4114, Canada Child Benefits, or call us
at 1-800-387-1193. To view your CCTB information, go to
cra.gc.ca/myaccount. To view the next CCTB payment date,
go to cra.gc.ca/mobileapps and select MyCRA.
12
You can claim this benefit on line 453 of your income tax
and benefit return. However, eligible individuals and
families may be able to apply for 2016 advance payments.
For more information, see line 453 in this guide, Form
RC201, Working Income Tax Benefit Advance Payments
Application for 2016, or go to cra.gc.ca/witb.
cra.gc.ca
Getting started
Filing online
is as easy as
1, 2, 3
To learn more about online filing,
watch our video at cra.gc.ca/getready.
Its easier than you think!
Note
You should have received most of your slips and
receipts by the end of February. However, T3 and
T5013 slips do not have to be sent before the end of
March.
cra.gc.ca
13
Online services
My Account
Electronic payments
Make your payment using:
To register, go to:
Direct deposit
Direct deposit is a faster, more convenient, reliable, and
secure way to get your income tax refund and your credit
and benefit payments (including certain related provincial
or territorial program payments) directly into your account
at a financial institution in Canada.
For more information, see page 65 or go
to cra.gc.ca/directdeposit.
14
cra.gc.ca
Marital status
Tick the box that applied to your status on
December 31, 2015. Tick Married if you had a spouse or
Living common-law if you had a common-law partner
(see the definitions in the next sections). You still have a
spouse or common-law partner if you were living apart for
reasons other than a breakdown in your relationship. Tick
one of the other boxes only if neither of the first two
applied.
Note
For the purposes of the CCTB, the GST/HST credit, or
working income tax benefit (WITB) only, if your marital
status changes during the year and you are entitled to
any CCTB payments, GST/HST credit payments, or
WITB advance payments, you must tell us by the end of
the month following the month in which your status
changes. However, for these credits only, if you are
separated, do not notify us until you have been
separated for more than 90 consecutive days. Let us
know by going to cra.gc.ca/myaccount, by
calling 1-800-387-1193, or by sending us a completed
Form RC65, Marital Status Change.
Email address
If you would like to get your CRA mail online, read and
agree to the terms and conditions below, and enter your
email address. You can also register for online mail using
My Account at cra.gc.ca/myaccount and selecting
the Manage online mail service.
Terms and conditions By providing an email address,
you are registering for online mail and authorizing the CRA
to send you email notifications when there is mail for you
to view on My Account. To access your online mail, you
must be registered for My Account. Any notices and
correspondence delivered online on My Account will be
presumed to have been sent on the date of those email
notifications. You understand and agree that your notice of
assessment and notice of reassessment, and any other
correspondence eligible for online delivery, will no longer
be mailed.
For more information, go to My Account and select
Receive online mail before you access your account.
Note
We will send you an email to confirm your registration
for online mail.
Spouse
This applies only to a person to whom you are legally
married.
Common-law partner
This applies to a person who is not your spouse, with
whom you are living in a conjugal relationship, and to
whom at least one of the following situations applies.
He or she:
a) has been living with you in a conjugal relationship, and
this current relationship has lasted at least 12
continuous months;
Note
In this definition, 12 continuous months includes any
period you were separated for less than 90 days because
of a breakdown in the relationship.
b) is the parent of your child by birth or adoption; or
c) has custody and control of your child (or had custody
and control immediately before the child
turned 19 years of age) and your child is wholly
dependent on that person for support.
cra.gc.ca
15
Notes
The CRA updates the information provided to Elections
Canada every month. Your authorization remains in
effect until you file your next return. Therefore, if you
move during this period and you advise the CRA of
your new address, the CRA will advise Elections Canada
the next time information is provided.
If during the year you change your mind about the CRA
sending your information to Elections Canada, call the
CRA at 1-800-959-8281 to have your consent removed.
However, your information will remain on the Register.
To remove your information from the Register, see
Removal from the Register on the next page.
Elections Canada
National Register of Electors (the
Register)
The Register contains the name, sex, date of birth, address,
and unique identifier of eligible electors (Canadian citizens
who are 18 years of age or older) and is used to produce
electoral lists and to communicate with electors for federal
elections or referendums. Note that inclusion in the
Register is at the option of the elector. Consenting to
provide your information to Elections Canada will help
ensure you are correctly registered.
Elections Canada will use the information you provide only
for purposes permitted under the Canada Elections Act. The
Canada Elections Act allows for the electoral lists produced
from the Register to be shared with provincial/territorial
16
cra.gc.ca
Note
Specified foreign property does not include:
Foreign income
Note
The reassessment period for your return is three years
after the day your notice of assessment is sent to you.
This reassessment period is extended from three years to
six years if:
you did not file Form T1135 on time, or you did not
identify specified foreign property, or you identified it
incorrectly, on Form T1135.
cra.gc.ca
17
Total income
lottery winnings;
18
Note
Income earned on any of the above amounts (such as
interest you earn when you invest lottery winnings) is
taxable.
cra.gc.ca
Note
A child under 18 years of age may be subject to the tax
on split income for dividends on shares of a corporation.
Any taxable capital gain from the disposition of those
shares to a person who does not deal at arms length
with the child will be deemed to be a dividend. This
deemed dividend is subject to the tax on split income
and is considered to be an other than eligible dividend
for the purposes of the dividend tax credit.
Tax Tip
Your contributions to the CPP or Quebec Pension Plan
(box 16 or 17 of your T4 slips and any amount on
line 421) determine the benefit amount you will receive
under either of these plans. If there are no contributions
shown in box 16 or 17 of your T4 slips or if you have any
questions about your contribution amount, contact your
employer.
Tax shelters
To claim deductions, losses, or credits from tax shelter
investments, attach to your paper return any applicable
T5003 slips, a completed Form T5004, Claim for Tax Shelter
Loss or Deduction, or T5013 slips. Your form must show the
tax shelter identification number.
Tax Tip
For information about how to protect yourself against
tax schemes, go to cra.gc.ca/alert.
cra.gc.ca
19
Note
If the housing allowance and/or an amount for eligible
utilities is shown in box 14 of your T4 slips, subtract the
amount shown in box 30 of your T4 slips from the
amount shown in box 14 and report the difference on
line 101.
20
cra.gc.ca
Note
If you are a specified employee and contributions your
employer made to an EPSP are allocated to you, you
may have to pay tax on the amount that is considered an
excess amount. See line 418. If this tax applies to you,
you may be eligible to claim a deduction for the excess
contribution on line 229.
Report on line 152, located below and to the left of line 114,
your CPP or QPP disability benefits shown in box 16. This
amount is already included in your income on line 114, so
do not add it again when you calculate your total income
on line 150.
Notes
You may have to repay OAS benefits (see line 235) if the
result of the following calculation is more than $72,809:
cra.gc.ca
Note
If there is an amount shown in box 18 or 22 of your
T4RIF slips, see the instructions on the back of the slip.
21
Benefits paid for your children are their income, even if you
received the payments.
Notes
Only one joint election can be made for a tax year. If both
you and your spouse or common-law partner have
eligible pension income, you will have to decide if you
are splitting your pension income or your spouses or
common-law partners pension income.
Note
If you elected to split your pension, superannuation,
annuity, PRPP, RRIF (including life income fund), and
SPP payments with your spouse or common-law
partner, you (the pensioner) must still report the full
amount on line 115, but you can claim a deduction for
the elected split-pension amount. See line 210.
22
cra.gc.ca
Note
The UCCB income you report will not be included in the
calculation of your GST/HST credit, Canada child tax
benefit (CCTB) payments and any related provincial or
territorial credits and benefits, the social benefits
repayment (line 235), the refundable medical expense
cra.gc.ca
23
The amounts you report for the year depend on the type of
investment and when you made it. Report on line 121
amounts you received, minus any part of those amounts
you reported in previous years. Also report amounts
credited to you but that you did not receive (such as
amounts that were reinvested).
The amounts to report include those shown in boxes 13, 14,
and 15 of T5 slips, box 25 of T3 slips, and boxes 128 and 135
of T5013 slips. You also have to report the interest on any
tax refund you received in 2015, which is shown on your
notice of assessment or notice of reassessment.
If you received foreign interest or dividend income, report
it in Canadian dollars. For more information, see How to
report foreign income and other amounts on page 17.
If you own an interest in a foreign investment entity or an
interest in a foreign insurance policy, you may have to
report investment income. For more information, contact us.
Bank accounts
Report interest paid or credited to you in 2015, even if you
did not receive an information slip. You may not receive a
T5 slip for amounts under $50.
Term deposits, guaranteed investment certificates
(GICs), and other similar investments
On these investments, interest builds up over a period of
time, usually longer than one year. Generally, you do not
receive the interest until the investment matures or you
cash it in. For information about Canada savings bonds, see
the next section.
The income you report is based on the interest you earned
during each complete investment year. For example, if you
made a long-term investment on July 1, 2014, report on
your return for 2015 the interest that accumulated to the
end of June 2015, even if you do not receive a T5 slip.
Report the interest from July 2015 to June 2016 on your 2016
return.
Note
If your investment agreement specifies a different
interest rate each year, report the amount shown on your
T5 slips, even if it is different from what the agreement
specifies or what you received. The issuer of your
investment can tell you how this amount was calculated.
Example
Sally and Roger received a T5 slip from their joint bank
account showing the $400 interest they earned in 2015. Sally
had deposited $4,000 and Roger had deposited $1,000 into
the account.
$1,000 (his share) $400 (total interest) = $80
$5,000 (total)
Sally reports $320 interest, calculated as follows:
$4,000 (her share) $400 (total interest) = $320
$5,000 (total)
24
a limited partner; or
Notes
If the partnership has a loss, the amount you can claim
could be limited. For more information, contact us.
For children born in 1998 or later who report certain
limited or non-active partnership income, see Split
income of a child under 18 on page 18.
If you have a tax shelter, see Tax shelters on page 19.
If all or part of the income was earned in a province or
territory other than your province or territory of residence,
or if it was earned outside Canada, complete and attach to
your return Form T2203, Provincial and Territorial Taxes
for 2015 Multiple Jurisdictions.
Attach to your paper return a T5013 slip. If you did not
receive one, attach a copy of the partnerships financial
statement. See lines 135 to 143.
Note
You may have to make Canada Pension Plan
contributions on the net income you report on line 122.
See line 222.
cra.gc.ca
25
Notes
If you report a refund of RRSP premiums shown in
box 28 of your T4RSP slips and you rolled over an
amount to a registered disability savings plan (RDSP),
you may be able to claim a deduction (see line 232). For
more information about RDSPs, go to cra.gc.ca/rdsp or
see Guide T4040, RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for
Retirement.
Note
If you elected to split your RRSP annuity payments
with your spouse or common-law partner, you (the
pensioner) must still report the full amount on line 129,
but you can claim a deduction for the elected
split-pension amount. See line 210.
Report the total of amounts shown in boxes 16, 18, 28, and
34 of all your T4RSP slips. Also report amounts shown in
boxes 20, 22, and 26, unless your spouse or common-law
partner made a contribution to your RRSP. For more
information, see RRSPs for spouse or common-law
partner in the next section.
26
cra.gc.ca
Use this line to report taxable income that has not been or
should not be reported anywhere else on the return. To
find out if an amount is taxable, contact us. In the space to
the left of line 130, specify the type of income you are
reporting. If you have more than one type of income, attach
a note to your paper return giving the details.
Note
Special rules apply for income from property one family
member lends or transfers to another. For more
information, see Loans and transfers of property on
page 18.
Lump-sum payments
Report lump-sum payments from pensions and deferred
profit-sharing plans (box 018 of your T4A slips and box 22
of your T3 slips) you received when leaving a plan.
cra.gc.ca
27
Retiring allowances
Report the amount shown in boxes 66 and 67 of your T4
slips and any retiring allowance shown in box 26 of your
T3 slips.
Note
You may be able to deduct legal fees you paid to get a
retiring allowance. See line 232.
Tax Tip
You may be able to transfer part or all of your retiring
allowances to your RRSP. See line 14 Transfers on
page 32.
28
cra.gc.ca
Notes
If you are participating in the AgriStability and
AgriInvest programs and you are filing a paper return,
use the envelope provided in Guide RC4060 or
Guide RC4408.
Notes
You do not have to report certain social assistance
payments you or your spouse or common-law partner
received for being a foster parent or for caring for a
disabled adult who lived with you. For more
information, contact us. However, if the payments are
for caring for your spouse or common-law partner or
any person related to either of you, whoever has the
higher net income must report those payments.
cra.gc.ca
Note
Your net income before adjustments on line 234 of your
return will be reduced by the amounts entered on
lines 117 and 125 and increased by any amount deducted
on line 213 and/or the amount for a repayment of the
registered disability savings plan income included on
line 232, if required.
29
Net income
Line 205 Pooled registered pension
plan (PRPP) employer contributions
30
cra.gc.ca
Need to know
your RRSP or TFSA
contribution limits?
Register for My Account at
cra.gc.ca/myaccount, and check your
contribution limit at your convenience.
Schedule 7
You may not have to complete Schedule 7. To find out, read
the information at the top of the schedule.
cra.gc.ca
31
Note
If you repay less than the minimum amount for 2015,
report the difference on line 129 of your return.
Note
You cannot withdraw funds from the SPP or a PRPP
under the LLP or the HBP.
32
Note
In a previous year, you may have received income for
which you could contribute to an RRSP, but you may not
have filed a return for that year. To keep your RRSP
deduction limit current, you have to file a return for each
year.
Line 14 Transfers
You may have reported income on line 115, 129, or 130 of
your return for 2015. If you contributed certain types of this
income to your own RRSP/PRPP on or before
February 29, 2016, you can deduct this contribution, called
a transfer, in addition to any RRSP/PRPP contribution you
make based on your RRSP deduction limit for 2015.
For example, if you received a retiring allowance in 2015,
report it on line 130 of your return. You can contribute to
your RRSP/PRPP up to the eligible part of that income
(box 66 of your T4 slips or box 47 of your T3 slips) and
deduct it as a transfer. Include the amounts you transfer on
lines 2 or 3 and 14 of Schedule 7.
For more information about amounts you can transfer, see
Guide T4040, RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement.
Lines 18 to 21 2015 withdrawals under the HBP and
the LLP
Report on line 18 the total of your HBP withdrawals
for 2015 from box 27 of your T4RSP slips. Tick the box at
line 19 if the address of the home you acquired with these
withdrawals is the same as the address on page 1 of your
return.
Report on line 20 the total of your LLP withdrawals
for 2015 from box 25 of your T4RSP slips. Tick the box at
line 21 to designate your spouse or common-law partner as
the student for whom the funds were withdrawn. If you do
not tick the box, you will be considered to be the student
cra.gc.ca
for LLP purposes. You can change the person you designate
as the student only on the return for the year you make
your first withdrawal.
Note
You cannot withdraw funds from the SPP or a PRPP
under the LLP or the HBP.
the rules that apply when the person who made the
withdrawal dies, turns 71 years of age, or becomes a
non-resident.
cra.gc.ca
33
34
cra.gc.ca
cra.gc.ca
35
Attach Form T1229 and your T5, T101, and T5013 slips to
your paper return. If you do not have these slips, attach a
statement identifying you as a participant in the venture.
The statement has to show your allocation (the number of
units you own, the percentage assigned to you, or the ratio
of your units to those of the whole partnership) and give
the name and address of the fund.
If you have any questions about these expenses, call our
business enquiries line at 1-800-959-5525.
If you have a tax shelter, see Tax shelters on page 19.
Note
If you started receiving CPP retirement benefits in 2015,
your basic exemption may be prorated by the CRA.
36
cra.gc.ca
cra.gc.ca
37
Legal fees
38
cra.gc.ca
Notes
If you had an OAS repayment for 2014, tax may have
been withheld from your OAS pension for 2015. The
amount deducted is shown in box 22 of your
T4A(OAS) slip for 2015. Claim it on line 437. Similarly, if
you have an OAS repayment for 2015, tax may be
withheld starting with your July 2016 OAS payment.
cra.gc.ca
Notes
If it applies, report your spouses or common-law
partners net income in the Information about your
spouse or common-law partner area on page 1 of your
return. Report this amount even if it is zero.
If the amount you calculate for line 236 is negative, you
may have a non-capital loss. To find out, use Form T1A,
Request for Loss Carryback. If you have a loss for 2015, you
may want to carry it back to your 2012, 2013, or 2014
return. To do this, attach a completed Form T1A to your
paper return (or send one to us separately). Do not file
an amended return for the year or years to which you
apply the loss.
39
Taxable income
Line 244 Canadian Forces personnel
and police deduction
40
cra.gc.ca
In the space to the left of line 256, specify the deduction you
are claiming. If you have more than one amount, or to
explain your deduction more fully, attach a note to your
paper return.
Note
If you received taxable tuition assistance for
post-secondary level courses or courses that provide or
improve skills in an occupation and the educational
institution has been certified by Employment and Social
Development Canada as reported in box 20 of the T4E
slip or in box 105 of the T4A slip, these amounts cannot
be claimed on line 256. Instead, you may be eligible for
the tuition, education, and textbook amounts.
See line 323.
cra.gc.ca
41
Minimum tax
Minimum tax limits the tax advantage you can receive in a
year from certain incentives. You have to pay minimum tax
if it is more than the federal tax you calculate in the usual
manner. When calculating your taxable income for this tax,
which does not apply to a person who died in 2015, you are
allowed a basic exemption of $40,000.
To find out if you have to pay this tax, add the amounts
shown in B later in this section and 60% of the amount on
line 127 of your return. If the total is $40,000 or less, you
probably do not have to pay minimum tax. If the total is
more than $40,000, you may have to pay it.
Use Form T691, Alternative Minimum Tax, to find out if you
have to pay minimum tax. You also have to complete
Form 428 to calculate additional provincial or territorial tax
for minimum tax purposes.
Here is a list of the most common situations where you
may have to pay minimum tax:
Tax Tip
You may be able to claim a credit against your taxes
for 2015 if you paid minimum tax on any of your returns
for 2008 to 2014. See line 427.
42
Example
Paul claimed a $50,000 deduction in 2015 for carrying
charges. Because this deduction is more than $40,000, Paul
may have to pay minimum tax. To find out, he should
complete Form T691, Alternative Minimum Tax.
cra.gc.ca
Tax Tip
You may be able to transfer all or part of your age
amount to your spouse or common-law partner or to
claim all or part of his or her age amount. See line 326.
You may be able to claim the FCA for more than one
eligible dependant.
Claim $11,327.
cra.gc.ca
43
Note
If you and another person had to make support
payments for the child for 2015 and, as a result, no one
would be entitled to claim the amount for an eligible
dependant for the child, you can claim this amount if
you and the other person(s) paying support agree you
will be the one making the claim. If you cannot agree
who will claim this amount for the child, neither of you
can make the claim. For more information, see
Guide P102, Support Payments.
If you have claimed an amount for the year on line 303, you
cannot claim this amount. If you have not claimed an
amount for the year on line 303, you may be able to claim
this amount for one other person if at any time in the year
you met all the following conditions at once:
Notes
Your dependant may live away from home while
attending school. If the dependant ordinarily lived with
you when not in school, we consider that dependant to
live with you for the purposes of this amount.
44
cra.gc.ca
Notes
If you are making this claim for more than one child,
either you or your spouse or common-law partner may
claim the credit for all the eligible children or you can
each claim separate children but each child can only be
claimed once.
If you have shared custody of the child throughout the
year, the parent who claims the amount for an eligible
dependant (see line 305) for that child can make the
If the child did not live with both parents throughout the
year, the parent or the spouse or common-law partner who
claims the amount for an eligible dependant (see line 305)
for that child can make the claim.
cra.gc.ca
45
Under the Canada Pension Plan, you must ask for a refund of
CPP over-contributions within four years after the end of
the year for which the request is being made. See line 448.
46
cra.gc.ca
Insurable earnings
This is the total of all earnings on which you pay EI
premiums. These amounts are shown in box 24 of your
T4 slips for 2015 (or box 14 if box 24 is blank).
You may have an overpayment of your premiums even if
the total is $930.60 or less (if you were not a resident of
Quebec), or $762.30 or less if you were a resident of Quebec.
This can happen when your insurable earnings are less than
the total of all amounts shown in box 14 of all your T4 slips.
You can calculate your overpayment using Form T2204,
Employee Overpayment of 2015 Employment Insurance
Premiums. If you were a resident of Quebec and had to
complete Schedule 10 because you worked outside Quebec,
do not use Form T2204. Calculate the overpayment by
completing Part C of Schedule 10.
cra.gc.ca
47
Tax Tip
As a volunteer firefighter or search and rescue volunteer,
you may be eligible to claim a $1,000 exemption instead
of the VFA or the SRVA. For more information, see
Emergency services volunteers on page 19.
yourself;
48
$1,146; and
Note
The hours volunteered for both search and rescue and
firefighter activities can be combined to claim either the
VFA or the SRVA. You cannot claim both.
cra.gc.ca
Note
An activity that develops creative skills or expertise is
eligible only if it is intended to improve a childs
dexterity or co-ordination or helps in acquiring and
applying knowledge through artistic or cultural
activities such as literary arts, visual arts, performing
arts, music, media, languages, customs, and heritage.
Reimbursement of an eligible expense You can claim
only the part of the amount for which you have not been or
will not be reimbursed. However, you can claim the full
amount if the reimbursement is reported as income (such as
a benefit shown on a T4 slip) and you did not deduct the
reimbursement anywhere else on your return.
Supporting documents If you are filing electronically or
filing a paper return, do not send any documents. Keep
them in case we ask to see them at a later date.
Note
You do not have to be a first-time home buyer if you are
eligible for the disability tax credit or if you acquired the
home for the benefit of a related person who is eligible
for the disability tax credit. However, the purchase must
be made to allow the person with the disability to live in
a home that is more accessible or better suited to the
needs of that person. For the purposes of the home
buyers amount, a person with a disability is a person
who is eligible for the disability tax credit for the year in
which the home is acquired, or a person who would be
entitled to claim the disability amount if they did not
claim costs for attendant care or care in a nursing home
as medical expenses on lines 330 or 331.
Prescribed program
To qualify for this amount, a program must:
be supervised; and
single-family houses;
semi-detached houses;
townhouses;
mobile homes;
cra.gc.ca
49
Note
A share in a co-operative housing corporation that
entitles you to own and gives you an equity interest in a
housing unit located in Canada also qualifies. However,
a share that only gives you the right to tenancy in the
housing unit does not qualify.
You must intend to occupy the home, or you must intend
that the related person with a disability occupy the home,
as a principal place of residence no later than one year after
it is acquired.
You and your spouse or common-law partner can split the
claim, but the combined total cannot exceed $5,000.
When more than one person is entitled to the amount (for
example, when two people jointly buy a home), the total of
all amounts claimed cannot exceed $5,000.
Supporting documents If you are filing electronically or
filing a paper return, do not send any documents. Keep
them in case we ask to see them at a later date.
Tax Tip
You may be able to transfer all or part of your pension
income amount to your spouse or common-law partner
or to claim all or part of his or her pension income
amount. See line 326.
50
cra.gc.ca
If you were eligible for the disability tax credit for 2014
and you still meet the eligibility requirements in 2015,
you can claim this amount without sending us a new
Form T2201. However, you must send us one if the
previous period of approval ended before 2015 or if we
ask you to.
Tax Tips
You may be able to transfer all or part of your disability
amount (and, if it applies, the supplement) to your
spouse or common-law partner (who would claim it on
line 326) or to another supporting person (who would
claim it on line 318).
cra.gc.ca
51
Notes
You cannot claim the unused part of this amount if the
spouse or common-law partner of the person with a
disability is already claiming the disability amount or
any other non-refundable tax credit (other than medical
expenses) for the person with a disability.
If you are splitting the unused part of this amount with
another person, attach a note to your paper return that
includes the name and social insurance number of the
other person who is claiming this amount. The total
claimed for that dependant cannot exceed the maximum
amount allowed for that dependant.
If so, only you can claim an amount for the interest you, or
a person related to you, paid on that loan in 2015 or the
preceding five years.
You can claim an amount only for interest you have not
already claimed. If you have no tax payable for the year the
interest is paid, it is to your advantage not to claim it on
your return. You can carry the interest forward and apply it
on your return for any of the next five years.
Notes
You cannot claim interest paid on any other kind of loan
or on a student loan that has been combined with
another kind of loan. If you renegotiated your student
loan with a bank or financial institution or included it in
an arrangement to consolidate your loans, the interest on
the new loan does not qualify for this tax credit.
You may have a loan under the Canada Student Loans Act,
the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, the Apprentice
Loans Act, or similar provincial or territorial government
laws for post-secondary education. For more information
about the Canada Apprentice Loan if you are training as a
registered Red Seal apprentice in a designated trade,
contact Employment and Social Development Canada or
visit servicecanada.gc.ca.
52
cra.gc.ca
You can get these forms from us. You can also get
Form TL11B from your flying school or club.
Education amount
You can claim this amount for each whole or part month
in 2015 in which you were enrolled in a qualifying program. If
you were under 16 years of age at the end of the year, you can
claim this amount only for courses you took at the
post-secondary level.
Textbook amount
You can claim this amount only if you are entitled to claim
the education amount.
The following are the amounts you can claim:
cra.gc.ca
53
54
cra.gc.ca
yourself;
Notes
On the return for a person who died in 2015, a claim can
be made for expenses paid in any 24-month period that
includes the date of death if they were not claimed for
any other year.
Tax Tip
Compare the amount you can claim with the amount
your spouse or common-law partner would be allowed
to claim. It may be better for the spouse or common-law
partner with the lower net income (line 236) to claim the
allowable medical expenses. You can make whichever
claim you prefer.
Tax Tip
There is a refundable tax credit for working individuals
with low incomes and eligible medical expenses. See
line 452.
cra.gc.ca
55
Example
Richard and his wife Pauline have two children. They have
reviewed their medical bills and decided that the 12-month
period ending in 2015 for which they will calculate their
claim is July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. They incurred
the following expenses:
Richard
$1,500
Pauline
$1,000
$1,800
$1,000
$5,300
Claim on line 331 the total of all allowable amounts for each
dependant.
The total allowable expenses for 2015 are $4,300, which will
be entered on line 330. Since Rob is over 18 years of age, his
expenses will be claimed on line 331.
Paulines net income on line 236 of her return is $32,000.
She calculates 3% of that amount as $960. Because the result
is less than $2,208, she enters $960 on line 27 (line 30 for
Quebec residents) and subtracts it from $4,300. The
difference is $3,340, which is the amount on line 28 (line 31
for Quebec residents).
Notes
These gifts do not include contributions to political
parties. If you contributed to a federal political party, see
lines 409 and 410 to find out about claiming a credit. If
you contributed to a provincial or territorial political
party, see the provincial or territorial forms in the forms
book to find out about claiming a credit. If you are a
resident of Quebec, refer to your provincial guide.
56
cra.gc.ca
Tax Tip
You do not have to claim on your return for 2015 the
donations you made in 2015. It may be more beneficial
for you to carry them forward and claim them on your
return for any of the next five years. No matter when
you claim them, you can claim them only once.
cra.gc.ca
57
Your allowable credit is the total of the credits for the year
for all provinces, up to 6.6667% of your taxable income
(line 260), not including any amounts on lines 208, 214, 215,
219, and 220. Write federal logging tax credit and enter
the allowable amount below line 55 on Schedule 1, or
line 58 for residents of Quebec. Subtract it from the total of
the amount on line 55 or line 58 and the amount of any
applicable recapture of investment tax credits.
58
cra.gc.ca
Tax Tip
Your province or territory may offer a similar tax credit.
For more information, see the provincial or territorial
forms in the forms book, unless you were a resident of
Quebec on December 31, 2015. In that case, see the
guide for the provincial income tax return for Quebec.
cra.gc.ca
59
60
cra.gc.ca
Notes
If you paid tax by instalments in 2015, claim the total of
your instalments on line 476.
If you paid foreign taxes, do not claim these amounts on
this line. Instead, you may be able to claim a foreign tax
credit. See line 405.
Note
If you or your spouse or common-law partner elected to
split pension income and you are the pension transferee,
include in the calculation of the transfer only the part of
the income tax added on line 437 relating to the
split-pension amount. If you are the pensioner, do not
include the part of the income tax subtracted on line 437
relating to the split-pension amount.
cra.gc.ca
61
You cannot claim this credit if the total of your net income
(line 236) and your spouses or common-law partners net
income (line 236 of his or her return, or the amount that it
would be if he or she filed a return), minus any amount
reported by you or your spouse or common-law partner on
lines 117 and 125 is $49,379 or more. In addition, if you or
your spouse or common-law partner deducted an amount
on line 213, and/or the amount for a repayment of
registered disability savings plan income included on
line 232, we will add these amounts to your or your
spouses or common-law partners net income when we
calculate this credit.
Note
If you were separated because of a breakdown in your
relationship for a period of 90 days or more that
included December 31, 2015, you do not have to include
your spouses or common-law partners income when
you calculate this credit.
Note
If you repaid some of the employment insurance (EI)
benefits you received, do not claim the repayment on
this line. You may be able to claim a deduction on
line 232 for the benefits you repaid.
If you had an eligible spouse, only one of you can claim the
basic WITB.
Note
The person who receives the WITB advance payments is
the person who must claim the basic WITB for the year.
If you had an eligible dependant, only one person can claim
the basic WITB for that eligible dependant.
62
cra.gc.ca
Notes
To calculate working income on lines 385 and 386 of
Schedule 6, you must include the tax-exempt part of
employment income, other employment income,
business income (excluding losses), and scholarship
income earned on a reserve. Also include on these lines
the tax-exempt part of any allowance you received as an
emergency volunteer.
To calculate adjusted family net income on lines 388
and 389 of Schedule 6, you must include the tax-exempt
part of all income earned or received on a reserve less
the deductions related to the income. For example, if you
are a registered Indian, or person entitled to be
registered under the Indian Act, and you received
employment insurance benefits shown in box 18 of
a T4E slip, you must include this amount on line 388.
Also include on these lines the tax-exempt part of any
allowance you received as an emergency volunteer.
Notes
Generally, you have to report as income any GST/HST
rebate you receive on the return for the year in which
you receive it. For example, you may claim a rebate on
your return for 2015. If we allow your claim and assess
that return in 2016, you must report the rebate on your
return for 2016.
If you received a GST/HST rebate in 2015 and you were
an employee, see line 104. If you are a partner, call our
business enquiries line at 1-800-959-5525.
cra.gc.ca
63
Notes
For a child who is eligible for the disability tax credit, the
requirement for significant physical activity is met if the
activities result in movement and in an observable use of
energy in a recreational context.
Note
If tax was withheld from your income, claim on line 437
the amounts shown on your information slips.
Prescribed program
To qualify for this tax credit, a program must:
be supervised;
64
cra.gc.ca
If your total payable (line 435) is less than your total credits
(line 482), enter the difference on line 484. This amount is
your refund. Generally, if the difference is $2 or less
for 2015, you will not receive a refund.
Note
One persons refund cannot be transferred to pay
another persons balance owing.
Although you may be entitled to a refund for 2015, we may
keep some or all of it if you:
Direct deposit
Direct deposit is a faster, more convenient, reliable, and
secure way to get your income tax refund and your credit
and benefit payments (including certain related provincial
or territorial program payments) directly into your account
at a financial institution in Canada.
Complete the Direct deposit Enrol or update section on
page 4 of your return to enrol for direct deposit, or to
update the banking information you have already given us.
Complete this section to request that all of your CRA
payments you may be receiving or owed be deposited into
the same account as your T1 refund.
Otherwise, you do not have to complete this section. The
information you previously provided will stay in effect
until you update it.
You can also enrol for direct deposit or update your
banking information you have already given us by going
to cra.gc.ca/myaccount.
If you pay your taxes by instalments (see page 68), you can
ask us to transfer your refund to your instalment account
for 2016 by attaching a note to your paper return or by
selecting this option when filing electronically. We will
transfer your full refund and consider this payment to have
been received on the date we assess your return.
Tired of standing
in line at the bank?
Sign up for direct deposit so you can skip the lines
and get your refund and benefit payments faster.
cra.gc.ca
65
Note
When a due date falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, or a
holiday recognized by the CRA, we consider your
payment to be made on time if we receive it or it is
postmarked on the next business day.
You can file your return early and make your payment as
late as April 30, 2016. If we process your return before the
date of the payment, your payment will appear on your
notice of assessment, but it will not reduce your balance
owing. We will credit your account on the date of the
payment.
If you do not deal promptly with your tax arrears, the CRA
can take serious measures including legal action such as
garnishing your income or your bank account or seizing
and selling your assets.
Tax Tip
Even if you cannot pay your balance owing right away,
file your return on time. Then you will not have to pay a
penalty for filing your return after the due date. For
more information, see What penalties and interest do
we charge? on page 9.
Making payments
has never been easier
To make an online payment, go to cra.gc.ca/payments, or
use your financial institutions online or telephone banking services.
66
cra.gc.ca
Bringing your
tax information
into focus
Your notice of assessment has a new look!
Weve made changes that make it easier to understand.
cra.gc.ca
67
go to cra.gc.ca/myaccount;
You should wait six to eight weeks from the time you file to
call.
68
cra.gc.ca
cra.gc.ca
69
How to contact us
Need a hand?
You may be able to use our Community
Volunteer Income Tax Program.
If you have a modest income and a simple tax situation, community
organization volunteers may be able to prepare your tax return for you.
70
cra.gc.ca
Representatives
On the move?
Let us know!
Did you know that you can change your address using My Account?
cra.gc.ca
71
Service complaints
You can expect to be treated fairly under clear and
established rules, and get a high level of service each time
you deal with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); see the
Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
If you are not satisfied with the service you received, try to
resolve the matter with the CRA employee you have been
dealing with or call the telephone number provided in the
CRAs correspondence. If you do not have contact
information, go to cra.gc.ca/contact.
If you still disagree with the way your concerns were
addressed, you can ask to discuss the matter with the
employees supervisor.
72
If you are still not satisfied, you can file a service complaint
by filling out Form RC193, Service-Related Complaint.
If the CRA has not resolved your service-related complaint,
you can submit a complaint with the Office of the
Taxpayers Ombudsman.
For more information, go to cra.gc.ca/complaints.
Reprisal complaint
If you believe that you have experienced reprisal, fill out
Form RC459, Reprisal Complaint.
For more information about reprisal complaints, go
to cra.gc.ca/reprisalcomplaints.
cra.gc.ca
Services
Available dates
All year
Press 4, then 3
All year
Press 5
Canada child tax benefit Find out if you are eligible for this benefit
and the date you can expect to receive the next payment.
Press 3, then 1
Press 2
Press 4, then 2
All year
Press 4, then 4
Press 4, then 1
Press 6, then 2
All year
Press 1
Universal child care benefit Find out if you are eligible for this benefit
and the date you can expect to receive the next payment.
Press 3, then 2
To get information from Telerefund, GST/HST credit, CCTB, UCCB, TFSA, or RRSP/PRPP deduction limit, you will have
to give us your social insurance number, your month and year of birth, and the total income you entered on line 150 of your
return.
To get information from Remittance vouchers and print request, you will have to give us your social insurance number, your
day, month, and year of birth, and the total income you entered on line 150 of your return. In addition, if your identification
has been validated, we will ask you to confirm the postal code we currently have on file.
If you call before May 1, you will need the total income amount you entered on line 150 of your 2014 return. If you call on
or after May 1, you will need the total income amount you entered on line 150 of your 2015 return.
cra.gc.ca
73
74
306
314
315
316
319
323
324
326
330
349
363
364
367
423
459
cra.gc.ca
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
609
610
611
630
631
632
655
702
703
710
882
883
899
999
Get ready to file your 2015 income tax and benefit return
Go to cra.gc.ca/getready
Take advantage of the quick, easy, and secure electronic services that the Canada Revenue Agency offers.
Electronic services
cra.gc.ca/electronicservices
NETFILE
cra.gc.ca/netfile
My Account
cra.gc.ca/myaccount
Direct deposit
cra.gc.ca/directdeposit
Electronic payments
cra.gc.ca/payments
Represent a Client
cra.gc.ca/representatives
EFILE
cra.gc.ca/efile-individuals
My Business Account
cra.gc.ca/mybusinessaccount
My Payment
cra.gc.ca/mypayment
cra.gc.ca/mobileapps
cra.gc.ca
75
Topics
76
Aboriginal peoples
cra.gc.ca/aboriginalpeoples
Authorize a representative
cra.gc.ca/myaccount
Auto-fill my return
cra.gc.ca/auto-fill
Change of address
cra.gc.ca/newaddress
cra.gc.ca/benefits-calculator
Collections
cra.gc.ca/collections
cra.gc.ca/resolvingdisputes
Contact us
cra.gc.ca/contact
cra.gc.ca/forms
cra.gc.ca/hbp
Important dates
cra.gc.ca/dates-ind
cra.gc.ca/international
Instalments
cra.gc.ca/instalments
cra.gc.ca/disability
cra.gc.ca/security
Protect yourself
cra.gc.ca/alert
cra.gc.ca/rdsp
cra.gc.ca/rrsp
cra.gc.ca/reviews
Service complaints
cra.gc.ca/complaints
Students
cra.gc.ca/students
cra.gc.ca/tips
cra.gc.ca/videogallery
cra.gc.ca/rights
cra.gc.ca/taxpayerrelief
Voluntary disclosures
cra.gc.ca/voluntarydisclosures
cra.gc.ca
Index
Page
Page
Auto-fill my return.................................................................... 10
Bank accounts............................................................................ 24
Bursaries ..................................................................................... 27
Buying a house ......................................................................... 49
Fellowships ................................................................................. 27
Filing a return due date .......................................................... 9
for deceased persons..................................... 9
for previous years ....................................... 11
requirements .................................................. 7
Forms book.................................................................................... 8
Commission income.................................................................. 20
Contacting us ............................................................................. 70
Identification .............................................................................. 15
Immigrants non-refundable tax credits .............................. 42
Instalments .................................................................................. 68
Donations .................................................................................... 56
Due date for returns.................................................................... 9
cra.gc.ca
77
Page
Page
Representatives .......................................................................... 71
My Account ................................................................................ 14
MyCRA ....................................................................................... 14
Scholarships ................................................................................ 27
Objections .................................................................................. 69
Payments .................................................................................... 66
Penalties ........................................................................................ 9
Pension income splitting .............................................. 22, 26, 33
Pensions from a foreign country............................................. 22
Refunds ...................................................................................... 68
Voluntary disclosures............................................................... 68
Registered disability savings plan (RDSP) .... 25, 26, 28, 37, 38
78
cra.gc.ca
ONLINE MAIL
GO TO cra.gc.ca/myaccount TODAY