Caregiver tax credit at a glance

Specifics

The amount varies according to the tax year. This tax credit concerns:

1. Caregivers supporting an adult with a severe and prolonged disability;
2. Caregivers supporting a parent who is 70 years of age or older.

It is in effect as of the 2020–2021 tax year and is divided into two components.

Component 1: a caregiver who may or may not be living with an adult with a disability

This component offers a universal credit of $1383 for caregivers who live with the person being cared for.

To this amount can be added an amount of $1383 that can be reduced according to the net income of the person being helped, with or without cohabitation. Starting at a net income of $22,180, the reducible amount will be reduced by 16% of the income that exceeds this threshold. The exit threshold is $29,993 where the deductible amount no longer applies. The deductible amount is reduced based on the income of the eligible individual. It is a good idea to discuss this with your accountant before taking any steps.

Eligibility criteria for the caregiver: must be a resident of Québec on December 31 of the year covered by the application.

Eligibility criteria for the person being assisted:

• A person who is 18 years of age or older and has a severe and prolonged impairment that is certified by a physician to require assistance with performing a basic activity of daily living;
• Be the spouse, child, grandchild, nephew, niece, brother, sister, parent, uncle, aunt, grandparent, great-uncle or great-aunt of the caregiver or spouse, or other direct ascendant of the caregiver or spouse;
• For caregivers who are not related to the person being cared for, a certificate certifying the actual involvement of the caregiver must be completed by a health professional. This certificate must be submitted with the application for the tax credit;
• Not be living in a seniors’ residence or a public facility.

Component 2: Caregiver cohabiting with a person (other than their spouse) who is 70 years of age or older and who does not have a disability

This component provides a general credit of $1383 for caregivers who live with the person being cared for.

Eligibility criteria for the caregiver: be a resident of Québec on December 31 of the year covered by the application, and be living with the person being cared for (owners, co-owners, tenants, co-tenants or sub-tenants). The period of cohabitation must last 365 consecutive days, including at least 183 days during the taxation year.

Eligibility criteria for the person being assisted:

• A person 70 years of age or older without a severe and prolonged impairment;
• Be the parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt, great-uncle, great-aunt of the caregiver or their spouse, or another direct ascendant of the caregiver or their spouse;
• Not be living in a seniors’ residence or a public facility;
• Not be the spouse of the person being cared for.

Mini glossary

• Refundable tax credit: amount paid to you if you are entitled to it. If you do not pay taxes during the tax year, this amount will still be issued to you;
• Non-refundable tax credit: reduces the amount of tax you pay on your taxable income, but does not entitle you to a refund;
• Dwelling: in addition to houses, apartments (excluding RPAs) or condos, housing cooperatives, low-income housing and non-profit housing organizations (except group homes) are accepted;
• Deductible amount, fixed amount: depending on the net income of the eligible assisted person, the tax credit may be reduced. A reduction rate of 16% applies from a net income of $24,540 up to $33,184, at which point the reducible additional assistance becomes nil. In addition, the caregiver receives no tax assistance if he or she does not cohabit with the eligible person whose net income exceeds a certain amount (depending on the taxation year). The caregiver living with the eligible person receives the fixed amount if the minimum cohabitation period required for application of the tax credit is reached;
• Relationship: for Component 1, the person being helped must be the spouse, child, grandchild, nephew, niece, brother, sister, parent, uncle, aunt, grandparent, great-uncle or great-aunt of the caregiver or spouse; or any other direct ascendant of the caregiver or spouse. For caregivers with no family ties to the person being cared for, it is possible to have the Certificate of ongoing assistance completed. For Component 2, the person being helped must be the parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt, great-uncle or great-aunt of the caregiver or spouse; or any other direct ascendant of the caregiver or spouse.

Other tax advantages for caregivers

Caregivers of seniors and their families can benefit from other tax credits, including:

• Caregiver respite tax credit;
• Tax credit for in-home support for seniors.