help

[mengxingshifen]

I claimed $920 child care deduction for my older child(9 year old) in last year tax return. That fee was for his summer camp. I was at my maternity leave most of the time last year. Now they sent me a report and said I was not qualify for the child care deduction.
Do I have to take care of all my kids when I am at maternity leave?

Please share your experience.

 

[lazycatcat]

Based on my understanding, child care expenses have to be deducted from lower income earner of a couple. So, if only one of the couple works, the tax deduction can't be realized.

I think you can still claim against your income even if you are on maternity leave - if you have any income to claim against. If you don't have any income but your spouse does have income, I don't think you can claim against your spouse's income.

You may want to double confirm by checking maybe CRA website. The above is my understanding...In essence, taxation in Canada is on individual basis rather than family basis ...

 

[mengxingshifen]

thank you lazycatcat. I did have incomes last year except my EI part and I was the lower income earner.
I will check the cra website again.