Credit at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-refundable federal tax credit |
| Maximum qualifying amount | $500 per year |
| Credit rate | 15% |
| Maximum tax savings | $75 per year |
| Claimed on | Line 31350 of federal tax return |
| What qualifies | Digital news subscriptions from QCJOs |
| What does NOT qualify | Print-only subscriptions, TV/radio, podcasts, magazines |
| Who can claim | Any Canadian individual taxpayer |
How the Credit Works
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 | You pay for a digital news subscription from an eligible organization |
| 2 | Only the digital access portion counts (not print delivery) |
| 3 | Keep your receipt or credit card statement as proof |
| 4 | At tax time, enter the amount on Line 31350 (up to $500) |
| 5 | The credit reduces your federal tax by 15% of the amount claimed |
Credit Calculation Examples
| Annual Subscription Cost | Qualifying Amount | Tax Credit (15%) |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | $100 | $15 |
| $200 | $200 | $30 |
| $350 | $350 | $52.50 |
| $500 | $500 | $75 |
| $700 | $500 (capped) | $75 |
What Qualifies
| Qualifies | Does NOT Qualify |
|---|---|
| Digital subscription to QCJO newspaper | Print-only newspaper subscription |
| Online-only access to QCJO publication | Magazine subscriptions |
| Digital portion of a print + digital bundle | TV news subscriptions (CBC Gem, etc.) |
| Multiple qualifying subscriptions (up to $500 total) | Radio subscriptions / podcasts |
| Gifts of qualifying subscriptions (if you paid) | Foreign news subscriptions (NYT, WSJ, etc.) |
| Social media or aggregator services | |
| Streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, etc.) |
Eligible Canadian Journalism Organizations (Examples)
National Publications
| Publication | Eligible? | Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Globe and Mail | ✅ QCJO | National newspaper |
| Toronto Star / thestar.com | ✅ QCJO | National/Ontario newspaper |
| National Post / Financial Post | ✅ QCJO | National newspaper |
| La Presse | ✅ QCJO | Quebec national newspaper |
| Le Devoir | ✅ QCJO | Quebec national newspaper |
Regional / Local Publications (Selection)
| Publication | Province | Eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Sun | BC | ✅ QCJO |
| Calgary Herald | AB | ✅ QCJO |
| Edmonton Journal | AB | ✅ QCJO |
| Winnipeg Free Press | MB | ✅ QCJO |
| Ottawa Citizen | ON | ✅ QCJO |
| Hamilton Spectator | ON | ✅ QCJO |
| Halifax Chronicle Herald | NS | ✅ QCJO |
| Telegraph-Journal | NB | ✅ QCJO |
NOT Eligible (Common Misconceptions)
| Publication/Service | Why Not Eligible |
|---|---|
| CBC News | Public broadcaster — not a QCJO |
| CTV News | Broadcast media — not a QCJO |
| Global News | Broadcast media — not a QCJO |
| BNN Bloomberg | Broadcast/digital media |
| Maclean’s | Magazine, not a newspaper |
| The New York Times | Foreign publication |
| The Washington Post | Foreign publication |
| The Economist | Foreign publication |
| Substack newsletters | Not designated QCJOs |
| The Walrus | Magazine |
How to Check if Your Subscription Qualifies
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check the CRA’s list of designated QCJOs at canada.ca |
| 2 | Search for your publication name |
| 3 | If listed, your digital subscription qualifies |
| 4 | If not listed, the credit cannot be claimed |
| 5 | Contact the publication directly — they may know their QCJO status |
Print + Digital Bundle Rules
| Scenario | What You Can Claim |
|---|---|
| Digital-only subscription | Full amount (up to $500) |
| Print + digital bundle | Only the digital access portion |
| How to determine digital portion | Publication should indicate the digital-only price; if not, CRA accepts a reasonable allocation |
| Publication provides a breakdown | Use that breakdown |
| No breakdown available | Use the standalone digital subscription price as the qualifying amount |
Claiming the Credit on Your Tax Return
| Tax Software | Where to Enter |
|---|---|
| TurboTax | “Digital news subscription” in deductions/credits |
| Wealthsimple Tax | Under “Provincial and Federal Credits” |
| H&R Block | Line 31350 in credits section |
| Paper return | Line 31350, Schedule 1 |
| What to Keep for Your Records |
|---|
| Subscription receipt or invoice |
| Credit card or bank statement showing payment |
| Name of the publication |
| Confirmation it’s a QCJO (from CRA list) |
| Amount paid for digital access |
Is the Credit Worth It?
| Consideration | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum savings | $75/year (15% × $500) |
| If you already subscribe | Free money — claim it |
| If you would not otherwise subscribe | $500 cost for $75 credit = you still spend $425 net |
| Best strategy | Claim if you already pay for digital news anyway |
| Combine subscriptions | Multiple qualifying subscriptions can be combined up to $500 |