Even with $0 income, filing gets you $500+ in credits.
What You Need to File
Document
Where to Get It
T2202 (tuition)
Your university/college online portal
T4 (employment income)
Your employer or CRA My Account
T4A (scholarships/bursaries)
Your school or CRA My Account
SIN
Your SIN card/letter
Direct deposit info
For faster refund
Rent receipts (some provinces)
From your landlord
Setting Up CRA My Account
Step
Action
1
Go to canada.ca → CRA My Account
2
Sign in or register (use bank sign-in for easiest access)
3
Once verified, you can access auto-fill and view T-slips
How to File Step-by-Step
Using Wealthsimple Tax (Free)
Step
Action
Time
1
Go to wealthsimple.com/tax, create account
2 min
2
Enter personal info (name, SIN, address)
2 min
3
Use CRA auto-fill to import T4, T4A slips
2 min
4
Add T2202 (tuition) from your school’s form
3 min
5
Check if you have any other income (interest, freelancing)
1 min
6
Review — software calculates refund/credits
2 min
7
NETFILE to CRA
1 min
8
Wait 2-3 weeks for refund via direct deposit
—
Total
~15 minutes
Student Income: What’s Taxable
Not Taxable ✅
Income Type
Tax Status
Most scholarships and bursaries
Tax-free (for full-time students)
Canada Student Grant
Tax-free
Government student loans
Not income
Gifts from parents
Not taxable
RESP withdrawals (EAP)
Taxable to student (but usually $0 tax)
Taxable 💰
Income Type
T-Slip
Notes
Part-time job
T4
Tax withheld, get refund if low income
Co-op/internship
T4
Taxable employment income
Freelancing/tutoring
None (self-report)
Report on T2125
Interest income
T5
If over $50
Tips (cash)
None (self-report)
Technically taxable
Tuition Tax Credit
How It Works
Detail
Amount
Credit rate
15% federal + provincial rate
Example: $8,000 tuition
$1,200 federal credit + ~$400-800 provincial
Can carry forward?
✅ Yes, indefinitely
Can transfer?
✅ Up to $5,000 to parent or spouse
Carry Forward vs Transfer
Option
When to Choose
Carry forward
If you expect higher income after graduation (best for most students)
Transfer to parent
If parent has high income now and you won’t for years
Use now
If you have enough income this year to offset
Best strategy for most students: Carry forward tuition credits until you’re working full-time after graduation, when they’ll offset taxes at a higher income level.
Example
Year
Situation
Credits Available
Used
Remaining
Year 1-4 (student)
$8,000/yr tuition, $10,000 income
$4,800 accumulates
$0 (no tax owing)
$4,800
Year 5 (graduated)
$55,000 salary
$4,800 carried forward
$4,800
$0
Tax savings at graduation
~$1,500
Scholarship and Bursary Tax Rules
Full-Time Students
Type
Taxable?
Entrance scholarships
❌ Tax-free
Academic scholarships
❌ Tax-free
Research grants (related to program)
❌ Tax-free
Bursaries
❌ Tax-free
RESP EAP withdrawal
✅ Taxable (but offset by BPA)
Full-time students enrolled in a qualifying program pay $0 tax on scholarships/bursaries.
Part-Time Students
Type
Taxable?
Scholarship/bursary
Taxable above tuition + materials cost
Basic Personal Amount
Covers first $16,129 of income
GST/HST Credit for Students
Eligibility
Requirement
Details
Age
19+ (or younger if married/common-law/parent)
Resident
Canadian resident
File a tax return
Must file to receive it
Income-based
Full amount if income under ~$45,000
Amount (2026)
Status
Annual Amount
Quarterly Payment
Single
Up to $519
~$130
Married/common-law
Up to $680
~$170
Per child
+$179
+$45
This alone makes filing worth it. Most students receive the full amount.
Student-Specific Deductions and Credits
Credit/Deduction
Who Qualifies
Value
Tuition credit
Students with T2202
15% × tuition
Student loan interest
Post-graduation
15% of interest paid
Moving expenses
Moved 40+ km for school/work
Actual costs
Transit pass (some provinces)
Ontario eliminated federal, check provincial
Varies
Canada Training Credit
Ages 26-65 (future benefit)
$250/year accumulates
Work-from-home (if applicable)
Remote work/co-op
$2/day or detailed
Filing as an International Student
Requirements
Document
Details
SIN
Apply at Service Canada with study permit
ITN (if no SIN)
Apply with first tax return
Residency status
Usually “deemed resident” if in Canada 183+ days
Benefits Available
Benefit
Available to International Students?
GST/HST credit
✅ Yes (after 19th birthday)
Provincial credits
✅ Most provinces
Tuition credit
✅ Yes
Canada Child Benefit
✅ If you have children in Canada
Carbon rebate
✅ Yes
First-Time Filing Tips
Get your SIN from Service Canada before filing
Use Wealthsimple Tax — it handles newcomer situations well
File for every year you’ve been in Canada
Enter your date of entry into Canada
Claim tuition credits from Canadian institutions
Common Student Tax Mistakes
Mistake
Fix
Not filing because “I don’t earn enough”
File anyway — you’re missing $500+/year in credits