Child care costs are not claimed as a non-refundable tax credit, but as a deduction from income on line 214 of the personal tax
return. A non-refundable tax credit is always at the lowest tax rate
(except in Quebec), but a reduction of income would save tax at the
taxpayer’s marginal tax rate.
In most cases, child care expenses for an eligible child must be claimed by the parent with the lower net income for tax purposes. If the parents are separated and share custody, sometimes each parent may claim a portion of the child care costs. Where a medical doctor certifies in writing that the lower-income spouse is incapable of caring for the child due to a physical or mental infirmity, then the costs may be claimed by the higher income spouse.
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