You have to be at least 70 years old to qualify for the tax credit for home-support services.
When you reach the age of 70 and reside in Québec at the end of the year, you may be eligible for the tax credit for home-support services for seniors. You can claim the tax credit for home-support services for seniors when filing your tax return by completing Schedule J. If you are 70 years old this year, the expenses incurred as of the date you reach this age make you eligible for the tax credit.
The home-support services for seniors tax credit is meant to reduce the expenses related to home-support and/or to reduce the cost of rent in a residence:
- Rent payments to the residence are reduced thanks to the tax credit
Autonomous seniors who are living in a senior’s residence could benefit from a reduction in rent of 21% by claiming the home-support services for seniors tax credit.
For those seniors who are dependent and who live in a residence with care, their rent could be reduced by 25%.
- Cost of home care is reduced thanks to the tax credit
Depending on the type of housing in which you live, you may be entitled to the tax credit for some regular home-support services.
To find out if you qualify for the tax credit for home-support services for seniors, refer to page 8 of the Overview of the tax credit for home-support services for seniors document.
Find out how much you may be entitled to using the Advance Payments Estimator
In order to know the amount for which you may be eligible if you request advance payments for the tax credit for home-support services for seniors, visit the Advance Payments Estimator.
Maximum eligible expenses and the allocated tax credit
- Autonomous single person:
- The maximum eligible expenses for a single autonomous person are $19,500 per year.
- The maximum annual tax credit is $6,825, or 35%of $19,500.
- Single non-autonomous person:
- The maximum eligible expenses for a non-autonomous single person are $25,500 per year.
- The maximum annual tax credit is $ 8,925, or 35% of $25,500.
Note: To confirm that you are a non-autonomous person, you might have to provide a written statement from your doctor, namely the certification of dependent senior status form.
Involuntary separation influences the tax credit amount
If you and your spouse were separated for reasons beyond your control, you could be eligible for Revenue Canada’s “involuntary separation” measure. Involuntary separation means that your and your spouse will be considered as single individuals. The amount of your tax credit will then be calculated according to your revenue as a single person rather than as a couple.
Living separately because of your spouse’s state of health
In order for the amount of the tax credit to be based on your income as a single person, you must have stopped living with your spouse solely for a medical or financial reason, for example if your spouse is living in a long-term care facility.
Keep Revenue Canada informed about your situation
Revenue Canada needs to be updated about your situation because it will have an impact on the amount of the tax credit for home-support services for seniors.
Form to be completed for the involuntary separation tax credit
To benefit from this measure you need to complete a “Statutory Declaration – Separation of Legal Spouses and Common-law Partners.”
Sources:
Retraite Québec
Revenu Québec
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