Decision centre
Family Deductions & Caregiver Centre
A family expense can reduce taxable income, create a credit or change income-tested benefits. Start with the outcome you need.
Child care expense deduction
Apply actual costs, per-child caps and the earned-income limit.
Open this tool → Line 30425Canada caregiver amount
Screen an adult spouse or eligible-dependant claim using net income.
Open this tool → Monthly benefitCanada Child Benefit
Estimate monthly CCB from adjusted family net income.
Open this tool → DTCDisability tax credit
Estimate federal and provincial disability amounts and transfers.
Open this tool →How to use this group
Child care is a deduction from income; the caregiver amount is a non-refundable credit; CCB is an income-tested payment. Keeping those categories separate prevents double counting.
Frequently asked questions
Who claims the child care expense deduction — the higher- or lower-income spouse?
Generally the lower-income spouse or common-law partner must claim it, with limited exceptions (school attendance, illness, incarceration, or separation). This is different from most credits, which favour the higher-income filer.
Can I claim both the child care expense deduction and the Canada caregiver amount?
Yes — they apply to different situations. Child care expenses relate to costs of care so a parent can work, study or run a business. The Canada caregiver amount is a credit for supporting a spouse, common-law partner or dependant with a physical or mental impairment, regardless of care costs.
Does CCB count as income for other credits?
No. The Canada Child Benefit is completely tax-free and does not appear anywhere on your tax return, so it does not reduce the child care expense deduction, the caregiver amount, or any other income-tested credit.
Can the disability tax credit be transferred to a supporting family member?
Yes. If the person with the disability does not need the full DTC to reduce their own tax to zero, the unused portion can be transferred to a supporting spouse, parent, grandparent, or other eligible relative claiming the Canada caregiver amount for them.