CA Tax Tools

Canadian Tuition Tax Credit Calculator

The Canadian tuition tax credit reduces the income tax a student (or, via transfer, their parent or spouse) owes. This calculator handles the federal credit, the provincial credit (where it still exists), the $5,000 transfer cap, and any unused amount that carries forward.

Student Details

Transfer unused credit to:

Federal credit (14.5%)

Tuition + carryforward$7,500
Credit value$1,088
Used by student$0
Transferred to parent$725
Carried forward$363

Provincial credit — Ontario

Ontario abolished its provincial tuition credit for tax year 2018+. Pre-abolition unused amounts can still be claimed by the student until used up. The federal credit still applies normally.

Total tax savings this year

Student saves

$0

Parent saves

$725

Household combined

$725

Recommendation: Use $0 federal yourself, transfer $725 federal to your parent, and carry $363 forward.
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Frequently asked questions

How does the federal tuition tax credit work?

You multiply your eligible tuition by the lowest federal tax bracket rate (15% for 2024, 14.5% for 2025, 14% from 2026 onward following the rate cut). The result is a non-refundable credit that reduces your federal tax owing — but cannot generate a refund on its own.

Which provinces no longer offer a provincial tuition credit?

Yukon (2017+), Ontario (2018+), Saskatchewan (2018+), British Columbia (2019+), and Alberta (2020+) have abolished their provincial tuition credits. New Brunswick eliminated its credit in 2017 but reinstated it in 2019. All other provinces and territories still offer the credit at their lowest provincial bracket rate. Quebec uses Schedule T at a flat 8% rate, filed separately with Revenu Québec.

How much can I transfer to a parent or spouse?

Federally, up to $5,000 of tuition (= $750 of credit at 15%, less for later years following the federal rate cut) can be transferred to a spouse, parent, or grandparent — but only the amount the student does not need to reduce their own tax to zero. Any excess beyond the transfer cap carries forward indefinitely for the student.

What if I have no tax owing this year?

The credit is non-refundable, so you can't claim it as a refund. You can transfer up to $5,000 of tuition to a relative for them to use, and any remaining amount carries forward indefinitely until you have taxable income to apply it against.

Can I split the credit between using it myself, transferring it, and carrying it forward?

Yes — and that's exactly how the calculator works. The student first uses as much as needed to reduce their own tax to zero. Anything left over (up to the $5,000 transfer limit, less what was used) can be transferred. Anything still left carries forward to next year.

Related Calculators

Last updated April 2026. Reflects 2024, 2025, and 2026 tax year rates.

Last updated April 19, 2026Tax year 2026

Data sources: CRA (canada.ca)

This tool is general information only, not financial advice.

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