The Canadian government allows the Canada Training Credit (CTC), which helps eligible Canadians cover their training or education costs. Canadians can claim the CTC credit on their income and benefit tax return for the 2024 tax year before the deadline, 30 April 2025.
The training refundable credit is available for an eligible educational institution in Canada for the courses you studied in the tax year or paid fees for an occupation, professional, or trade exam participated in the year.
Canadians who wish to claim this credit should know about their Canada Training credit limit for the year to use this credit towards their educational or training occupation for better future opportunities. Every year, Canadians can get a credit depending on CTCL or their tuition fees on their tax returns.
| Credit | Canada Training Credit |
| Lifetime CTCL (Canada Training Credit Limit) | $5000 |
| CTCL Increase by | $250 |
| Tax year | 2024 |
| How much? | Whichever is less between – $250 or half of the tuition fee or other fee of the eligible institution |
| Who qualifies? | Canadian resident; aged between 26 to 66 years old; filed an income tax return for the tax year you received the training in; paid the tuition fee, |
| How to claim? | Schedule 11 or Line 45350 With tax return |
| Tax Deadline | 30 April 2025 |
| Official Website | https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-training-credit/who-can-claim.html |
What is CTCL?
According to the Canada Training Credit, Canadians can get their Canada Training Credit limit for the year through their recent notice of reassessment or assessment. The training credit eligibility is reviewed by the Canada Revenue Agency each year when you file your income tax and benefit return.
The lifetime training credit limit for Canadians is $5000, so every year, if you qualify for the CTC, the CRA increases your CTCL by $250. So, when you make the claim for the training credit with your tax returns, you can at least collect the CTCL of $250 every year, until you have used the full amount.
Who can claim?
The Canadians who wish to claim the training credit this year can check the eligibility criteria for the Canada Tax Credit below:
- It’s mandatory to file an income tax return and benefit return for the tax year when you paid for the education course or training.
- The credit is available only to Canadian residents who were living in Canada throughout the tax year.
- The age limit for the CTC is between 26 years old and 66 years old as on the end of the tax year.
- You paid tuition or other educational fees to a recognized educational institution in Canada for classes you completed during the tax year for which you are claiming credit, or to specific organizations for a trade, professional, or occupational exam.
- You may claim the tuition tax credit if your tuition and other payments qualify for the tuition tax credit.
Eligible Institution
According to the CRA standards for the CTC, the qualified educational institutions utilized to calculate the credit are:
- A Canadian post-secondary educational institution, such as a university or college,
- A Canadian institution that offers courses in vocational skills and such courses has been certified and approved by the Minister of Employment and Social Development
How much?
According to the Canada Revenue Agency, Canadians who qualify for the CTC get the credit depending on two factors, whichever amount comes less for the year is your credit amount. The Canadian CTC amount depends on the following two factors, which determine their credit:
- Your CTCL for the tax year determines your credit based on the assessment of the tax returns, or
- 50% of the tuition fees and other charges you paid to an eligible educational institution in Canada, or charges paid for the trade, professional, or occupation examination.
If your CTC refundable credit exceeds the amount of tax owed to the agency, you will have an additional refund of the difference. With a CTC claim, your CTCL for the future will be reduced, and you can claim till it reaches the lifetime value.
How to claim?
Canadians who intend to claim the Canada Training credit in this tax season should file the tax return before the deadline by following these steps:
- You must collect the documents that are needed to file the Canada income tax return and other documents to claim the training credit.
- Next, you must claim the training credit (CTC) in “Line 4530” of your income tax returns.
- If you are filing the tax return online through certified tax software, you can follow the instructions of the software; however, if you are filing through the paper return, claim “Schedule 11 Line 32000” with the tax return.
- Once you have filed the income tax return with CTC claimed, you should keep the submitted return copy for future use.
The Canada training credit is a boon for many individuals learning new skills and creating better opportunities for their career goals without worrying about the finances, so if you qualify for the CTC credit, claim it with your 2024 tax year return before 30 April 2025.