5006-PC Information for Residents of Ontario

What’s new for Ontario for 2018?

The personal income levels and most provincial non-refundable tax credit amounts have increased according to the Ontario consumer price index.

The Ontario tuition and education tax credits have been discontinued. Students can continue to carry forward unused amounts to claim in a future year.

Ontario residents may be eligible to claim the new federal refundable credit for the climate action incentive. For more information, see Schedule 14, Climate Action Incentive.

Ontario benefits for individuals and families

Ontario child benefit

The Ontario child benefit (OCB) is a non-taxable amount paid to help low- to moderate-income families provide for their children. The OCB and the Canada child benefit (CCB) are delivered together in one monthly payment.

To receive the OCB, you (and your spouse or common-law partner) need to file your income tax and benefit return(s) and be eligible for the CCB. You only need to apply once in a lifetime for each child under the age of 18 in your care.

If you are new to Canada or returning to Canada, call the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) at 1-800-387-1193 for specific instructions on how to apply.

If you are the parent of a newborn, you can apply for child benefits when you register your child’s birth using Ontario’s newborn registration service at Register a birth (new baby).

If you are not registering a newborn, you can apply online through CRA’s My Account at My Account for Individuals by selecting “Apply for child benefits” or by completing Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application.

If you have applied for child benefits through the newborn registration service, do not re-apply online or complete Form RC66 for your child. Re-applying may cause a delay in processing your application and issuing payments.

For more information about the OCB, go to Canada child benefit – Overview.

File your return

To make sure your payments arrive on time, you (and your spouse or common law partner) need to file your 2018 income tax and benefit return(s) by April 30, 2019. The CRA will use the information from your return(s) to determine your eligibility and calculate the amount of any payments you are entitled to get.

The OCB is fully funded by the Province of Ontario. For specific information about your benefit, call the CRA’s child and family benefits enquiries line at 1-800-387-1193 or by teletypewriter (TTY) at 1-800-665-0354.

Ontario opportunities fund

The Ontario opportunities fund gives Ontario taxpayers a chance to directly reduce the Province’s debt. If you want to contribute to the Ontario opportunities fund from your 2018 tax refund, complete the “Ontario opportunities fund” section on page 4 of your return.

You will be issued a receipt that can be used with your 2019 return. For more information about gifts to government, see Pamphlet P113, Gifts and Income Tax.

Your donation will not be processed if it is less than $2, or if the refund you have calculated is reduced by $2 or more when the CRA assesses your return.

Completing your Ontario forms

You can download and print copies of ON428, Ontario Tax, Form ON479, Ontario Credits, and Form ON-BEN, Application for the 2019 Ontario Trillium Benefit and Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant, which you need to calculate your Ontario tax and credits. Complete the forms that apply to you and attach a copy to your return.

Definitions

Spouse refers to a person to whom you are legally married.

Common-law partner refers to a person who is not your spouse but with whom you are in a conjugal relationship, and at least one of the following conditions applies:

• This person has been living with you in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months (including any period of time where you were separated for less than 90 days because of a breakdown in the relationship).
• This person is the parent of your child by birth or adoption.
• This person has custody and control of your child (or had custody and control immediately before the child turned 19 years of age) and your child is wholly dependent on them for support.

End of the year means any of the three following dates:

• December 31, 2018 if you were a resident of Ontario on that date
• the date you left Canada if you emigrated in 2018
• the date of death for a resident of Ontario who died in 2018

Form ON428, Ontario Tax

Complete Form ON428 if you were a resident of Ontario at the end of the year.

If you were a non-resident of Canada in 2018, complete Form ON428 if one of the following applies:

• You earned income from employment in Ontario.
• You received income from a business with a permanent establishment only in Ontario.

Complete Form T2203, Provincial and Territorial Taxes for 2018 – Multiple Jurisdictions, instead of completing Form ON428 if both of the following apply:

• You had income from a business (including income you received as a limited or non-active partner).
• The business has a permanent establishment outside Ontario.

Part A – Ontario non-refundable tax credits

The eligibility criteria and rules for claiming most of the Ontario non-refundable tax credits are the same as those for the corresponding federal non-refundable tax credits. However, the value and calculation of most Ontario non-refundable tax credits are different from the corresponding federal credits.

Newcomers to Canada and emigrants

If you reduced your claim for the amounts on lines 300 to 307, 316, 318, and 326 of your federal Schedule 1, you also need to reduce the corresponding Ontario amounts on lines 5804 to 5819, 5844, 5848, and 5864 in the same manner.

Line 5812 – Spouse or common-law partner amount

You can claim this amount if the rules are met for claiming the amount on line 303 of federal Schedule 1 and your spouse’s or common-law partner’s net income (line 236 of their return or the amount that it would be if they filed a return) is less than $9,671.

Line 5816 – Amount for an eligible dependant

You can claim this amount if the rules are met for claiming the amount on line 305 of federal Schedule 1 and your dependant’s net income (line 236 of their return, or the amount that it would be if they filed a return) is less than $9,671.

Line 5819 – Ontario caregiver amount

You may be able to claim this amount for an eligible relative who was dependent on you because of a mental or physical impairment at any time in the year.

An eligible relative is a dependant 18 years of age or older before the end of the year who is your (or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s):

• child or grandchild
• parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew who was resident in Canada at any time in the year

You can claim this amount if the rules are met for claiming one of the following:

• the amount for an eligible dependant (who has an impairment and is 18 years of age or older) at line 305 of federal Schedule 1
• the amount on line 307 of federal Schedule 1

Your dependant’s net income (line 236 of their return, or the amount that it would be if they filed a return) must be less than $21,577.

You can only claim this amount for dependants who have an impairment. You can no longer claim this amount for your (or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s) parents or grandparents unless they have an impairment.

Line 5833 – Adoption expenses

You can claim this amount if the rules are met for claiming the amount on line 313 of federal Schedule 1.

You can claim up to $12,632 of eligible expenses for each child in the year the adoption is finalized or recognized under Ontario law.

Two adoptive parents can split the amount if the total combined claim for eligible expenses for each child is not more than the amount before the split.

Line 5836 – Pension income amount

The amount you can claim on line 5836 is the amount on line 314 of your federal Schedule 1 or $1,432, whichever is less.

Line 5844 – Disability amount (for self)

You can claim this amount if you met the rules for claiming the amount on line 316 of federal Schedule 1.

If you were 18 years of age or older at the end of the year, enter $8,365 on line 5844 of Form ON428.

If you were under 18 years of age at the end of the year, complete the calculation for line 5844 using Worksheet ON428.

Line 5848 – Disability amount transferred from a dependant

You can claim this amount if the rules are met for claiming the amount on line 318 of federal Schedule 1.

Line 5856 – Your unused tuition and education amounts

Complete the “Carryforward of unused amounts” section of Schedule ON(S11), Provincial Tuition and Education Amounts, to calculate the amount you can carry forward to a future year. This amount is the part of your tuition and education amount that you do not need to use for the year.

Supporting documents
If you are filing electronically, keep all your documents in case we ask to see them later. If you are filing a paper return, attach your completed Schedule ON (S11), but keep all your documents in case we ask to see them later.

Line 5868 – Medical expenses for self, spouse or common-law partner, and your dependent children born in 2001 or later

The medical expenses you can claim on line 5868 are the same as those you can claim on line 330 of your federal Schedule 1, except for the following:

• If the amount you claimed for medical expenses on your federal Schedule 1 includes an amount for attendant care expenses that was limited to $10,000 ($20,000 in the year of death), the maximum Ontario claim for attendant care expenses is $14,318 ($28,637 in the year of death).
• The maximum Ontario claim for the cost of a van adapted for transporting a patient who requires the use of a wheelchair is $7,159.
• The maximum Ontario claim for moving expenses for a patient’s move to a more accessible dwelling is $2,864.

The federal and provincial medical expenses you claim have to cover the same 12-month period ending in 2018 and must be expenses that were not claimed for 2017.

The total medical expenses have to be more than either 3% of your net income (line 236 of your return) or $2,343, whichever is less.

Line 5872 – Allowable amount of medical expenses for other dependants

You can claim medical expenses for other dependants in addition to the medical expenses claimed on line 5868.

The medical expenses you can claim on line 5872 are the same as those you can claim on line 331 of your federal Schedule 1, except for the items listed under line 5868. They have to cover the same 12-month period ending in 2018 and must be expenses that were not claimed for 2017.

The total expenses for each dependant must be more than either 3% of that dependant’s net income (line 236 of their return) or $2,343, whichever is less. The maximum amount you can claim is $12,632 for each dependant.

Part C – Ontario tax

Line 38 – Ontario tax on split income

If you need to pay federal tax on split income on line 424 of your federal Schedule 1, complete Part 3 of Form T1206, Tax on Split Income, to calculate the Ontario tax that applies to this income and enter the amount on line 428 of your return.

For more information about tax on split income, see your Federal income tax and benefit guide.

Line 57 – Ontario additional tax for minimum tax purposes

If you need to pay federal minimum tax as calculated on Form T691, Alternative Minimum Tax, complete the calculation on line 57 of Worksheet ON428 to determine your Ontario additional tax for minimum tax purposes.

For more information about minimum tax, see your Federal income tax and benefit guide.

Part D – Ontario tax reduction

If you were a resident of Canada at the beginning of 2018 and a resident of Ontario on December 31, 2018, you may be able to claim an Ontario tax reduction.

Only one person can claim the reduction for a dependent child born in 2000 or later (line 61) or a dependant with a mental or physical impairment (line 62).

If you had a spouse or common-law partner on December 31, 2018, only the spouse or common-law partner with the higher net income (line 236 of their return) can claim the amounts on lines 61 and 62.

You cannot claim the tax reduction if you were subject to the Ontario additional tax for minimum tax purposes at line 57.

If you are preparing a return for a resident of Ontario who died in 2018, you can claim the tax reduction on their final return.

Line 61 – Reduction for dependent children born in 2000 or later

Enter beside box 6269 the number of dependent children you have. Claim $442 for each dependent child.

If the child has a mental or physical impairment, claim an additional $442 for that dependant on line 62.

Who is a dependent child?

A dependent child is a person who met all of the following conditions:

• They were 18 years of age or younger on December 31, 2018.
• They lived with you in 2018.
• They were your (or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s) child.

A child is not a dependent child if either condition applies:

• The child has a spouse or common-law partner who is claiming an amount on line 5812.
• Someone is receiving an amount under the federal Children’s Special Allowances Act in respect of that child.

Line 62 – Reduction for dependants with a mental or physical impairment

Enter beside box 6097 the number of dependants with a mental or physical impairment that you (or your spouse or common-law partner) are claiming an amount for on line 5816, 5819, or 5848 of Form ON428.

You can include a spouse or common-law partner with a mental or physical impairment if you are claiming a disability amount transferred from your spouse or common-law partner on line 3 of your Schedule ON(S2), Provincial Amounts Transferred From Your Spouse or Common-Law Partner.

You can also claim this reduction for each dependent child with a mental or physical impairment born in 2000 or later that you claimed on line 61.

Claim $442 for each of these dependants.

Part E – Ontario foreign tax credit

If your federal foreign tax credit on non-business income is less than the related tax you paid to a foreign country, you may be able to claim an Ontario foreign tax credit.

To claim this credit, complete Form T2036, Provincial or Territorial Foreign Tax Credit.

Enter on line 68 of Form ON428 the tax credit calculated at line 5 of Form T2036.

Supporting documents
If you are filing electronically, keep all your documents in case we ask to see them later. If you are filing a paper return, attach your Form T2036.

Part F – Community food program donation tax credit for farmers

You can claim the community food program donation tax credit for farmers if all of the following apply:

• You were a resident of Ontario at the end of the year.
• You or your spouse or common-law partner was a farmer.
• You made a qualifying donation to an eligible community food program in the year.
• You claimed the qualifying donation on line 340 of your federal Schedule 9 and on line 27 of your Form ON428 as a charitable donation or gift for the year.

A qualifying donation is a donation of one or more agricultural products produced in Ontario and donated to an eligible community food program in Ontario.

An agricultural product is any of the following:

• meat or meat by-products
• eggs or dairy products
• fish
• fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, herbs, nuts, or mushrooms
• honey or maple syrup
• anything else that is grown, raised or harvested on a farm and can legally be sold, distributed, or offered for sale at a place other than the producer’s premises as food in Ontario

An item of any of these types that has been processed is an agricultural product if it was processed only to the extent necessary to be legally sold away from the producer’s premises as food intended for human consumption. Items that have been processed beyond this point, such as pickles, preserves and sausages, are not agricultural products.

An eligible community food program is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act that meets one of the following conditions:

• It distributes food to the public without charge in Ontario and does so mainly to provide relief to the poor (food banks meet this condition).
• It operates or oversees one or more student nutrition programs.

The amount of qualifying donations can be split between a spouse or common-law partner. However, the total amount of qualifying donations cannot be more than the total of the qualifying donations made by both of them in the tax year.

If you are preparing a return for a person who died in 2018, you can claim this credit on their final return.

If you were bankrupt in 2018, claim your community food program donation tax credit on either the pre- or post-bankruptcy return you file for the tax year ending December 31, 2018, depending on when the qualifying donations were made. If qualifying donations are claimed on more than one return, the total amount of donations that can be claimed on all returns filed for the year cannot be more than the total qualifying donations made.

How to claim this credit

Enter beside box 6098 the amount of donations you have included on line 340 of your federal Schedule 9 that are qualifying donations for the community food program donation tax credit for farmers. Then enter 25% of this amount on line 70 of Form ON428.

Part G – Ontario health premium

If you were a resident of Ontario at the end of the year and your taxable income (line 260 of your return) is more than $20,000, you have to pay the Ontario health premium.

Complete the chart on Form ON428 to calculate your Ontario health premium. This premium is part of your Ontario income tax and is included in your total income tax payable for the year.

Form ON479, Ontario Credits

Are you filing for a deceased person?

You can claim the Ontario seniors’ public transit tax credit, the Ontario political contribution tax credit, the Ontario focused flow-through share tax credit, and the Ontario tax credits for self-employed individuals on the deceased person’s final return.

Were you an international student in 2018?

If you were a visa student from another country and resided in Ontario on December 31, 2018, you may be eligible for Ontario tax credits.

For more information about your residency status, call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 (for calls from Canada and the U.S.) or 613-940-8495 (for calls from outside Canada and the U.S.).

Were you bankrupt in 2018?

If you were bankrupt in 2018, claim your Ontario tax credits on the post-bankruptcy return you file for the tax year ending December 31, 2018. Different rules apply for the Ontario seniors’ public transit tax credit, as described in the next section.

Line 1 – Ontario seniors’ public transit tax credit

You can claim the Ontario seniors’ public transit tax credit (OSPTTC) if all of the following apply:

• You were 65 years or older on December 31, 2017.
• You were a resident of Ontario at the end of the year.
• You paid for eligible public transit services that you used in 2018.

An eligible public transit service is one that is operated by the Government of Ontario, or one of its municipalities, that is:

• a short-haul service that an individual typically uses for a single-day return trip
• offered to the general public
• operated by bus, subway, train or tram

You can claim the OSPTTC for qualifying payments you made for the use of eligible public transit services in 2018.

A qualifying payment is an amount paid for:

• a public transit pass for a set number of rides during a period of at least one day
• a public transit pass for an unlimited number of rides
• an electronic payment card
• a single-use ticket or token, if a receipt was issued
• cash fare for specialized transportation services offered to people with disabilities if a receipt was issued

You can only claim the OSPTTC for senior fare; however, if the transit service you use does not offer a senior rate for the type of pass or ticket you purchase, you can claim non-senior fare.

Only you can claim the cost of your public transit services. Your spouse or common-law partner cannot claim these expenses.

You must reduce the amount of your qualifying payments by the amount of any reimbursements, allowances, or any other form of assistance you received, are entitled to receive, or may reasonably expect to receive, unless the amount is included in your income for any tax year and you did not deduct the amount anywhere else on the return.

Receipts

The following rules apply to receipts for single-use tickets and tokens, and to cash fares for a specialized transit service:

• The receipt must show the name of the transit operator, the date of purchase, and the amount paid.
• If your receipt shows your name, no additional information is needed.
• If the receipt does not show your name, you will need a credit card or bank statement in your name that records the payment for the tickets or tokens.

Were you bankrupt in 2018?

You can claim the OSPTTC on your pre- or post-bankruptcy return depending on when you made the qualifying payments. You can claim the qualifying payments on more than one return, however, the total amount of the payments that can be claimed on all returns filed for the year cannot be more than the maximum amount that would be allowed if you were filing only one return for the calendar year.

How to claim this credit

Enter in box 6305 the total amount of qualifying payments you made to use eligible public transit services in 2018, up to a maximum of $3,000. Next, enter 15% of this amount on line 1 of Form ON479.

Supporting documents
If you are filing electronically or filing a paper return, do not send any documents. Keep all your documents in case we ask to see them later.

Lines 2 and 3 – Ontario political contribution tax credit

You can claim this credit if you were a resident of Ontario at the end of the year and you contributed to a registered Ontario political party or constituency association, or to a candidate in an Ontario provincial election.

Only claim contributions you made during 2018. If you were bankrupt in 2018, your political contribution tax credit is based on contributions made during all of 2018.

You or your spouse or common-law partner can claim the credit, but a contribution cannot be divided between the two of you if only one receipt was issued.

How to claim this credit

Enter your total contributions on line 2 of Form ON479 and calculate the amount to enter on line 3 as follows:

• For contributions of less than $3,081, complete the calculation for line 3 using Worksheet ON479.
• For contributions of $3,081 or more, enter $1,354 on line 3 of Form ON479.

Supporting documents
If you are filing electronically, keep all your documents in case we ask to see them later. If you are filing a paper return, attach all official receipts.

Line 4 – Ontario focused flow-through share tax credit

Enter beside box 6266 the total qualifying expenses reported on line 4 of Form T1221, Ontario Focused Flow-Through Share Resource Expenses (Individuals).

Supporting documents
If you are filing electronically, keep all your documents in case we ask to see them later. If you are filing a paper return, attach your Form T1221 along with the information slips (Slip T101, Statement of Resource Expenses, or Slip T5013, Statement of Partnership Income) you received from a mining exploration corporation that incurred qualifying expenses in Ontario.

Ontario tax credits for self-employed individuals

Individuals operating unincorporated businesses may be eligible for the Ontario apprenticeship training tax credit and the Ontario co-operative education tax credit. Include the amount of credits you claimed for 2018 as self-employment income on your 2019 return.

If you were a member of a partnership, other than as a limited partner, you may claim your share of the partnership’s credits for each qualifying apprenticeship or each qualifying co-op work placement. Limited partners are not entitled to these credits; however, the general partners of a limited partnership may share the credits.

For each of these credits, the total claimed by all partners in the partnership cannot be more than the amount calculated for the partnership.

If you were bankrupt in 2018, your trustee may claim the Ontario tax credits for self-employed individuals if you were eligible for the credit(s) during the period when the trustee acted on your behalf.

Supporting documents
If you are filing electronically or filing a paper return, do not send any documents. Keep all your documents in case we ask to see them later.

Line 6 – Ontario apprenticeship training tax credit

If you hired one or more eligible apprentices in one or more qualifying skilled trades to work at your permanent establishment located in Ontario, you may be able to claim a tax credit for eligible expenditures up to $5,000 per apprentice ($10,000 for apprenticeship programs that started on or before April 23, 2015).

Qualifying apprenticeships must meet the following two conditions:

• The apprenticeship must be in a qualifying skilled trade in the opinion of the Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as designated by the Ontario Minister of Finance.
• The apprentice must be participating in an apprenticeship program where the training agreement has been registered.

Eligible expenditures

Eligible expenditures are reasonable salaries and wages you paid to an apprentice employed in a qualifying apprenticeship at your permanent establishment in Ontario, or reasonable fees paid or payable to an employment agency for services provided by the apprentice during the first 36 months of the apprenticeship training program (48 months for apprenticeship programs that started on or before April 23, 2015).

You must reduce your eligible expenditures by the amount of any government assistance you received, are entitled to receive, or may reasonably expect to receive for the eligible expenditures.

How to claim this credit

If the total salaries and wages paid in the previous tax year by you (if you were a sole proprietor) or by a partnership (if you were a partner) was:

• $600,000 or more, the credit is 25% of eligible expenditures for each apprentice who started an apprenticeship program after April 23, 2015, and before November 15, 2017, and 35% of eligible expenditures for each apprentice who started an apprenticeship program on or before April 23, 2015
• not more than $400,000, the credit is 30% of eligible expenditures for each apprentice who started an apprenticeship program after April 23, 2015, and before November 15, 2017, and 45% of eligible expenditures for each apprentice who started an apprenticeship program on or before April 23, 2015
• more than $400,000 but less than $600,000, complete the calculation for line 6 using Worksheet ON479.

Maximum annual credit

The maximum annual credit for each apprentice employed by you in a qualifying apprenticeship is:

• $5,000 for each apprentice who started an apprenticeship program after April 23, 2015 and before November 15, 2017
• $10,000 for each apprentice who started an apprenticeship program on or before April 23, 2015

For an apprentice who was employed for only part of the year, multiply the maximum annual amount by the number of days that you employed the apprentice, and then divide by the number of days in the year.

You can claim an Ontario apprenticeship training tax credit for each eligible apprentice up to a maximum of:

• $15,000 over a 36-month period for apprentices who started an apprenticeship program after April 23, 2015, and before November 15, 2017
• $40,000 over a 48-month period for apprentices who started an apprenticeship program on or before April 23, 2015

If you repaid government assistance in 2018 that was related to eligible expenditures for this tax credit in a previous year, the amount of assistance you repaid will qualify for the tax credit for 2018. The tax credit is equal to the amount of government assistance repaid multiplied by the tax credit rate for the year the eligible expenditures were reduced by the assistance.

Enter your claim on line 6 of Form ON479.

For more information about the apprenticeship training tax credit, go to Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit or call the Ontario Ministry of Finance at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (1-866-668-8297) or by teletypewriter (TTY) at 1-800-263-7776.

Supporting documents
Keep a copy of the training agreement or contract of apprenticeship in case we ask to see it later.

If you have lost or misplaced either document and you are an original party to the contract, you can request a copy from the apprentice or the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU).

If you are not an original party to the contract, you must get a copy of the original contract of apprenticeship or training agreement from the apprentice, or get written consent from the apprentice before contacting the MTCU.

Line 7 – Ontario co-operative education tax credit

If you hired one or more co-op students enrolled in an Ontario university or college, you may be able to claim a tax credit of up to 25% to 30% of eligible expenditures, to a maximum of $3,000 per student per qualifying work placement.

Eligible expenditures

Eligible expenditures are reasonable salaries, wages, and other remuneration paid or payable to a student in a qualifying work placement, or a reasonable fee paid or payable to an employment agency for a qualifying work placement. The student must work at your permanent establishment in Ontario.

You must reduce your eligible expenditures by the amount of any government assistance you received, are entitled to receive, or may reasonably expect to receive for the eligible expenditures.

A qualifying work placement is generally four consecutive months ending in the tax year of employment of a student under a qualifying co-operative educational program of an eligible educational institution.

The minimum employment period is 10 consecutive weeks. The maximum employment period is 16 consecutive months.

The eligible educational institution must provide you with a certificate for each qualifying work placement for each student.

How to claim this credit

You can claim up to $3,000 for eligible expenditures for each qualifying work placement ending in 2018.

If the total salaries and wages paid in the previous tax year was:

• $600,000 or more, claim 25% of eligible expenditures for the qualifying work placement
• not more than $400,000, claim 30% of eligible expenditures for the qualifying work placement
• more than $400,000 but less than $600,000, complete the calculation for line 7 using Worksheet ON479

If you repaid government assistance in 2018 that was related to eligible expenditures for this tax credit in a previous year, the amount of assistance you repaid will qualify for the tax credit for 2018.

The tax credit is equal to the amount of government assistance repaid multiplied by the tax credit rate for the year the eligible expenditures were reduced by the assistance.

Enter your claim on line 7 of Form ON479.

For more information, see the Ontario Ministry of Finance’s Information Bulletin 4014, Co-operative Education Tax Credit, or call the Ontario Ministry of Finance at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (1-866-668-8297) or by teletypewriter (TTY) at 1-800-263-7776.

Form ON-BEN, Application for the 2019 Ontario Trillium Benefit and Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant

If you had costs for your principal residence in Ontario in 2018, you may be eligible for the Ontario energy and property tax credit (OEPTC), the Northern Ontario energy credit (NOEC) and/or the Ontario senior homeowners’ property tax grant (OSHPTG).

File your return

To make sure your payments arrive on time, you (and your spouse or common-law partner) need to file your 2018 return(s) by April 30, 2019. The CRA will use the information from your return(s) to calculate the amount of any payments you are entitled to get.

Complete Form ON-BEN

You must complete and attach Form ON-BEN to your 2018 return to apply for the OEPTC, the NOEC, and/or the OSHPTG.

Did you have a spouse or common-law partner in 2018?

If you were married or living in a common-law relationship on December 31, 2018, the same spouse or common-law partner has to apply for the Ontario energy and property tax credit, the Northern Ontario energy credit, and the Ontario senior homeowners’ property tax grant for both of you. If only one spouse or common-law partner is 64 years of age or older on December 31, 2018, that spouse or common-law partner has to apply for these credits and the grant for both of you.

Report to the CRA any changes to your status (for example birth, marriage, separation) that happen after filing your return.

Involuntary separation

If you and your spouse or common-law partner occupied separate principal residences in Ontario for medical reasons on December 31, 2018, you can apply for the Ontario energy and property tax credit, the Northern Ontario energy credit, and the Ontario senior homeowners’ property tax grant (if eligible) either individually or as a couple.

If you and your spouse or common-law partner are choosing to apply individually, tick box 6108 in Part A of Form ON-BEN and enter their address under “Involuntary separation” in Part C.

Separation or divorce

If you and your spouse or common-law partner were separated or divorced on December 31, 2018, you must apply separately for the credits.

Deceased and bankrupt individuals

The estate of an individual who died on or before December 31, 2018, cannot receive these payments.

If you were bankrupt in 2018, file your Form ON-BEN with the post-bankruptcy return you file for the tax year ending December 31, 2018. Your payments will be based on your net income for the pre- and post-bankruptcy periods.

Ontario trillium benefit (OTB)

The Ontario trillium benefit includes the following credits:

• Ontario sales tax credit
• Ontario energy and property tax credit
• Northern Ontario energy credit

You must be eligible for at least one of these credits to receive the OTB.

The payments for these three credits are combined and delivered monthly to better align the timing of the assistance with the expenses that people face.

The 2019 OTB payments, calculated based on the information provided on your (and your spouse’s or common-law partner’s) 2018 return(s) and Form ON-BEN, will be issued monthly from July 2019 to June 2020. However, you can choose to wait until June 2020 to get your 2019 OTB entitlement in one payment at the end of the benefit year instead. To choose this option, tick box 6109 on Form ON-BEN.

You may not be eligible for a payment if you are confined to a prison or a similar institution for a period of 90 days or more that includes the first day of the payment month.

To estimate the amount of OTB you may be entitled to, use the Child and family benefits calculator.

For more information about the OTB, go to Ontario trillium benefit (OTB) or call the CRA at 1-877-627-6645.

Ontario sales tax credit (OSTC)

The OSTC helps low- to moderate-income individuals 19 years of age and older, and families, including single parents, with the sales tax they pay.

The OSTC is paid as part of the OTB. You must be a resident of Ontario at the beginning of a month to receive that month’s payment.

You do not need to apply for the OSTC. The CRA will use the information from your return to determine your eligibility and tell you if you are entitled to receive the credit.

Ontario energy and property tax credit (OEPTC)

The OEPTC helps low- to moderate-income Ontario residents with the sales tax on energy and with property taxes.

The OEPTC is paid as part of the OTB. You must be a resident of Ontario at the beginning of a month to receive that month’s payment.

The OEPTC has two components: the energy component and the property tax component. You should apply for the OEPTC if you are eligible for either of these components.

Eligibility requirements

You may be eligible for the OEPTC if you were a resident of Ontario on December 31, 2018, and you meet at least one of the following conditions:

• You will be 18 years of age or older before June 1, 2020.
• You had a spouse or common-law partner on or before December 31, 2018.
• You are a parent who lives or previously lived with your child.

How to claim this credit

If you meet the OEPTC eligibility requirements, tick box 6118 and complete Part A and Part B of Form ON-BEN.

Attach your completed Form ON-BEN to your 2018 tax return.

Energy component

You may qualify for the energy component if you meet the OEPTC eligibility requirements and at least one of the following conditions for 2018:

• Rent or property tax for your principal residence was paid by or for you.
• You lived in a public long-term care home in Ontario and an amount for accommodation was paid by or for you.
• You lived on a reserve in Ontario and home energy costs were paid by or for you for your principal residence on the reserve.

Property tax component

You may qualify for the property tax component if you meet the OEPTC eligibility requirements and at least one of the following conditions for 2018:

• Rent or property tax for your principal residence was paid by or for you.
• You lived in a designated Ontario university, college, or private school residence.

A principal residence is a housing unit in Ontario that you usually occupy during the year. For example, it can be a house, apartment, condominium, hotel or motel room, mobile home, or rooming house.

Northern Ontario energy credit (NOEC)

The NOEC helps low- to moderate-income Northern Ontario residents with the higher energy costs they pay living in the north.

The NOEC is paid as part of the OTB. You must be a resident of Northern Ontario at the beginning of a month to receive that month’s payment.

Eligibility requirements

You may be eligible for the NOEC if you were a resident of Northern Ontario on December 31, 2018, and you meet at least one of the following conditions:

• You will be 18 years of age or older before June 1, 2020.
• You had a spouse or common-law partner on or before December 31, 2018.
• You are a parent who lives or previously lived with your child.

You must also meet at least one of the following conditions for 2018:

• Rent or property tax for your principal residence in Northern Ontario was paid by or for you.
• You lived in a public long-term care home in Northern Ontario and an amount for accommodation was paid by or for you.
• You lived on a reserve in Northern Ontario and home energy costs (for example, electricity, heat) were paid by or for you for your principal residence on the reserve.

A principal residence is a housing unit in Ontario that you usually occupy during the year. For example, it can be a house, apartment, condominium, hotel or motel room, mobile home, or rooming house.

Northern Ontario means the districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury (including the City of Greater Sudbury), Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming.

How to claim this credit

If you meet the NOEC eligibility requirements, tick box 6119 and complete Part A and Part B of Form ON-BEN.

Attach your completed Form ON-BEN to your 2018 tax return.

Ontario senior homeowners’ property tax grant (OSHPTG)

You can apply for the OSHPTG for 2019 if, on December 31, 2018, both of the following apply:

• You were 64 years of age or older.
• You owned and occupied a principal residence in Ontario, for which you or someone on your behalf paid property tax for 2018.

A principal residence is a housing unit in Ontario that you usually occupy during the year. For example, it can be a house, condominium, mobile home, or life-lease home.

Your grant for 2019 is based on the information you provide on your 2018 return. You should receive it within four to eight weeks after you receive your notice of assessment. To estimate the amount of OSHPTG you may be entitled to, use the Child and famiy benefits calculator.

How to claim this grant

If you meet the OSHPTG eligibility requirements, tick box 6113. Enter your total amount of property tax paid for 2018 beside box 6112 in Part A and complete Part B.

Attach your completed Form ON-BEN to your 2018 tax return.

Amounts paid for a principal residence in 2018

Complete Part A of Form ON-BEN if you are applying for the OEPTC, the NOEC and/or the OSHPTG.

Box 6110

Enter beside box 6110 any of the following amounts:

• rent paid if you rented your principal residence in Ontario for 2018
• property tax paid by you or for you to the owner of a principal residence (who was not you and was not held in trust for you) and that you have not already used in calculating the amount of rent that you paid
• rent paid to your landlord if you rented a mobile home and your landlord paid property tax for the home or for the lot
• rent paid if you lived in a private long-term care home, hospital, group home, chronic care facility, or a similar institution, and the institution paid full property taxes

• 75% of your total accommodation costs if you lived in a private long-term care home and the institution did not break down the cost of room and board (meals, laundering or other services) on your receipt
• rent paid for your principal residence and one acre of land if you were a farmer. For property tax paid if you are a farmer, see box 6112.
• rent paid by you or for you if you lived somewhere else in Ontario for part of the year besides a designated Ontario university, college, or private school residence. (To find out if your residence is designated, go to Ministry of Financeor call the Ontario Ministry of Finance at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (1-866-668-8297) or by teletypewriter (TTY) at 1-800-263-7776.)

Box 6112

Enter beside box 6112 any of the following amounts:

• property tax paid for your principal residence in Ontario for 2018 if you were a homeowner

• property tax paid for your principal residence and one acre of land if you were a farmer
• total of the property tax paid for your home plus the property tax that your landlord or site owner paid for the lot you leased if you owned and occupied a mobile home

• property tax paid by you or for you if you lived somewhere else in Ontario for part of the year besides a designated Ontario university, college, or private school residence. (To find out if your residence is designated, go to Ministry of Finance or call the Ontario Ministry of Finance at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (1-866-668-8297) or by teletypewriter (TTY) at 1-800-263-7776.)

Box 6114

Tick box 6114 if you lived in a designated Ontario university, college, or private school residence. (To find out if your residence is designated, go to Ministry of Finance or call the Ontario Ministry of Finance at 1-866-ONT-TAXS (1-866-668-8297) or by teletypewriter (TTY) at 1-800-263-7776.)

You will get $25 for the property tax component of the OEPTC for the part of the year that you lived in that residence.

If you also lived somewhere else in Ontario for part of the year and rent and/or property tax was paid by you or for you, see boxes 6110 and 6112.

Box 6121

Enter beside box 6121 the total amount paid for energy (for example, electricity, heat) for your principal residence if you lived on a reserve in Ontario for 2018.

Box 6123

Enter beside box 6123 your accommodation costs if you lived in either of the following:

• a non-profit long-term care home
• a public long-term care home and the institution did not pay full property taxes

Your property tax and rent cannot include any of the following:

• rent paid for a principal residence, including a mobile home, that is not subject to property tax
• payments to individuals who are not reporting the payments as rental income on their returns
• property tax or rent paid on part of a home you used for rental or business purposes
• property tax or rent paid on a second residence, such as a cottage, if you claimed property tax or rent for your principal residence for the same period

Separation

If you and your spouse or common-law partner separated during the year but lived together on December 31, 2018, enter the total amount of rent or property tax paid for the year, including amounts paid by or for each spouse or common-law partner for a period of separation.

If you and your spouse or common-law partner separated during the year and lived apart on December 31, 2018, enter your share of the rent or property tax for the part of the year before the separation, plus your own rent or property tax paid after the separation.

Shared principal residence

If you shared a principal residence with one or more persons (other than your spouse or common-law partner), enter your share of the rent or property tax you paid for the year.

Supporting documents
Whether you are filing electronically or filing a paper return, keep all your property tax or rent receipts in case we ask to see them later.

Link to Source:https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/tax-packages-years/general-income-tax-benefit-package/ontario/5006-pc/information-residents-ontario.html