New benefits, credits and services

Simplified Northern Residents Travel Deduction – The CRA is launching the Simplified Northern Residents Travel Deduction, a pilot project to make it easier for northern residents to determine the lowest return airfare, one of the three amounts required to claim the travel deduction come tax time.

Available the week ofFebruary 20, 2023, oncanada.ca/lowest-return-airfare, the simplified version features tables that identify the lowest return airfare amount found from airports with regularly scheduled commercial flights to a designated city. The airfare tables contain more than135 airports, almost all of which are located in the prescribed zones.

Canada Dental Benefit –The new interim Canada Dental Benefit is available to eligible families earning less than $90,000 per year. It provides financial support for parents and guardians of children under 12 years old if they receive dental care in Canada and do not have access to private dental insurance. In order to receive this benefit, you need to have filed your 2021 tax return. The CRA’s online applicationMy Accountis the fastest way to apply for this benefit. For more information, go toCanada Dental Benefit.

One-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit –The government introduced a one-time $500 payment to help lower-income renters facing housing affordability challenges. Applications are open untilMarch 31, 2023. To obtain the one-time payment, you need to have filed your 2021 tax return. For more information on the eligibility requirements and how to apply, go toOne-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit.

First-time home buyers’ tax credit –The amount used to calculate thefirst-time home buyer tax credithas increased to $10,000 for a qualifying home purchased afterDecember 31, 2021.

Home accessibility tax credit –For 2022 and later tax years, the annual expense limit of thehome accessibility tax credithas increased to $20,000.

Disability tax credit –For 2021 and later tax years, an individual diagnosed withtype 1diabetes is considered to have met the two times and14 hoursper week requirements for life-sustaining therapy. For more information, go toDisability tax credit.