If your child is a student with earned income in 2024 less than the basic personal amount of $15,705, they’re not legally required to file a tax return – but they can benefit when they do.¹

Potential tax refund. If the employer deducted tax from your child’s pay, your child may be eligible to receive a tax refund.

Tuition tax credit. Post-secondary students can claim tuition costs using the tuition tax credit to reduce their tax bill. If they don’t need the tax reduction now, they can carry it forward to any future year – or they can transfer the credit to a parent, grandparent or spouse.

GST/HST credit. Canadian residents must file a tax return to be eligible for the GST/HST tax credit. Your child can begin receiving quarterly payments when they turn 19, even if they have no income.

RRSP contribution room. Your child can start building Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contribution room at any age, as long as they have earned income and file a tax return.

¹ An exception is that Canadians age 18 or over must file a tax return if they have net self-employment income of more than $3,500.