On November 27 the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) will hold a free webinar for international students on tax credits and benefits that may be accessible to them.
Knowing how to file tax returns can be greatly beneficial for international students in Canada. Not only are students legally required to file taxes (also an important requirement for those hoping to transition to Canadian permanent residence (PR)), but they may also have up to thousands of dollars owed to them by the Canadian government in the form of tax benefits and credits.
The upcoming webinar is free to register for and attend. Participants will also have the ability to ask CRA staff at the webinar their questions on taxes and tax-related topics.
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The event is set to start at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and will run for approximately 45 minutes. International students looking to register for the event can do so on the Canada.ca webpage.
A follow-up webinar on benefits and credits available to newcomers in Canada will take place on March 12, 2025.
International students attending the event can get information on:
- Taxes and why they are essential in Canada;
- Residency status for tax purposes;
- Ways that they can file their tax returns;
- Tax benefits and credits available to international students;
- How to recognize and avoid scams; and
- Available CRA services online and in-person.
In previous iterations of the webinar, CRA staff have addressed questions such as:
- “Do I need to file taxes as a university student, even if I don’t work and have no current income?”;
- “How can I determine if I am a resident of Canada for tax purposes?”;
- “Am I eligible to work in Canada as a student? If so, when, where, and how much can I work?”;
- “What should I do if I am ineligible for a Social Insurance Number (SIN)?”;
- “Do I need to report financial assistance provided by my parents/family as part of my income?”; and
- “What tax benefits and credits may I be entitled to as an international student?”
What tax credits and benefits may international students in Canada be eligible for?
International students who are residents or deemed residents of Canada for tax purposes (depending on their specific situation) may be entitled to one or more of the following credits and benefits:
- The Canada child benefit;
- The GST/HST credit;
- The disability tax credit;
- The child disability tax credit;
- The Canada Carbon Rebate (formerly the Climate Action Incentive Payment); and/or
- The tuition tax credit.
Interested international students and newcomers can also use CRA’s benefits finder tool to get a better idea of what tax programs they may be eligible for.
For more information on filing taxes for newcomers in Canada, visit our dedicated webpage.
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