{"id":94,"date":"2026-03-27T11:37:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T11:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/?p=94"},"modified":"2026-03-27T11:37:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T11:37:47","slug":"9-ontario-tax-credits-boost-refund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/9-ontario-tax-credits-boost-refund\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Ontario Tax Credits That Can Boost Your Refund or Cut Your Tax Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ontario offers several tax credits that you may be eligible to claim when filing your tax return for 2025. These credits can help you save money or even receive a refund from the government, easing your financial burden. Ontario provides both <strong>refundable<\/strong> and <strong>non-refundable<\/strong> tax credits, each offering different benefits depending on your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <strong>non-refundable credit<\/strong> reduces the amount of income tax you owe after filing, while a <strong>refundable credit<\/strong> can give you money back if the credit exceeds the tax you owe. Here\u2019s an overview of the most notable Ontario tax credits to be aware of when filing your taxes this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ontario Tax Reduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Ontario tax reduction<\/strong> is a <strong>non-refundable credit<\/strong> designed to reduce or eliminate the income tax you owe. The amount of reduction depends on several factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Where you lived at the beginning and end of the tax year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The number of dependents you have<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your marital status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The income tax you owe<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To claim this credit, you must file your income tax and benefit return with <strong>Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)<\/strong> and complete <strong>Form ON428<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Low-Income Workers Tax Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>low-income workers tax credit<\/strong> is a non-refundable credit aimed at people with low incomes, including those earning minimum wage. You qualify for this credit if you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are a Canadian resident at the start of the tax year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are an Ontario resident by the end of the tax year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have employment income<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Owe Ontario personal income tax<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have an adjusted net income for the year below $50,000 (individual) or $82,500 (family)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Did not spend more than six months in prison during the year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The maximum credit available is <strong>$875<\/strong>, or <strong>5.05% of your employment income<\/strong>, whichever is lower. You can claim this credit on your tax return as the <strong>Low-Income Individuals and Families Tax Credit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ontario Fertility Treatment Tax Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Ontario fertility treatment tax credit<\/strong> is a <strong>refundable tax credit<\/strong> designed to assist families with medical expenses related to fertility treatment and surrogacy. Available for expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2025, this credit provides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>25% of eligible expenses<\/strong> related to fertility treatment and surrogacy, up to a maximum of <strong>$20,000 in expenses<\/strong> per year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The maximum credit amount is <strong>$5,000 per year<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To claim this credit, you must first claim the eligible expenses for the <strong>Ontario medical expense tax credit<\/strong> on your return for the same year. You can find the relevant field for claiming this in <strong>Form ON479<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Political Contribution Tax Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>political contribution tax credit<\/strong> is a non-refundable credit for individuals who make financial contributions to Ontario&#8217;s provincial political process. To qualify:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You must be an Ontario resident on December 31 of the tax year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must have contributed to a candidate, political party, registered constituency association, or registered leadership contestant in an Ontario provincial election.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This credit can be claimed using <strong>Form ON479<\/strong> and offers a maximum credit amount of <strong>$1,698.08<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ontario Child Care Tax Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/ontario-child-care-tax-credit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ontario child care tax credit<\/a><\/strong> is a refundable tax credit that allows eligible families to claim up to <strong>75% of their eligible child care expenses<\/strong>. The credit provides up to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>$6,000 per child under the age of seven<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>$3,750 per child between seven and 16<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>$8,250 per child with a severe disability<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To claim this credit, you must file your tax return and submit <strong>Schedule ON479-A<\/strong>, the <strong>Ontario Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) Tax Credit<\/strong> form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Community Food Program Donation Tax Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>community food program donation tax credit<\/strong> is a <strong>non-refundable tax credit<\/strong> available to those who donate agricultural products to eligible community food programs in Ontario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The credit is <strong>25% of the fair market value<\/strong> of the donated agricultural products and is in addition to the <strong>federal charitable donation tax credit<\/strong>. To claim this, you must file <strong>Form ON428<\/strong> with your personal tax return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ontario Dividend Tax Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Ontario dividend tax credit<\/strong> offers a reduced tax rate on dividend income from investments in Canadian corporations. You can claim this credit by calculating it on the provincial worksheet and entering the amount on <strong>Form ON428<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Ontario seniors care at home tax credit<\/strong> is a refundable credit to assist low- to moderate-income seniors with eligible medical expenses, including those related to aging at home. To qualify:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You or your spouse\/common-law partner must be <strong>70 years or older<\/strong> during the tax year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must be an Ontario resident at the end of the tax year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This credit offers <strong>up to 25% of claimable medical expenses<\/strong>, with a maximum of <strong>$1,500<\/strong>. The amount reduces by <strong>5% of family net income<\/strong> over $35,000 and is phased out completely at $65,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To claim this credit, complete the necessary lines in both the <strong>federal and Ontario tax returns<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ontario Seniors&#8217; Public Transit Tax Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Ontario seniors&#8217; public transit tax credit<\/strong> is a refundable credit to help seniors with their public transit costs. You qualify if you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are <strong>65 years or older<\/strong> on the last day of the previous tax year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are a resident of Ontario at the end of the tax year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This credit allows you to claim up to <strong>$3,000 in eligible public transit expenses<\/strong> and receive up to <strong>$450<\/strong> annually. Eligible expenses must be submitted when you file your personal income tax return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ontario offers a variety of tax credits that can provide significant financial relief to eligible individuals and families. Whether you&#8217;re a senior, a low-income worker, a parent, or a political contributor, these credits can help reduce your tax burden or offer a refund. Be sure to review the criteria for each credit and file your taxes accurately to maximize your benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By understanding these key tax credits, you can ensure you receive the financial support you deserve and ease the impact of tax season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1774522617900\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How can I qualify for the Ontario tax reduction?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>To qualify for the Ontario tax reduction, your eligibility is based on factors such as income, dependents, and marital status.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1774522630422\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the Ontario child care tax credit, and how much can I claim?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The Ontario child care tax credit allows families to claim up to <strong>75% of eligible child care expenses<\/strong>, with varying amounts depending on the child\u2019s age.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1774522640787\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can I claim the Ontario seniors&#8217; public transit tax credit every year?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, you can claim the Ontario seniors&#8217; public transit tax credit annually, with a maximum of <strong>$450<\/strong> per year for eligible transit expenses.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ontario offers several tax credits that you may be eligible to claim when filing your tax return for 2025. These credits can help you save money or even receive a refund from the government, easing your financial burden. Ontario provides both refundable and non-refundable tax credits, each offering different benefits depending on your situation. A &#8230; <a title=\"9 Ontario Tax Credits That Can Boost Your Refund or Cut Your Tax Bill\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/9-ontario-tax-credits-boost-refund\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about 9 Ontario Tax Credits That Can Boost Your Refund or Cut Your Tax Bill\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":100,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[177,175,166,173,169,168,176,52,170,174,167,30,24,172,171],"class_list":["post-94","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-care","tag-child","tag-credits","tag-dividend","tag-donation","tag-fertility","tag-low-income","tag-ontario","tag-political","tag-public","tag-refund","tag-seniors","tag-tax","tag-transit","tag-workers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":101,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94\/revisions\/101"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcouncil.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}