TAX FILING FOR STUDENTS
Easy tax filing for all students
Whether you’re a first-year college student, an international student, or a parent going back to school, we’ll help you get your maximum refund this tax season*.
What do you need to know to file your taxes as a student?
Claim your tuition
Post secondary school can be expensive. If you’re eligible for the tuition tax credit, it can reduce the amount of tax you have to pay, or even cover it completely and help you get a tax refund.
Transfer unused tuition credits
A portion of your unused tuition tax credit can be transferred to a spouse, common law partner, parent or grandparent, or carried forward to the next year.
Deduct moving expenses
Moved more than 40km for school? Your moving expenses can be claimed for the move to school and back home at the end of the school year.
Take advantage of student tax benefits
If you don't make enough money to owe taxes to the government, you might still be eligible for deductions, benefits and credits that could result in a tax refund. You could even get extra benefit payments like the GST/HST credit.
Why students file their taxes with us
Includes reviews for TurboTax from previous years.
How to file your taxes as a student
DO IT MYSELF
Answer a few easy questions, import your slips directly from the CRA, and TurboTax does the rest. It’s free!
DO IT WITH HELP
With unlimited help and guidance, you’ve got a tax expert you can connect with whenever you want.
GET AN EXPERT TO DO IT
Hand your taxes off to a real expert who does them for you, from start to finish.
Tips for students from TurboTax Hub
Frequently asked questions for student tax filing
Any student, over the age of 16, who is enrolled at an accredited post-secondary school in Canada can claim the tuition tax credit on their tax return.
Depending on your situation, you might be able to deduct the following school expenses
- Moving expenses
- Tuition amounts
- Cost of identification card
- Examination fees
- Admission fees
- Tutoring expenses (For students with a learning disability)
- Interest paid on your student loans
- Child and family benefits
- Childcare expenses
- Canada employment amounts
Many full-time students don’t make enough income to owe the government any money, but the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) offers a range of deductions, benefits and credits that students can only take advantage of when they file their tax return.
If there is any amount left over after you have claimed the tuition tax credit, you can either transfer it to your parent (or spouse, common law partner, or grandparent), or you can carry it forward to use in a future year.
All money you receive for work – occasional, part-time, or full time – is considered employment income. This includes salaries as well as any tips you collect. Make sure to include any money you made from teaching and/or research assistantships and summer jobs as well when you file your tax return.
Yes, students have to pay income tax on any money they make from co-op placements or internships.
When you repay your student loans, you are able to claim the interest as a non-refundable tax credit.
Interest on student loans can only be claimed if you received the loan under:
- the Canada Student Loans Act
- the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act
- the Apprentice Loans Act
- similar provincial or territorial government law.
The following financial awards for students qualify for the scholarship exemption and are considered non-taxable:
- scholarships
- awards
- bursaries
- fellowships
The scholarship exemption only applies when it is directly related to the full-time program in which the student is enrolled.
If you earned income in Canada, or if you want to claim a tax refund or credits, then you need to file a tax return with the CRA. Your filing requirements and credit and benefit eligibility as an international student depends on residency status.
International students who are considered residents of Canada are eligible for a number of credits and benefits such as the GST/HST credit and tuition tax credit
* Important Offer Details and Disclosures
TURBOTAX ONLINE/MOBILE OFFERS & PRICING
The following TurboTax Online offers may be available for tax year 2024. Intuit reserves the right to modify or terminate any offer at any time for any reason in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise stated, each offer is not available in combination with any other TurboTax offers. Certain discount offers may not be valid for mobile in-app purchases and may be available only for a limited period of time.
- Pay When You File: For paid TurboTax online and mobile offerings, with the exception of TurboTax Live Full Service, you may start using the tax preparation features without paying upfront, and pay only when you are ready to e-file, print, file by mail, or purchase add-on products or services. Actual prices for paid versions are determined based on the version you use and the date and/or time you print or e-file, and are subject to change without notice. If you use TurboTax Live Full Service, you will be charged when you first sign up for the service, before our experts start work on your return.
- TurboTax Online Free: Simple personal tax returns only. You understand and agree that the free version or edition of the Services does not include all tax forms, and Intuit does not provide technical support for free versions or editions of the Services. You must choose a version or edition of the Services that includes all of the tax forms you need, which may require you to upgrade to a different, paid version of the Services in order to complete and file your tax returns. A simple personal tax return only includes certain limited types of income and certain limited tax credits. See Terms of Service for details.
- Assist and Review $60 Offer: Offer is valid for customers with a new Intuit account who did not file with a TurboTax product for their tax year 2023 return. Must file by offer expiration date on April 15, 2025. Audit Coach and Extended Expert Coverage are available for tax year 2024 returns until December 2027. Unlimited access to experts subject to availability during hours of operation. Offer cannot be combined with any other TurboTax offers.
- 25 Or Under $20 Offer: Offer applies to the cost of (i) upgrading to Assist & Review from TurboTax Online Free, or (ii) TurboTax Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed, with optional upgrade to Assist & Review at no additional cost. For 2024 personal taxes only. To be eligible, customer must be born on or after January 1, 1999 and file their personal tax return by April 30, 2025. Excludes TurboTax Full Service, TurboTax Desktop, and TurboTax U.S. products. Offer cannot be combined with any other TurboTax offers.
TURBOTAX ONLINE/MOBILE
- Anytime, anywhere: Internet access required; standard data rates apply to download and use mobile app.
- Expert Availability: TurboTax experts are typically available from 9 a.m. to 12:00 midnight ET, 7 days a week for English, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET for French during tax season (from February 20 to April 30, 2025). After April 30, English and French hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., ET, Monday to Friday (except holidays). Service, area of expertise, experience levels, and wait times vary, and are subject to restriction and change without notice.
- Unlimited Expert Support: Unlimited access to TurboTax Assist and Review and TurboTax Live Full Service experts refers to an unlimited quantity of contacts available to each customer for the duration of the service, but does not refer to hours of operation or service coverage. Service, area of expertise, experience levels, wait times, hours of operation and availability vary, and are subject to restriction and change without notice.
- Audit Defence: Internet connection and acceptance of product update is required to access Audit Defence. Does not include GST/HST and other non-income tax audits and reviews unless the issues are ancillary to the income tax review itself. Includes field audits through the restricted examination of books but does not include the "detailed financial audit".
- Customer Testimonials: Testimonials are based on TurboTax Online reviews from tax year 2023 as well as previous tax years.
- TurboTax Live Full Service - Same Day Service: One-day preparation and filing availability depends on start time, the complexity of your return, is based on average completion time, and may vary based on expert availability. The tax preparation assistant will validate the customer’s tax situation during the welcome call and review uploaded documents to assess readiness and the ability to file same-day. All tax forms and documents must be ready and uploaded by the customer for the tax preparation assistant to refer the customer to an available tax expert for live tax preparation.
TURBOTAX ONLINE GUARANTEES
- Accurate Calculations Guarantee: If you pay a CRA or provincial government penalty or interest due to a TurboTax calculation error, we will reimburse the penalty and interest. You are responsible for paying any additional tax liability you may owe. Claims must be submitted within thirty (30) days of the CRA or provincial government notice date. Additional terms and limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
- Maximum Refund Guarantee: If you get a larger refund or smaller tax due from another tax preparation method by filing an amended return, we'll refund the amount paid for our service. TurboTax Free customers are entitled to a payment of $9.99. Claims must be submitted within sixty (60) days of your TurboTax filing date, no later than May 31, 2025. Audit Defence and fee-based support services are excluded. Additional terms and limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
- Expert Approved Guarantee: If you pay a CRA or provincial government penalty or interest because of an error that a TurboTax expert made while preparing your return, providing topic-specific tax advice, or reviewing a section, we'll pay you the penalty and interest. Claims must be submitted within thirty (30) days of the CRA or provincial government notice date. Additional terms and limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
- TurboTax Live Full-Service Guarantee: Our Full Service Guarantee means your tax expert will find every dollar you deserve. Your expert will only file your return if they know it's 100% accurate and you are getting your best outcome possible. If you get a larger refund or smaller tax due from another tax preparer by filing an amended return, we'll refund the applicable TurboTax Live Full Service purchase price paid. If you have to pay a CRA or provincial government penalty or interest because of an error that a TurboTax tax expert made while acting as the preparer for your return, we'll pay you the penalty and interest. Full Service Guarantee is not available in Quebec. Additional terms and limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
- Satisfaction Guarantee: You may use most TurboTax Online services without charge up to the point you decide to print or electronically file your tax return. Printing or electronically filing your return reflects your satisfaction with TurboTax Online, at which time you will be required to pay or register for the product. Additional terms and limitations apply. See Terms of Service for details.
TURBOTAX DESKTOP GUARANTEES
- Accurate Calculations Guarantee: If you pay a CRA or provincial government penalty or interest due to a TurboTax calculation error, we will reimburse the penalty and interest. You are responsible for paying any additional tax liability you may owe. Claims must be submitted within thirty (30) days of the CRA or provincial government notice date. Excludes TurboTax Business Incorporated Edition. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement for details.
- Maximum Refund Guarantee: If you get a larger refund or smaller tax due from another tax preparation method by filing an amended return, we'll refund the amount paid for our software. Claims must be submitted within sixty (60) days of your TurboTax filing date, no later than May 31, 2025 (TurboTax Home & Business and TurboTax 20 Returns no later than July 15, 2025). Excludes TurboTax Business Incorporated Edition. Audit Defence and fee-based support services are excluded. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement for details.
- 60-Day Money Back / Satisfaction Guarantee: If you’re not 100% satisfied with your TurboTax Desktop software, you may return your software within sixty (60) days of purchase with a dated receipt for a full refund of the purchase price. Excludes return postage. Desktop add-on products and services purchased are non-refundable. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement for details.
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES:
- Average Refund Amount: $3,644 is the average refund amount Canadian taxpayers received based on tax year 2023 returns filed using TurboTax. Each taxpayer’s refund will vary based on their tax situation.
- Auto-Fill My Return (AFR): Must be signed up for CRA’s My Account service to import into TurboTax. To register, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html .
- Canada's #1 best-selling tax software: Based on aggregated CRA NETFILE data for all tax year 2023 TurboTax do-it-yourself tax products.
- CRA Refund Time: Get your tax refund from the CRA as fast as possible by e-filing and choosing to receive your refund by direct deposit. Tax refund time frames will vary. The CRA estimates 2 weeks to issue refunds with e-filed returns, compared to 8 weeks with paper returns.
- NETFILE E-filing: Income tax preparation software companies must seek NETFILE certification from the CRA for tax preparation software products to be used in conjunction with CRA’s NETFILE electronic tax filing service. All TurboTax software products for tax year 2024 are CRA NETFILE certified.
- Returns Filed: Based on CRA NETFILE reporting, more than 25 million returns have been electronically filed with TurboTax over the past 5 years, and more than 50 million returns have been electronically filed with TurboTax from 2013 to 2023. Includes tax returns filed to the CRA using TurboTax Desktop and TurboTax Online products.
- Technical Support: Technical support by phone is free. Long-distance charges may apply. Limitations apply. Intuit reserves the right to limit each telephone contact. Support availability varies by time of year and is subject to occasional downtime for systems and server maintenance, company events, observed Canadian holidays and events beyond our control.
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