How do I add or remove the amount for an eligible dependant from my tax return?

SOLVED•by TurboTax•117•Updated February 13, 2024

You may be able to claim the amount for an eligible dependant if, at any time in the tax year, you met all of the following conditions at once:

You didn't have a spouse or common-law partner or, if you did, you weren't living with, supporting, or being supported by that person.
You supported a dependant.
You lived with the dependant (in most cases in Canada) in a home you maintained. You can't claim this amount for a person who was only visiting you.

In addition, at the time you met the conditions, the dependant must also have been either:

Your parent or grandparent by blood, marriage, common-law partnership, or adoption.
Your child, grandchild, brother, or sister, by blood, marriage, common-law partnership, or adoption and under 18 years of age, or had an impairment in physical or mental functions.

Add credit

Select Find (or the magnifying glass icon) from the menu.
Enter amount for an eligible dependant, and select Go. The Your children and other dependants screen appears.
Select Enter Credit Info. The Claim Dependant Credits screen appears.
If you haven’t already done so, check the box for Amount for an eligible dependant, then select Continue.
Answer Yes to the question Do you wish to make the claim for the amount for an eligible dependant? and select Continue.
Repeat steps 3–5 for each of your dependants.
When you’re done entering all of your dependants, select Done Entering Credits.

Select Find (or the magnifying glass icon) from the menu.
Enter claims for dependants, and select Go. The Claims for dependants page appears.
Answer Yes to the question Would you like to review or claim any of these credits?, then select Continue.
Select your first (or only) dependant from the list, then select Enter Dependant Credits.
Check the box for Amount for an eligible dependant, then select Continue.
Answer Yes to the question Do you wish to make the claim for the amount for an eligible dependant (formerly the "Equivalent-to-spouse amount")?, then select Continue.
Repeat steps 4–6 for each of your dependants.
When you’re done entering all of your dependants, select Done Entering Credits.

Select Find (or the magnifying glass icon) from the menu.
Enter amount for an eligible dependant, and select Go. The Your children and other dependants screen appears.
Select Enter Credit Info. The Claim Dependant Credits screen appears.
If you haven’t already done so, check the box for Amount for an eligible dependant, then select Continue.
Answer No to the question Do you wish to make the claim for the amount for an eligible dependant?, and select Continue.
Repeat steps 3–5 for each of your dependants.
When you’re done entering all of your dependants, select Done Entering Credits.

Select Find (or the magnifying glass icon) from the menu.
Enter claims for dependants, and select Go. The Claims for dependants screen appears.
Answer Yes to the question Would you like to review or claim any of these credits?, then select Continue.
Select your first (or only) dependant from the list, then select Enter Dependant Credits.
Check the box for Amount for an eligible dependant, then select Continue.
Answer No to the question Do you wish to make the claim for the amount for an eligible dependant (formerly the "Equivalent-to-spouse amount")?, then select Continue.
Repeat steps 4–6 for each of your dependants.
When you’re done entering all of your dependants, select Done Entering Credits.