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How do I enter tuition transferred from my spouse/partner or child?

by TurboTax•3• Updated 1 month ago

If you have a spouse/partner or child that meets all requirements set out by the CRA, you're eligible to receive tuition transfer amounts on your tax return.

Before you begin, find out the federal and/or provincial amount(s) being transferred to you.

Note: For coupled returns, you'll first need to enter income, tuition, and education information for both you and your spouse/partner. TurboTax will then automatically claim the unused amounts on the spouse/partner’s return with the higher income. If you’re not preparing a coupled return, you’ll manually enter the amounts your spouse/partner is transferring to you.

  1. When starting the return, complete the initial Personal info interview.
  2. On the Tell us more about [spouse/partner] screen, under Was [spouse/partner] a student in 2024?:
    • Select Yes.
    • Fill in the boxes for tuition and attendance info.
    • Indicate whether [spouse/partner’s name] is claiming the Canada Training Credit and select Continue.
  3. On the Your personal info summary screen, select Continue. This unlocks the Tax home screen.
  4. Select Tax profile, then Start.
  5. On the Let's see if there's anything else to add screen, select My spouse has credits they won't be using and can be transferred to me, then select Continue.
  6. On the Tax home screen, select Deductions, then Spouse or Common-Law Partner Transfers.
  7. On the Details of Your Federal Spousal or Common-law Partner Transfers screen:
    • Select Continue.
    • Enter/confirm your amount for Tuition Amount and select Continue.
  8. On the Details of Your Federal Spousal or Common-law Partner Transfers - Additional tax information screen, confirm or correct the amounts and select Continue.
  9. If you reside in a province or territory with provincial tuition amount transfers, on the Details of Your Provincial Spousal or Common-law Partner Transfers - Additional tax information screen, confirm or correct the Tuition and Education Amounts, and select Continue.

Steps for the person receiving the transfer if the return is not coupled:

  1. Complete the Introduction/Profile steps of your return until the Find button is unlocked, and select it.
  2. Enter tuition in the search box, select Tuition Transfer, then Go.
  3. On the Tuition Transfer From Other Eligible Individuals screen, fill in the required info and select Continue.
  4. If the taxpayer is in a province with provincial tuition transfers, from the menu, select View, then Forms method. Now select View, then Find Form.
  5. In the Form Lookup pop-up, under Keyword to search for, enter S2, select the provincial (S2), then OK.  
  6. On the PROV(S2) screen, at Line 59090, enter the amount for the provincial tuition transfer.
  7. From the menu select View, then EasyStep Interview and continue preparation of the return.
  1. When starting the return, complete the initial Personal info interview.
  2. On the Tell us about your dependants screen, enter the info for your dependant(s) and select Continue. 
  3. Complete the Personal info interview. This unlocks the Tax home screen. 
  4. From the Tax home screen, select Deductions, then Additional Dependant Information.
  5. On the Tell us about your dependants screen, for Was [student] a student? select Yes, then Continue.
  6. From the Tax home screen, select Claims for dependants info.
  7. On the Claims for Dependants screen, select Yes, then Continue.
  8. On the Your children and other dependants screen, select Enter Credit Info next to the name of the dependant who's transferring unused tuition amounts to you.
  9. On the Claim Dependant Credits screen, select Transfer my Child's Tuition and Education Amounts, then Continue.
  10. On the Tuition Transfer Amount screen, follow the on-screen instructions to enter info from the student, then select Tuition Transfer.
  11. On the Tuition Transfer Amount screen, enter the amount(s) of the transfer(s) if less than the maximum, then select Continue.
  12. On the Your children and other dependants screen, if you’re finished with dependants, select Done Entering Credits.
  1. Select Find from the TurboTax menu, enter claims in the search box, select claims for dependants, then select Go.
  2. On the Claims for dependants screen, for Would you like to review or claim any of these credits, select Yes, then Continue.
  3. On the Dependant credits screen, select the name of the dependant who's transferring unused tuition amounts to you, then select Enter Dependant Credits.
  4. On the Claim Dependant Credits for [student], select Transfer my child's tuition and education amounts, then select Continue.
  5. On the Tuition Transfer Amount screen, enter the federal and/or provincial amounts your dependant is transferring to you, then select Continue.
  6. On the Dependant credits screen, if you’re finished entering dependants credits, select Done Entering Credits.