Established as a response to the economic hardships of the COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) allows a path for employers to cover a portion of the employee wages when experiencing a drop in revenue due to the pandemic. This subsidy is intended to allow employers to re-hire workers, help prevent further job losses, and ease their businesses back into normal operations. What employers are eligible? In order to be eligible to receive the CEWS, employers must meet the following criteria: Have had a CRA Payroll account as of March 15, 2020. (If you did not meet this qualification, you may still be eligible if another person/partnership made remittances on your behalf, or you purchased all (or almost all), of another person's or partnership's business assets). Be one of the following employers (as described by the CRA in step 2). Have experienced a drop in revenue due to COVID (calculated by comparing your eligible revenue during the pandemic with your eligible baseline revenue from a previous period). What employees are eligibile? An eligible employee is one employed by you, primarily in Canada, though a particular claim period. Employees who fall into the following groups may also be considered eligible: Employees you have laid off. These employees can be eligible retroactively, as long as you rehire and pay them so they meet the eligibility criteria for the claim period.  Arm's-length (most small businesses), and Non-arm's-length (business owner or their immediate family). Active employees or employees on leave with pay Employees participating in a Work-Sharing benefit program   More information on employee eligibility can be found on the CRA website. Determining your subsidy amount To determine your subsidy wage amount, visit the CRA website to use their subsidy calculator. Once complete, print and save these numbers, as you'll need to enter them when you apply for your subsidy. You can then apply for the subsidy online through My Business Account, Represent a Client, or the Web Forms application using the information you printed. *Note: You can currently use the calculator for claim periods 1 to 13. More periods will be added as they become available. How to apply Once you have completed the steps of determining eligibility and calculating your subsidy amount, there are three main ways to apply for it: Apply through your My Business Account Business representatives may apply using Represent a Client If neither is an option for you, use the Web Forms application using your web access code (WAC) Related information: How are businesses being helped during the COVID-19 outbreak? What income support will be provided during the COVID-19 breakout for those in need? COVID-19: Tax Info Centre ... View more

New for tax years 2020 through 2024, the digital news subscription tax credit (DNSTC), is a non-refundable tax credit for amounts paid by individuals to a qualified Canadian journalism organization (QCJO).  In order to qualify to claim this expense, you must subscribe to a digital news service that is approved as eligible by the CRA (listed on the QCJO), and have purchased a qualifying digital news subscription from them. The claiming individual must then use this subscription to access content in digital form that is primarily original written news. What subscriptions are eligible? A new form, T622, Digital News Subscription Tax Credit must be filled out and submitted by publishers to confirm that they, and the subscriptions they offer, are eligible. This information will then be published on the CRA webpage for individuals to reference. Continue to check the Canada.ca website for updates to the list of registered journalism organizations and their subscriptions. How do I calculate my credit amount? The amount of your credit is based on the lowest personal income tax rate (15%). To calculate how much you are entitled to claim, multiply this rate (15%) by the total of all amounts paid for qualifying subscription expenses in the year (up to $500). You will then receive a 15% non-refundable credit on the amount paid (to a maximum of $75 annually). How do I enter this amount into TurboTax? When prompted in the Payment Profile portion of the Deductions section, entered the amount you paid for your eligible digital news subscription, then click Continue. This amount is then applied directly to line 31350 of your income tax return, in any TurboTax software you choose to use. Related information: Learn more about the Digital News Subscription Tax Credit Employment Expenses Tax Info Centre Am I eligible to claim employment expenses due to COVID-19? COVID-19: Tax Info Centre ... View more

Starting in the 2020 fiscal year, the 8-character alphanumeric code found above your address line on your Notice of Assessment (NOA), is being referred to as the NETFILE Access Code, or NAC. The CRA plans to use this code for tax filers who may need to call in to the CRA customer service line for assistance with their tax information or return(s). What is the purpose of this code? The NAC is intended to be used as an extra level of security to authenticate an individual's identification prior to using NETFILE. This code will eliminate the need to provide the CRA with a specific line number off a previous year’s tax return when calling to authenticate your account. Where do I enter this code in TurboTax? When beginning your NETFILE process, you will be met with a screen similar to this. If you choose to enter your NAC code, you may do so in the box provided, then click Continue. Please note that this is an optional field, and does not need to be filled out in order for you to successfully NETFILE. However, should you choose to enter this code, it must match what the CRA has on file. After 5 unsuccessful attempts to enter this code, your account will become locked (for security purposes), and you will be given an error message with information to contact the CRA. Does this apply to all filers using Netfile? If you are a first-time tax filer, you have not yet been issued a NAC code, and therefore are exempt from choosing to enter one when using NETFILE. Likewise, prior year returns will also be excluded from the option of using the NAC. Related information: Learn more about the NAC here What is NETFILE? How do I know if my return was filed using NETFILE and received by the CRA? In the online edition of TurboTax, how do I submit my tax return to CRA using the NETFILE service? In the CD/download edition of TurboTax, how do I submit my tax return to CRA using the NETFILE service? ... View more

In 2020, the number of Canadians earning employment income while working at home increased substantially, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, the Canadian government has provided two temporary and simplified methods for claiming an employment expense deduction: Option 1 (or the flat-rate method), allows a qualified individual to claim $2/day in employment expenses, up to a a max of $400. Option 2 (or the detailed method), allows deduction of actual expenses incurred. Who is eligible to claim COVID-related employment expenses? Salaried and commissioned employees who worked from home (50% or more of the time for at least 4 consecutive weeks), due to COVID-19, are eligible to claim home office expenses on their 2020 tax return. More information and details can be found on the CRA website. Using the flat-rate method Eligible employees may claim a flat rate of $2 for each day that they worked at home during a consecutive 4-week period, plus any other days they worked from home in 2020 due to COVID-19 (up to a maximum of $400).You don’t need supporting documents to claim this flat rate. Example:   Between March 16 and December 31 there were 209 week days. During that period, there were 6 statutory holidays. The employee took 10 days of vacation and 3 sick days. Subtract the days not worked from the total week days to determine the total days worked from home  (209 week days − 6 holiday − 10 vacation − 3 sick = 190 days worked from home ) Multiply the total days worked from home by the $2 temporary flat rate amount (190 days × $2/day = $380 in claimable employment expenses) Using the detailed method If using this method to calculate your deduction, a T2200-s form must be completed, signed, and approved by your employer. The CRA has provided a calculator to aid in calculating and filling out these expenses on your form. Once you have determined your employment use amount using the calculator, you can then add in additional expenses (such as employment use of a cell phone).   Example: Using the calculator, you have determined that your employment use amount is $1,000. On top of that, you also have $1,000 in business cell phone use, and $500 in other business-related expenses. $1,000 (employment use amount) + $1,000 (cell phone) + $500 (misc. expenses) = $2,500 in eligible deductions you may claim. Related information: Employment Expenses Tax Info Centre Where do I claim my employment expenses in the online edition of TurboTax? Where do I claim my employment expenses in the CD/download edition of TurboTax? COVID-19: Tax Info Centre   ... View more

  For many Canadians, the transition to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a whirlwind. You've spent more time in your homes than ever before, and there are a lot of questions regarding how this may impact you when the time comes to once again file your taxes. At TurboTax, we're here to help. We've created this comprehensive guide to employment expenses in the age of COVID, helping you to sort out all the details so you can focus on the things that really matter. We'll show you the who, what, when, where and how of claiming employment expenses, and are there to offer you support every step of the way. What are employment expenses? You may be eligible to claim certain expenses incurred as a result of your employment on your tax return(s). These are expenses that you would otherwise not have had to cover outside of their relation to your work. This can apply to self-employed individuals, as well as those forced to work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A list of common employment expenses can include things such as: Rent paid Electricity and other utilities, or portions of condo fees Maintenance Home internet fees Office supplies Long distance calls (if made on behalf of your employ or for business purposes) Use of basic cell phone plan Additionally, those who earn commission as a portion of their income may also claim: Property taxes Home insurance Lease of electronic equipment (cell phone, computer, laptop, tablet, fax machine, etc) that relate to earning income   Who is eligible to claim employment expenses? Salaried and commissioned employees who worked from home (50% or more of the time for at least 4 consecutive weeks), due to COVID-19, are eligible to claim home office expenses on their 2020 tax return. Check to see if you qualify for claiming  an employment expense deduction here. More information and details can be found on the CRA website. Where can you claim employment expenses? To claim employment expenses related to COVID-19, you will need to fill out a T777-s form -  Statement of Employment Expenses for Working at Home Due to COVID-19.   If you claim for employment expenses is in excess of $400, you will also need to complete a T2200-s Declaration of Conditions of Employment for Working at Home Due to COVID-19.  Eligible salaried and commissioned employees who reside in Quebec should complete the TP-59.S-V form to claim their employment expenses. How much can I claim? Eligible employees may claim a flat rate of $2 for each day that they worked at home during a consecutive 4-week period, plus any other days they were forced to work from home in 2020 due to COVID-19 (up to a maximum of $400). You don’t need supporting documents to claim the flat rate. If your claim is in excess of $400, a T2200-s form must be completed, signed, and approved by your employer. The CRA has provided a calculator to aid in calculating and filling out these expenses on your form. Related information: Am I eligible to claim employment expenses due to COVID-19? Where do I claim my employment expenses in the online edition of TurboTax? Where do I claim my employment expenses in the CD/download edition of TurboTax? COVID-19: Tax Info Centre CERB/CRB Tax Info Centre ... View more

If you've purchased a TurboTax product, either online or through one of our retail partners, then a licence code should have been provided with purchase. This code is now 16 digits (for product years 2020 and beyond), as opposed to the previous 20-digit codes from prior years. Simply follow the instructions above to enter your licence code and register your software. For products purchased online, an email will be sent to you containing your 16-digit licence code once you've completed your purchase.   Note:  Any TurboTax product and accompanying licence code can only be installed on up to 3 computers or devices (or 1 computer/device for TurboTax Business Incorporated users). Related information: What should I do if I'm getting a TurboTax activation error? What should I do if I’m unable to activate my copy of TurboTax CD/download edition using Internet Activation? TurboTax Online activation issues ... View more

If one of the following scenarios applies to you, then you need to return or repay the CERB overpayment to the department you received it from (CRA or Service Canada): Your situation has changed since you first applied for the CERB For example, you applied for the 4-week eligibility period of April 12 to May 9, 2020 and did not expect to return to work or earn income for that 4-week period. If you were re-hired and/or received back pay during that period, you need to repay the CERB for the period of April 12 to May 9, 2020 . You earned more income than expected while receiving the CERB If you earned $1,000 or less (before tax) for at least 14 consecutive days during your first 4-week eligibility period, you don't need to repay the CERB. However, if you earned or expect to earn more than $1,000 (before tax) during any subsequent eligibility period, you will need to repay the full $2,000 for that period. You applied for the CERB twice If you mistakenly applied for and received the CERB from Employment Insurance/Service Canada and the CRA for the same eligibility period, you need to return or repay the overpayment to the CRA. Will I get audited by the CRA? Yes. The CRA will compare your employer’s payroll records with the information on your CERB claim to ensure you repay those amounts if you have returned to work and became ineligible for CERB. While the CRA recognizes that you may have made an honest mistake when applying for the CERB, or that your employment status or earned income may have changed unexpectedly, you must pay back any overpayment received. If you are unable to return or repay the CERB right away, you can contact the CRA to make arrangements to repay any amounts owing. Related Information What is the difference between CERB and CRB? How can I protect myself from a CRA audit? COVID-19: Tax Info Centre   ... View more

If you think you received Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payments you weren’t entitled to, you may have to return them to the CRA or Service Canada. Returning or repaying CERB overpayment issued by the CRA If you applied for CERB through the Canada Revenue Agency and still have the original CERB cheque, return it to: Revenue Processing – Repayment of CERB Sudbury Tax Centre 1050 Notre Dame Avenue Sudbury ON P3A 0C3 If you received the payment by direct deposit or by cheque, you must repay the CRA by mail, via your CRA My Account if you have one, or via your financial institution as outlined on this CRA webpage. Returning or repaying CERB overpayment issued by Service Canada If you received the CERB from Service Canada and still have the original CERB cheque, return it to the following address: ESDC Remittances PO Box 1122 Matane QC G4W 4S7 If the above doesn’t apply to you, you can send your payment according to the instructions found on this Service Canada webpage. Will I get an information slip after paying back my CERB? While you should be expecting a T4A tax slip on the amount of CERB payments your received in 2020, if you repay all or a portion of the CERB payments you received, the CRA will adjust your account accordingly but won't issue an information slip for payment(s) made prior to December 31, 2020. To avoid improper issuance of slips, you should return or repay your CERB before December 31, 2020. Note: If you need more time to repay the CERB, contact the CRA at 1-833-966-2099 before December 31st to make arrangements to repay any amounts owing.     Related Information How do I register for CRA's My Account service? How can I protect myself from a CRA audit?   ... View more

À moins que vous n’ayez spécifiquement choisi de recevoir une copie papier de vos feuillets de renseignements fiscaux fédéral et provincial, vous pourrez y accéder seulement à l’aide des services suivants : Compte Mon dossier Service Canada Mon dossier pour les particuliers de l’ARC Mon dossier pour les citoyens de Revenu Québec clicSÉQUR Revenu Québec Note :   Si vous utilisez un compte Mon dossier Service Canada et avez choisi de recevoir vos feuillets de renseignements fiscaux en ligne, vous ne recevrez pas automatiquement d’avis lorsqu’ils seront accessibles. Pour réactiver l’envoi postal, sélectionnez l’option relative à l’envoi postal des feuillets de renseignements fiscaux dans votre compte Mon dossier Service Canada. Toute modification apportée à vos préférences après la première semaine de janvier entrera en vigueur l’année suivante. Si vous avez perdu un feuillet pour l’année courante, veuillez communiquer avec votre employeur ou la personne responsable de produire les feuillets pour en obtenir une copie papier. Vous utilisez TurboImpôt? Si vous êtes inscrit à l’un des services en ligne ci-dessous, vous pouvez importer vos feuillets de renseignements fiscaux directement dans le logiciel à l’aide de la fonction Préremplir. Voici comment : TurboImpôt en ligne TurboImpôt CD/téléchargement Comment obtenir une copie de vos feuillets T4E, T4A(P) ou T4A(OAS) État des prestations d’assurance-emploi et autres prestations (T4E) Si vous avez reçu des prestations d’assurance-emploi en 2020 et que vous avez déjà un compte Mon dossier Service Canada, vous pouvez consulter vos feuillets T4E et les imprimer à compter de février 2021. Vous n’avez qu’à ouvrir une session en suivant ces instructions. Vous pouvez également communiquer avec Service Canada au 1-800-206-7218 entre 8 h 30 et 16 h 30 (HE) ou vous présenter dans un bureau de Service Canada (sur rendez-vous seulement) pour demander un autre exemplaire du feuillet T4E. État des prestations et des prestations d’invalidité du Régime de pensions du Canada (T4A(P)) et relevé de la sécurité de la vieillesse (T4A(OAS)) Vous pouvez consulter et imprimer vos feuillets T4A à partir de votre compte Mon dossier Service Canada ou demander différents documents (p. ex., lettre d’admissibilité, lettre relative aux prestations, code d’accès personnel, feuillets fiscaux, etc.) en composant les numéros correspondants de la liste ci-dessous (assurez-vous d’avoir votre numéro d’assurance sociale à portée de main) :   Régime de pensions du Canada (RPC) Canada et États-Unis (numéro sans frais) : 1-800-277-9914 Canada et États-Unis (ATS) : 1-800-255-4786 À l’extérieur du Canada et des États-Unis : 1-613-957-1954 (appel à frais virés) Programme de la Sécurité de la vieillesse (SV) Canada et États-Unis (numéro sans frais) : 1-800-277-9914 Canada et États-Unis (ATS) : 1-800-255-4786 À l’extérieur du Canada et des États-Unis : 1-613-957-1954 (appel à frais virés) Comment obtenir une copie de vos feuillets T4 ou T4A S’il vous manque un feuillet pour des prestations ou des revenus d’emploi reçus en 2020 dans le cadre de l’un des programmes suivants : Prestation canadienne d’urgence (PCU), Prestation canadienne d’urgence pour les étudiants (PCUE), Prestation canadienne de la relance économique (PCRE), Prestation canadienne de maladie pour la relance économique (PCMRE) ou Prestation canadienne de la relance économique pour proches aidants (PCREPA), vous pouvez y accéder en ligne dans votre compte Mon dossier de l’ARC (pour l’année d’imposition 2020) ou obtenir de l’aide en composant le 1-800-959-8281. Pour savoir comment vous inscrire à Mon dossier pour les particuliers de l’ARC, cliquez ici.     Comment obtenir une copie de vos feuillets de renseignements du Québec Si vous résidez dans la province de Québec, vous pouvez accéder à vos relevés provinciaux en ligne en utilisant les services Mon dossier pour les citoyens ou clicSÉQUR de Revenu Québec. Pour savoir comment vous inscrire ou accéder aux services en ligne de Mon dossier pour les citoyens ou de cliqSÉCUR. Si vous n’êtes pas en mesure d’accéder aux services en ligne, vous pouvez communiquer avec Revenu Québec de 10 h à 16 h 30 en composant l’un des numéros suivants : 1-418-266-1016 (région de Québec), 1-514-940-1481 (région de Montréal), 1-855-291-6467 (ailleurs au Québec). Comment puis-je obtenir un feuillet pour une année passée? Si vous êtes inscrit à Mon dossier pour les particuliers de l’ARC, vous devriez pouvoir accéder aux feuillets de l’année courante et à ceux des six dernières années en ligne. Voici comment faire : Accédez à la page Mon dossier pour les particuliers et ouvrez une session de l’une des trois façons suivantes : * Option 1 – Se servir d’un de nos partenaires de connexion * Option 2 – Se servir d’un ID utilisateur et mot de passe de l’ARC * Option 3 – Se servir de la BC Services Card À partir de la page Aperçu, défilez vers le bas jusqu’à la section Services liés à située à droite de l’écran. Cliquez sur Feuillets de renseignements d’impôt (T4 et autres). Vous serez redirigé vers la page Feuillets de renseignements d’impôt (T4 et autres). À partir de la page Feuillets de renseignements d’impôt (T4 et autres), sélectionnez une année d’imposition et le feuillet de renseignements que vous souhaitez consulter (vous pouvez également sélectionner Tous les feuillets pour consulter tous les feuillets qui ont été émis durant l’année visée). Cliquez sur Suivant. Dans le tableau, repérez le document que vous souhaitez consulter et cliquez sur le lien intitulé Originale sous la colonne Type pour y accéder. Si vous n’êtes pas inscrit à ce service, vous pouvez composer le 1-800-959-8281 pour savoir comment obtenir une copie de vos feuillets des années passées. Renseignements connexes : Comment puis-je m’inscrire au service Mon dossier de l’ARC? À quels feuillets de renseignements fiscaux puis-je accéder par l’intermédiaire du service Préremplir ma déclaration de l’ARC? COVID-19 et vos impôts ... View more

Over the past several months Covid-19 has impacted our lives in immeasurable ways, and as the pandemic continues to evolve, so does the government's response to it. Many Canadians have received support from the provincial or federal government (whether receiving CERB payments, taking advantage of an extended tax filing deadline, or many other programs and incentives), and are now wondering how these things may impact their tax filing experience in 2021. We've put together a comprehensive guide to help you navigate all the ins and outs of how recipients of the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), and the Canadian Recovery Benefit (CRB) may see changes to their tax filing experience. Intro to CERB/CRB benefits What is the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)? Understanding the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), and who qualifies What is the Canadian Recovery Benefit (CRB)? Understanding the Canadian Recovery Benefit (CRB), and who qualifies How are they different? What is the difference between CERB and CRB? Are these benefits taxable? Tax information regarding CERB How will receiving CERB benefits impact my taxes next year? How do I know if I need to repay CERB? How to return or repay CERB payments Tax information regarding CRB Unlike its predecessor CERB, Canadian Recovery Benefit (CRB) amounts are taxed at the source prior to you receiving payment. This means that you will not likely be required to pay additional taxes on these amounts, though you may still need to claim these amounts as income under certain circumstances. To find out more, and whether or not you will need to pay back any CRB amounts you have received, visit the CRB page on the government of Canada's website. Entering these amounts into TurboTax Entering CERB payments Since the CERB is taxable, you can expect to receive an information slip from the CRA indicating the total amounts of CERB payments you received in 2020. These payments should be entered as income in your tax return in the same way you would enter a T4A. Entering CRB payments The 10% tax withheld at source may not be all the tax you need to pay. When you complete your personal income tax return, you may need to pay more (or less), depending on how much income you earned. You must report the CRB payments that you receive as income when you file your return. The CRA will provide you with a T4A tax information slip at tax time for the amount you received in CRB benefits. You should enter these amounts in to TurboTax in the same way you would enter any other T4A income. Related information: Covid-19 Tax Info Centre How are taxpayers being helped during the COVID-19 outbreak? What income support will be provided during the COVID-19 breakout for those in need? How will receiving CERB benefits impact my taxes next year? ... View more