There are some important differences regarding how, and from whom, you can claim transferred tuition. The process of claiming these amounts (and the amounts themselves) can vary depending on these differences. Follow the applicable steps below to enter transferred tuition into TurboTax.
Note for coupled returns: You'll need to enter income, tuition, and education information for both you and your spouse/partner. TurboTax will automatically claim the unused amounts on the spouse’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.
Enter tuition amounts from your spouse or partner
Before you begin, find out the federal and/or provincial amount(s) your spouse/partner is transferring to you. Then, enter income and RRSP information for both yourself and your spouse/partner into TurboTax.
TurboTax Online or TurboTax CD/Download:
- Select Find from the TurboTax menu
- Enter federal spouse and select Go
- Select Continue. The screen will refresh with content related to your tuition amount
- Enter the federal tuition amount being transferred to you, then select Continue
- Follow the prompts to enter amounts in the Taxable income and Other information fields
- Select Continue until you reach the Tuition and Education Amounts* screen
- Enter the provincial tuition amount being transferred to you, then select Continue
*This option will only appear if your province offers a provincial tuition credit. If this step doesn't appear, you've finished claiming your tuition credits.
Enter tuition amounts from a child or grandchild
Before you begin, find out the federal and/or provincial amount(s) your dependant is transferring to you. Then, enter income and RRSP information for yourself into TurboTax. Finally, add your child or grandchild as a dependant.
TurboTax Online:
- Select Find from the TurboTax menu
- Enter claims for dependants and select Go
- When prompted to review or claim any of these credits, choose Yes, then select Continue
- Select Enter Credit Info next to the name of the dependant who's transferring unused tuition amounts to you
- Select Tranfer my Child's Tuition and Education Amounts, then select Continue
- Follow the on-screen instructions to select Tuition Transfer, enter the amount(s) of the transfer(s), then select Continue
TurboTax CD/Download:
- Select Find from the TurboTax menu
- Enter claims for dependants, select the result, then select Go
- When prompted to review or claim any of these credits, choose Yes, then select Continue
- Select the name of the dependant who's transferring unused tuition amounts to you, then select Enter Dependant Credits
- Select Transfer my child's tuition and education amounts, then select Continue
- Follow the on-screen instructions to enter the federal and/or provincial amounts your dependant is transferring to you, then select Continue
Related information
How do I enter dependants in TurboTax Online?
How do I enter dependants in TurboTax CD/Download?
How do I enter RRSP contributions in TurboTax?
