Login

Home Tax Services Canada Student Tax Returns

Studying in Canada? Claim your student tax refund

You should apply with Taxback if:

  • You are studying in Canada
  • You paid tuition fees or income tax
  • You have already left Canada and need help filing from abroad
canadian students tax refund hero

Get started here!

Our expert team will look after all the paperwork.
Average Canadian refund: CA$998

Canadian tax returns for students

If you are studying in Canada, whether you’re a Canadian student or an international student, we’re here to help you file your tax return. We offer a free tax refund estimation service for all students so you can first check out what you’re owed. We will also ensure that you get back any applicable tax relief for your expenses like tuition fees, interest on student loans and medical expenses. Our average Canadian refund is CA$998 so let’s get started!

Get your student tax refund
canada_student_refunds

Can international students in Canada claim a tax refund?

Yes! If you are earning money in Canada, an income tax of 15% – 33% will be deducted from your wages. The good news is that many students pay too much tax and are entitled get a tax rebate.

You will be entitled to a tax refund if you overpaid on your…

  • Income tax
  • Canadian Pension Plan (CPP)
  • Employer Insurance
  • You may also be entitled to increase your tax rebate by claiming expenses (such as tuition fees, medical bills and travel).

Why apply with Taxback?

We get tax back for our customers all day everyday! Our average Canadian refund is CA$998.

  • You will receive your maximum Canadian tax refund including all applicable expenses (tuition fees, student loans etc.)

  • We offer a FREE refund estimation for all students in Canada

  • We help track down your T4 forms

  • We will transfer your refund to your bank account anywhere in the world

  • Not sure what you can claim? No problem! Discuss your application with our live chat team!

Canadian student tax return FAQs

The Canadian tax year runs from 1 January – 31 December and you have up to five years to claim a tax refund from Canada.

If you’re working in Canada this year, we can apply for your tax refund from March of next year. Register online today and send us your documents when you finish work so we can claim your tax back as soon as possible.

For refunds from the previous five years, we can claim your Canadian tax back right away. For years prior to five years previous, please apply for your tax rebate now and we will let you know if you meet the Tax Office’s requirements for a tax refund.

Taxback will get you back as much overpaid Canadian tax as is legally possible. Exactly how much you will be entitled to claim depends on factors like:

  • Your visa
  • Your earnings
  • How long you worked for

The average refund we get for our Canadian tax clients is CA$998.

As soon as we have it, you’ll have it, because we contact you immediately when we receive your refund from the tax office to organise the easiest way to get it to you.

Once we get your documents it takes us just one working week to prepare your Canadian tax return. This involves:

  • Receiving and checking the documents
  • Estimating your refund
  • Completing your forms
  • Sending them to the tax office

Once at the Canadian Revenue Agency, your application takes between three and six months for the tax office to process, depending on how busy they are. But don’t worry – our tax team will keep chasing the tax office to see how your application is progressing.

As soon as the tax office sends us your refund we’ll contact you to sort out the best way to get your cash straight to you.

The total estimated time for your Canadian tax rebate is 3-6 months.

You can follow the progress of your Canada Tax Return on your online account. This allows you to see every step of your application. As soon as we have your refund we’ll contact you to sort out the best way to get your money straight to you.

Rather talk to a person? We have our own staff available to talk to you in 20 different countries. Click here to find your local office number or use our Live Chat service.

Thousands of people choose our service every year because:

  • We guarantee to get you the maximum legal refund
  • FREE online refund estimations
  • All our Canadian student tax return files are compliant with Canada’s tax laws
  • We offer a document retrieval service to help source missing employment forms
  • We will transfer your refund to your bank account anywhere in the world
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Free phones, free online tax help with our Live Chat team

Canadian Tax Services for non-Canadians

No upfront fee payment is required. Essentially, you never have to put your hand in your pocket as we only deduct our fee from the refund amount once it has been secured from the tax office.

For Canadian tax refunds we charge per tax year 12,5% + handling fee of the refund received subject to a minimum fee of CA$62,50 + handling fee.

If you require document retrieval services for your Canada tax rebate, our fee for this is CA$20 + handling fee per document.

We know it’s easy to lose documents in the move back home or to not even receive them in the first place. That’s why we have a dedicated document retrieval team who deal with employers all over the world and can organise replacement documents for you.

To file your Canadian student tax return we’ll need either your T4 or your final payslip. The T4 is the official government form you’ll receive from your employer at the end of the tax year. It outlines your earnings and the amount of tax you paid. You should receive it by the end of February but if you don’t, it’s no problem – our document retrieval team can sort it out for you.

We can use either your final cumulative payslip or your T4 to claim back Canadian tax for you. Your final cumulative payslip is the payslip attached to your last pay cheque. It shows your year-to-date earnings and how much tax you’ve paid.

If you don’t have your final cumulative payslip or your T4, our document retrieval team can help get copies for you.

To claim your Canadian tax rebate we’ll need your Social Insurance Number. If you don’t have it, ask your employer or visa sponsor as they should have a record of your number. No luck? We may be able to get you an Individual Tax Number instead so contact us at canada@taxback.com to see what we can do for you.

Yes. Every tax office in the world is set up to accept applications directly from taxpayers. However, if you do not have a strong understanding of your tax entitlements, it can be tricky to complete your taxes correctly. The tax system in Canada is very complex and filing their own tax return is a challenge that many Canadian citizens don’t even attempt themselves.

What’s more, if you have questions about your student tax return, it can be difficult to communicate directly with the tax office directly. That’s why it’s a good idea to file with Taxback! We’ll answer any tax questions you have and help you claim your maximum Canadian tax refund.

Absolutely! We’ve been organising tax refunds for people working all over the world since 1996. We provide tax refunds for 16 different services.

No, but we do guarantee to get you the most money back that we legally can.

Our estimate is based on your documents and our experience in filing thousands of tax returns every week since 1996. Naturally, the Canadian tax authority has the final decision in your tax refund based on their systems and tax codes.

When our tax technicians prepare and file your student tax return, they check for any allowances or benefits you could get and ensure we apply for the maximum rebate possible.

Claim your student tax refund from Canada with help from our tax experts

Get started

Territory tax

AB Alberta

BC British Columbia

MB Manitoba

NB New Brunswick

NL Newfoundland and Labrador

NT Northwest Territories

NS Nova Scotia

NU Nunavut

ON Ontario

PE Prince Edward Island

QC Quebec

SK Saskatchewan

YT Yukon

Alberta

Alberta Tax Rate: 10% of taxable income

Alberta offers the lowest personal tax rate in Canada, because of a low single rate tax system, the highest basic and spousal exemptions in the country, no health care premium, no general sales tax, the lowest gasoline tax rate among the provinces, and low property taxes.

Alberta Tax Credits, Deductions and Rebates

Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit

The Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit programme is designed to help working families provide for their children.

There is no need to apply separately to get payments under this scheme. The information from your Canada Child Benefits application will be used to determine your eligibility for the credit.

Alberta Child Health Benefit

Children of families with limited income get free eyeglasses, prescriptions and dental visits.

British Columbia

British Columbia Tax Credits, Deductions and Rebates

Tax brackets for British Columbia

  • 5.06% on the first CA$37,568 of taxable income
  • 7.7% on the next CA$37,570
  • 10.5% on the next CA$11,130
  • 12.29% on the next CA$18,486
  • 14.7% on the amount over CA$104,754

British Columbia Family Bonus

This benefit is combined with the Canada Child Tax Benefit into a single monthly payment.

Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit

That deduction helps low income individuals and families offset the carbon tax they pay. Eligible people receive their payments four times a year, as part of their GST Credit payment.

BC HST Credit

This is a non-taxable, refundable payment to help low-income individuals and families offset the sales tax they pay. This payment is also combined with the GST Credit payment.

British Columbia Tax Credits, Deductions and Rebates

Tax brackets for British Columbia

  • 5.06% on the first CA$37,568 of taxable income
  • 7.7% on the next CA$37,570
  • 10.5% on the next CA$11,130
  • 12.29% on the next CA$18,486
  • 14.7% on the amount over CA$104,754

British Columbia Family Bonus

This benefit is combined with the Canada Child Tax Benefit into a single monthly payment.

Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit

That deduction helps low income individuals and families offset the carbon tax they pay. Eligible people receive their payments four times a year, as part of their GST Credit payment.

BC HST Credit

This is a non-taxable, refundable payment to help low-income individuals and families offset the sales tax they pay. This payment is also combined with the GST Credit payment.

Manitoba

The tax brackets for Manitoba are as follows

  • 10.8% on the first CA$31,000 of taxable income
  • 12.75% on the next CA$36,000
  • 17.4% on the amount over CA$67,000
  • Manitoba tax credits, deductions and rebates

Manitoba Child Benefit

Those benefits are in addition to the Canada Child Tax Benefit.

Tuition Free Income Tax Rebate

This rebate provides post-secondary education graduates with a 60% rebate on eligible tuition fees once they begin working and paying taxes. In addition, Manitoba post-secondary students may be eligible to receive a 5% tax credit advance on their tuition fees while they are still in school.

Nutrient Management Tax Credit

It compensates for 10% of eligible farming expenses like solid-liquid separation systems, manure composting facilities, storage tanks, etc.

New Brunswick

Northwest Territories

2023 Tax brackets for the Northwest Territories

  • 5.9% on the first $48,326 of taxable income
  • 8.6% from $48,326 to $96,655
  • 12.2% from $96,655 to $157,139
  • 14.05% on the amount over $157,139

Newfoundland and Labrador

Northwest Territories

Tax brackets for the Northwest Territories

  • 5.9% on the first CA$39,453 of taxable income
  • 8.6% on the next CA$39,455
  • 12.2% on the next CA$49,378
  • 14.05% on the amount over CA$128,286

Northwest Territories tax credits, deductions and rebates

The Northwest Territories Child Benefit is included with the monthly federal Canada Child Tax Benefit into one payment.

The Cost of Living Tax Credit depends on adjusted net income and is not just for low income individuals. The Cost of Living Supplement can be claimed by either eligible spouse.

Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories

Tax brackets for the Northwest Territories

  • 5.9% on the first $39,453 of taxable income
  • 8.6% on the next $39,455
  • 12.2% on the next $49,378
  • 14.05% on the amount over $128,286

Northwest Territories tax credits, deductions and rebates
The Northwest Territories Child Benefit is included with the monthly federal Canada Child Tax Benefit into one payment.

The Cost of Living Tax Credit depends on adjusted net income and is not just for low income individuals. The Cost of Living Supplement can be claimed by either eligible spouse.

Nova Scotia

Tax brackets for Nova Scotia

  • 8.79% on the first $29,590 of taxable income
  • 14.95% on the next $29,590
  • 16.67% on the next $33,820
  • 17.5% on the next $57,000
  • 21% on the amount over $150,000

Nova Scotia tax credits, deductions and rebates

Nova Scotia Child Benefit

The payments are combined with the Canada Child Tax Benefit into one monthly payment.

 

Sport & Recreational Expenses for Children Tax Credit / Healthy Living Tax credit

These tax credits provide an allowable tax credit of up to $500 per child to help with the cost of registering children and youth in sport or recreation activities.

Affordable Living Tax Credit (NSALTC)

Low-income residents may benefit from programs like the affordable living tax credit and the tax refund for senior citizens receiving Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).

Nova Scotia Provincial Tax Commission Program

This scheme administers several rebate programs for the provincial portion of the HST for people with disabilities, first-time home buyers and the purchase of computers, etc.

Nunavut

Tax brackets for Nunavut

  • 4% on the first $41,535 of taxable income
  • 7% on the next $41,536
  • 9% on the next $51,983
  • 11.5% on the amount over $135,054

Nunavut tax credits, deductions and rebates

Nunavut Child Benefit

This benefit is combined with the Canada Child Tax Benefit into one monthly payment.

Nunavut Household Allowance

This allowance provides $400 per household per month to offset the high cost of fuel and energy. It is available to eligible employees who do not already receive a subsidy.

The Fuel Tax Rebate offers several programs, some for individuals and others for businesses.

Nunavut Housing Corporation

This offers several programs to help residents become homeowners, as well as incentives for home repair, renovation and maintenance, including seniors and persons with a disability.

Ontario

Tax brackets for Ontario

  • 5.05% on the first $39,723 of taxable income
  • 9.15% on the next $39,725, +
  • 11.16% on the next $429,552, +
  • 13.16% on the amount over $509,000

Ontario tax credits, deductions and rebates

Ontario Child Benefit

This offers financial support for low-income families. If you are eligible, it will be combined with the Canada Child Tax Benefit into one monthly payment. In addition, eligible families may receive financial help for rent or medication.

Trillium Drug Program

This program is designed to help with the cost of prescription drugs.

Ontario Sales Tax Credit

This credit provides relief on the sales tax they pay on goods and services.

Land Transfer Tax Refund for First-time homebuyers

This refund covers all or part of the tax.

Ontario Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit

This tax credit is designed for seniors 65 and over who own or rent their home, and for those who share a home with a relative who is a senior. Please note that if an eligible expense also qualifies as a medical expense, it can be claimed for both the renovation tax credit and as a medical expense.

Ontario Trillum Benefit

Since July 2012, the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) combines the following credits into one monthly payment: the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, and the Northern Ontario Energy Credit.

Prince Edward Island

Tax brackets for Prince Edward Island

  • 9.8% on the first $31,984 of taxable income
  • 13.8% on the next $31,985
  • 16.7% on the amount over $63,969

Prince Edward Island (PEI) tax credits, deductions and rebates

Owner-occupied Residential Tax Credit

This credit was introduced to ensure that owner-occupying property owners are not impacted negatively by increases in property taxes.

 

Seniors’ Home Repair Program

The Seniors’ Home Repair Program helps with repairs that are essential to maintain the structure of the building and maintain the senior citizen’s health and safety.

Specialised Labour Tax Credit

This relief gives skilled workers a 17% tax rebate for accepting employment in PEI.

Prince Edward Island Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit

This refundable tax credit gives volunteer firefighters €500

Quebec

Tax brackets for Québec

  • 16% on the first $42,390 of taxable income, +
  • 20% on the next $42,390, +
  • 24% on the next $18,370, +
  • 25.75% on the amount over $103,150

Québec tax credits, deductions and rebates

Québec Solidarity tax credit
Since July 2011, this monthly amount is deposited directly into eligible taxpayers’ bank account but you must apply for this credit in order to receive it. This single amount has replaced the following tax credits: the QST credit, the credit for individuals living in northern villages and the property tax refund.

Child Assistance payment
If your child is born in Québec, you do not have to apply to receive the payments; simply register the birth of your child. This payment is separate from the Canada Child Tax Benefit. Neither benefit is taxable.

Québec Parental Insurance Plan
The QPIP is set up to pay benefits to all eligible workers – salaried and/or self-employed – taking maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave or adoption leave.

 

Tax Credit for Child-Care Expenses
This credit is intended for families to help cover eligible child care expenses.

Home-Support Services Tax Credit
The Tax Credit for Home-Support Services for senior citizens makes it easier for senior citizens to stay in their home.

Shelter Allowance Program
This helps low-income senior citizens and families pay their rent.

Québec tax deduction for workers
This tax deduction equals 6% of your eligible work income up to a maximum amount.

The Tax Credit for Workers aged 65 or Older
This is a non-refundable credit available to residents of Québec whose eligible work income earned after they turn 65 is over $5,000.

Independent Living Tax Credit for Seniors
This is a refundable tax credit designed to compensate senior citizens or their spouses for expenses over $500 for eligible equipment or fixtures, and for expenses related to stays in a functional rehabilitation transition unit

The Drive Electric Program
Since January 2012, this scheme offers a purchase or lease rebate of up to $8,000 for electric and hybrid vehicles. The program replaces the tax credit that was being offered from 2009 to 2011.

Saskatchewan

Tax brackets for Saskatchewan

  • 11% on the first $42,906 of taxable income,
  • 13% on the next $70,683,
  • 15% on the amount over $122,589

Saskatchewan tax credits, deductions and rebates

Active Families Benefit

This benefit helps families with the costs of their children’s participation in cultural, recreational and sports activities.

Saskatchewan Employment Supplement

This payment helps low-income families. The amount depends on the number of children, their age and the household income.

 

Graduate Retention Program

This program provides a rebate of up to $20,000 on tuition fees for graduates to live in Saskatchewan and file a tax return in that province. Unused credits can be deducted as part of the Graduate Tuition Refund.

Saskatchewan low-income tax credit

This refundable credit is designed to reduce the taxes of low-income residents.

First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

This is a non-refundable credit of up to $1,100 for eligible tax payers who bought qualifying homes after December 31, 2011.

Saskatchewan Active Families Benefit

This benefit can now be claimed for children 18 years or younger on the last day of the year, as opposed to children just 6-14 years of age.

Yukon

Tax brackets for the Yukon

  • 7.04% on the first $43,561 of taxable income
  • 9.68% on the next $43,562
  • 11.44% on the next $47,931
  • 12.76% on the amount over $135,054

 

Yukon tax credits, deductions and rebates

Yukon Child Benefit

Those benefits are combined with the Canada Child Tax Benefit into a single monthly payment. Families can also find information about the Healthy Families Initiative, the Kid’s Recreation Fund, the Yukon Children’s Drug and Optical Program, and the Aboriginal Head Start Program for the Yukon.

Low Income Family Tax Credit

This credit reduces territorial tax by up to $300 for residents.

Tax services fees

Estimate

Free, no obligation estimate of your Canadian tax refund.

Tax refund fee

Our fee is 12.5% of the refund received (+ handling fee). This is subject to a minimum fee of $62.50 (+ handling fee).

Document retrieval fee

If you require our document retrieval service, our fee is CA$20 (+ handling fee) per document. An additional fee of CA$20 (+ handling fee) will apply for over 20 receipts.

canada_student_fees

Recent Reviews

Taxback
Trustpilot