What’s new for Canadian taxes in 2020

Federal tax changes

COVID-19 support payments	If you received taxable COVID-19 support payments from the government, like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), you’ll receive a T4E or T4A slip for these amounts. If you’re self-employed and received COVID-19 assistance from the government, like the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), you need to report these amounts as income in your return. You can also reduce your expenses by the amounts you received. If you also received a government loan, it’s not taxable, but you need to include any part of the loan that’s forgiven in your income for 2020. If you received federal or provincial emergency benefits, you might not be charged interest on the tax you owe from your 2020 return until April 30, 2022. Visit this help article on COVID-19 relief measures to learn more.
Working from home due to COVID-19	If you needed to work from home because of COVID-19, you might be able to claim some of your expenses. This includes using your cellphone for work, home internet access fees, rent paid for your house or apartment, and utilities such as electricity and heat. You might be able to claim up to $400 without needing a signed form from your employer.
Increased basic personal amount	This has increased for most taxpayers. You might see an increase in your refund or a decrease in your balance owing.
Increased spouse or common-law partner amount	This has increased for most taxpayers. You or your spouse might see an increase in your refund or a decrease in your balance owing.
More options for the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)	If you’re not a first-time home buyer, but you experience a breakdown in your marriage or common-law partnership, you might be able to participate in the HBP.
New Digital news subscription tax credit	This new credit lets you claim expenses you paid in 2020 for a digital news subscription with a qualified Canadian journalism organization.
New Canadian journalism labour tax credit (CJLTC)	If you’re eligible to claim this new credit, it will be allocated to you by your partnership. You’ll see an amount in box 236 on your T5013 slip.
New Canada training credit	This new credit reduces the tuition tax credit you can claim, transfer, or carry-forward.
More options for donations and gifts	You can now claim donations made to registered journalism organizations.
Extended mineral exploration tax credit for flow-through share investors	This credit has been extended for 5 years, to March 31, 2024.
Increased meal expenses for the claim for meals and lodging expenses	You can now claim $23 (up from $17) for each meal, up to 3 meals per day for your meal expenses.

Alberta tax changes

Discontinued

Alberta investors tax credit

This credit has been discontinued. You can still claim the unused amount of this credit.

Discontinued Alberta tuition and education tax credits

These tax credits have been discontinued. If you have unused amounts carried forward from a previous year, you can claim them on the Schedule 11 page.

British Columbia tax changes

British Columbia tuition and education amounts and the new Canada training credit	Your British Columbia tuition and education amounts will be reduced by any Canada training credit limit you claim for 2020.
Extended British Columbia training tax credits	The British Columbia training tax credit for individuals and the British Columbia training tax credit for employers have been extended until December 31, 2022.
Extended British Columbia farmers’ food donation tax credit	This credit has been extended until December 31, 2023.
British Columbia child opportunity benefit replaced	The British Columbia early childhood tax credit replaced the British Columbia child opportunity benefit on October 1, 2020.

Ontario tax changes

Decreased Ontario dividend tax credit	The dividend tax credit rate for other than eligible dividends has decreased from 3.2863% to 2.9863%.
Discontinued Apprenticeship training tax credit	This tax credit has been discontinued. You can only claim expenses for apprenticeship programs that started after December 31, 2016 and before November 15, 2017.

Québec tax changes

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)	If you received amounts related to any of these benefits in 2020, you’ll receive an RL-1 slip (you'll see an amount in box O-6 or O-7) and a T4A slip or T4E slip.
New Incentive Program to Retain Essential Workers (IPREW)	If you were an essential worker in Québec in 2020, you might have received benefits from the IPREW during COVID-19. You’ll see an amount for these benefits in box O-5 on your RL-1 slip.
Working from home due to COVID-19	If you needed to work from home because of COVID-19, you might be able to claim some of your expenses. This includes using your cellphone for work, home internet access fees, rent paid for your house or apartment, and utilities such as electricity and heat. You might be able to claim up to $400 without needing a signed form from your employer.
New farm worker bonus	If you received a farm worker bonus under the IPREW, you’ll see an amount for these payments in box O-5 on your RL-1 slip.
Tax credit for career extension	The tax credit for career extension is now claimed using the form TP-752.PC-V.
More options for the tax credit for childcare expenses	If you had childcare expenses because you were taking an online or correspondence course at a qualified educational institution, you can now claim these expenses for this credit.
New rules and rates for the dividend tax credit	As of January 1, 2020, you must have been a resident of Québec on December 31 for the year you’re claiming the dividends for, in order to receive the full tax credit amount. The dividend tax credit rate for the actual amount of ordinary dividends has increased, while the tax credit rate for the actual amount of eligible dividends has decreased.
Virtual currency transactions (cryptocurrecy, token, etc.)	If you sold units of virtual currency in 2020, you’ll need to report these transactions on the Capital Gains or Losses (Schedule 3 and Schedule G) page.
Extended tax credit for interest on a loan granted by a seller-lender and guaranteed by La Financière agricole du Québec	This credit has been extended for 5 years for loan you received under a contract signed after December 2, 2014, but before January 1, 2025.
More options for the tax credit for caregivers	You can now claim this credit if you provided care to a person over 18 who has a disability and needs help with daily activities. You can also claim it if you provided care to a relative over 70 who lives with you.
Discontinued tax credit for volunteer respite services and tax credit for respite of caregivers	These tax credits have been discontinued as of January 1, 2021. You can still claim these credits for the entire year on your 2020 return. Starting in 2020, you might also be eligible for an additional amount to help cover the costs you paid for specialized respite services. Please note that if you’re claiming the tax credit for caregivers, you can’t claim the tax credit for volunteer respite services or the tax credit for respite of caregivers for the same person.
More options for the disability support deduction	You can now claim expenses you had after December 31, 2019 for goods or services that helped you take distance courses from a designated educational institution or secondary school.
Certifications and prescriptions for therapy by specialized nurse practitioners	Specialized nurse practitioners can now issue you a certificate for the cost of medical care you received that wasn’t available in your area. They can also provide certification of your dependent senior status to support your eligibility for the tax credit for home-support services for seniors. If you have a chronic illness and need to undergo therapy at least twice a week, this therapy can now be prescribed by a specialized nurse practitioner.