Frequently asked questions about the child and family benefits calculators
How to use the forms
Q. How do online forms work?
A. Visit the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) help page for basic instructions about:
- moving within form
- changing your data
Q. My cursor is stuck in the form's first field. How do I move the cursor to the next field so I can continue?
A. As explained on the CRA help page, enter the appropriate data in each box or "field". To move from one field to the next, use the "Tab" key on your keyboard. This helps to ensure that you don't accidentally skip over any fields. You can also use your cursor to move from one field to the next. Simply place your cursor in the field you want to fill in, then left-click your mouse.
Q. I just realized that I made a mistake. How do I correct it?
A. Before you hit "Continue" or the "Calculate" button: If you haven't submitted your request to the calculator yet and you spot an error, click on the field that contains the error. This "selects" the existing data, which you can then correct or replace.
After you hit "Continue": Use the "Back" button in your browser's toolbar to return to the previous page containing the information you would like to change.
After you hit "Calculate":
- Use the "Back" button in your browser's toolbar to return to the previous page containing the information you would like to change; or
- Use the "Back to welcome page" button to start again from the beginning; or
- Use the "Back to calculation page" button to change the income or child information.
- Use the "Clear" button on the calculation page to refresh the page and remove all your entries.
About the calculators
Q. What date should I use to determine the ages of my children for the calculators?
A. You should use today's date as the date to determine the age(s) of your child(ren). The CRA bases the amount of the Canada child benefit (CCB) on the number of children you have and their ages as of the first day of each payment month. For example, if your child turns 18 in October, you may receive the CCB for that child for the month of October, but it will end beginning the following month, November.
Net income
Q. How do I report net income that includes taxable capital gains for the calculators?
A. If your net income includes taxable capital gains arising from a foreclosure; these amounts are to be excluded from your family net income before entering an amount into the calculator. The net income is to be reduced by whichever amount is less:
- Line 12700, or
- 50% of lines 12400 + 15500
Note: If the value is negative, it is considered zero for the purposes of determining the amount that the family net income will be reduced by.
Working income
Q. What type of income do I report for working income?
A. The following list includes the type of income that could be reported. The corresponding lines on the tax return have been provided for your reference.
- Employment income (line 10100)
- Other employment income (line 10400)
- Other income (line 13000)
- Net business income (line 13500)
- Net professional income (line 13700)
- Net commission income (line 13900)
- Net farming income (line 14100)
- Net fishing income (line 14300)
- Canada/Quebec pension plan disability benefits (line 15200)
- Employment insurance benefits (box 17 on T4E slip)
- Exempt income of Canadian indians
World income
If you or your spouse/common-law partner resided in Canada throughout 2019, enter the amount from line 23600 of your and/or your spouse/common-law partners' tax returns.
If you or your spouse/common-law partner are newcomers to Canada or returning residents in 2019, enter the amount from line 23600 of your and/or your spouse/common-law tax returns and your and/or your spouse/common-law income earned outside Canada.
If you or your spouse/common-law partner are newcomers to Canada or returning residents in 2018 or 2019, enter your or your spouse/common-law income earned outside Canada.
Income earned outside Canada must be determined in the same way net income is determined in Canada: gross income from all sources minus deductions.
About the child and family benefit programs
Q. I would like more information about the child and family benefit programs, such as the income levels at which benefits decrease and how benefits are calculated.
A. For information about the CCB, visit the CRA Canada child benefit page.
For information about the related provincial and territorial programs, see the Canada child benefits booklet.
For information on the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, visit the CRA goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax credit page.
For information about the related provincial and territorial programs, see the GST/HST credit booklet.
For information about the child disability benefit, visit the CRA child disability benefit page.
About the Canada workers benefit (CWB)
Q. I would like more information about the CWB.
A. For information about the CWB, visit the CRA Canada workers benefit page.
About the Ontario senior homeowners' property tax grant (OSHPTG)
Q. I would like more information about the OSHPTG.
A. For information about the OSHPTG, visit the CRA Ontario senior homeowners' property tax grant page.
About the Ontario trillium benefit (OTB)
Q. I would like more information about the OTB.
A. For more information about the OTB, visit the CRA Ontario trillium benefit page.
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