Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Your school sends a T2202 slip by the end of February, and it lets you claim the 15% federal tuition credit. Unused amounts carry forward, and up to $5,000 can go to a parent. File even with a small income to get tax back.
Most students pay little or no income tax, but they have more to claim than anyone else, and most of it only pays off if you file.
What can you claim for tuition?
Your school sends a T2202 slip by the end of February. It lets you claim the federal tuition credit, worth 15% of the eligible amount. A student with a small income often can’t use all of it, so you have two choices: carry the rest forward, or transfer up to $5,000 of it to a parent, grandparent or spouse. Either way you’ll want to keep the slips. The tax credits calculator shows how the credits add up.
What about a summer or part-time job?
Federally you can earn up to the basic personal amount, $16,452 for 2026, before income tax applies, and your province has its own amount. But your employer takes tax, CPP and EI off each paycheque anyway. Filing a return gets the extra tax back. Try the take-home pay calculator with your own wage.
Are scholarships and loans taxed?
Scholarships and bursaries are usually tax-free for a full-time student who qualifies for the education amount. You can also claim a credit for the interest you pay on a government student loan, and unused interest carries forward for five years. If you move 40 km or more closer to school, you may deduct the moving costs against taxable awards.
Should you open an RRSP now?
Probably not yet. A deduction is worth the most when your income is high, and yours is likely low, so a TFSA often suits better. You can keep your RRSP deduction for later years. Check the options with the TFSA calculator.
File every year.
Where do you start?
Read the filing guide for the steps, the guide to benefits and credits for what else you may claim, and keep an eye on the tax calendar.
Before you act on this page
You’re reading a general overview, and it can’t see your slips, your status or your province, so you shouldn’t treat it as advice for your own return. If anything here doesn’t match a letter from the CRA, the letter wins.
Stuck?
Ask a qualified preparer or the CRA itself, and keep the document checklist, the tax calendar and the filing guide close by. Not sure which province’s rules apply to you? The province index lists them all.
Frequently asked questions
What is the T2202?
The slip your school gives you showing the tuition you paid. You use it to claim the tuition credit, and the school issues it by the end of February.
Can I give my tuition credit to a parent?
You can transfer part of it, up to $5,000 minus what you use yourself, to a parent, grandparent or spouse. Anything left over carries forward for you.
Are scholarships taxable?
For most full-time students, scholarships and bursaries are tax-free when you qualify for the education amount. Other awards can be taxable, so read the slip you receive.
Should I file if I earned very little?
Often yes. Filing can bring back tax that was taken off your pay, builds your credit carry-forwards and lets you claim the GST/HST credit if you are 19 or older.
Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.