The Canada Training Credit (CTC) is a refundable tax credit designed to help offset the cost of tuition and other eligible training fees.
How the Canada Training Credit Limit (CTCL) accumulates
Since 2019, individuals who meet the eligibility criteria earn $250 per year towards their CTCL, up to a lifetime maximum of $5,000. The $250 is added after a tax return is filed, provided that:
The person was 26 to 66 years old during the tax year.
They were resident in Canada for the full year.
Their working income exceeded the annual minimum threshold ($11,511 in 2024[1]).
Their net income did not exceed the top threshold of the 3rd federal tax bracket (not relevant to clients of a tax clinic).
Their lifetime CTCL has not yet reached $5,000.
Who can claim the credit?
A person may claim the CTC in a given year if:
They have a CTCL balance greater than $0.
They file a tax return.
They were resident in Canada throughout the year.
They were 26 to 66 years old at the end of the year.
They paid eligible tuition or training fees to an eligible institution (reported on a T2202, TL11A, TL11C, or equivalent).
The fees qualify for the tuition tax credit.
How much is the credit?
The CTC a person can claim is the lesser of their available CTCL balance and 50% of the eligible tuition or fees paid during the tax year.
UFile steps:
Determine if the client has a Canada Training Credit and any unused tuition amounts. This information will be automatically retrieved if autofill is used, or it can be found on the prior year’s Notice of Assessment.
Under Interview Setup, check the box for Tuition and Canada Training Credit. Click the plus sign next to Canada Training Credit and enter the client’s CTCL if it was not already entered via autofill. Answer “yes” to the question of whether to claim the CTC for the current year, or leave the field blank.[2]
Click the plus sign next to T2202 to access the tuition certificate section. Enter the client’s unused tuition amounts if they were not automatically populated. Then add the T2202 slip information if it has not been autofilled.
UFile will generate Schedule 11 and report the Canada Training Credit on Line 45350. Claiming the credit will reduce the CTCL available for future years.
How is the credit paid?
The credit is applied when calculating a person’s tax refund or balance owing on their income tax return—it is not paid as a separate benefit by mail or direct deposit.
How does claiming the Canada Training Credit affect the tuition tax credit?
When the CTC is claimed, the tuition amount is reduced by the CTC claimed.
Examples (assuming 2024 tuition = $800 and CTCL = $750)
Income = $15,000, CTC claimed ($400 = 50% of fees):
Tuition amount reduced by $400.
No tuition is claimed this year because no tax is payable.
CTCL reduced by $400 but increased by $250 for 2024, leaving $600 for 2025 ($750 – $400 + $250).
$400 of tuition carried forward ($800 – $400 CTC).
Income = $15,000, CTC not claimed:
Tuition amount not reduced.
No tuition is claimed this year because no tax is payable.
CTCL increases to $1,000 for 2025 ($750 + $250).
$800 of tuition carried forward.
Income = $25,000, CTC claimed ($400):
Tuition amount reduced by $400.
$400 tuition amount claimed to reduce tax.
CTCL for 2025 = $600 ($750 – $400 + $250).
No tuition carried forward.
Income = $25,000, CTC not claimed:
Full $800 tuition amount is claimed.
CTCL increases to $1,000 for 2025 ($750 + $250).
No tuition carried forward.
Note: Tax saving is only 15% of tuition claimed, so $800 tuition saves $120 in tax.
What if the course was at an institution that didn’t issue a T2202, TL11A, or TL11C?
Having one of these forms is not a strict legal requirement. Although uncommon, a person may still be able to claim the Canada Training Credit if both of the following apply:
The institution issued another document with substantially the same information as a T2202. (Note: the fees must relate to the calendar year the course was taken, not simply the year the fees were paid.)
The institution is certified by the Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada, and the course or program was taken to develop or improve occupational skills.
A list of certified institutions is available from a CRA website
How to find the Canada Training Credit Limit (CTCL):
The CTCL is shown on the prior year’s Notice of Assessment (for the 2024 tax year, check the 2023 Notice). It will only appear if the balance is greater than $0.
If using Auto-fill, the CTCL will be downloaded automatically.