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Newcomer Tax Credits and Benefits You Can Claim
Plan your expenses and deductions strategically each year
Timing is a lever. When you buy equipment, pay a bonus, or make an RRSP contribution changes what you can deduct and when — and the best moves are made before your year-end closes, not in the scramble afterward. Reviewing your position mid-year is what keeps those options open.
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Maintain accurate and organized financial records for easy reporting
Reconciled every month, your books are filing-ready and cheaper to prepare. Rebuilt in a hurry from a shoebox of receipts, they produce a number that's wrong often enough to matter — missed credits, personal expenses left in, transfers coded as revenue. Keep bank, credit-card, and HST records current as you go.
Talk to a tax professional for expert guidance
Software reports what happened; it won't tell you what to do about it. A specialist who knows your business structure can flag changes to your instalments, the small business deduction, and your salary-versus-dividend mix while there's still time to act — before the return is filed, not after.
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The point is simple: the earlier you look, the more you can change. A review done mid-year gives every decision two quarters to work — the same review in filing season is just a report on choices already made.
“A mid-year review isn't more paperwork. It's the chance to change your tax bill while you still can — deliberately, with the numbers in front of you.”
Use accounting and tax software to make management easier
The right tools cut the manual work — automatic bank feeds, digital receipts, and built-in GST/HST tracking. Paired with a monthly review, the numbers start driving decisions instead of just piling up. We set this up and keep it running as part of every engagement.
One of the best reasons for newcomers to file a Canadian tax return is the money it unlocks. Filing is how you apply for federal and provincial benefits — many with no minimum time-in-Canada requirement. Here is what you can claim.
The GST/HST credit
A tax-free quarterly payment for individuals and families with low or modest income. You become eligible by filing a return. New residents can apply before their first filing using Form RC151.
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
A tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18. Amounts are based on your family income and the number and ages of your children. Filing your return — and your spouse's — is what keeps it flowing.
Provincial and territorial credits
Most provinces add their own benefits on top, such as the Ontario Trillium Benefit or the BC family benefit. They are calculated from the same return — no separate application.
What you can claim
| Benefit | Who | How you apply |
|---|---|---|
| GST/HST credit | Low and modest-income individuals and families | File a return (or RC151 before your first filing) |
| Canada Child Benefit | Families with children under 18 | File your and your spouse's return |
| Provincial credits | Varies by province | Automatic from your return |
Most of these have no minimum residency period — you qualify based on your income and family situation, not how long you have been in Canada.
How to make sure you get them
- Get a SIN and file your return, even with little or no income
- Set up direct deposit in CRA My Account for faster payments
- Keep your address and marital status up to date — both affect your benefits
Amounts change yearly; verify current figures at canada.ca.
How Count myAccount helps
We make sure newcomers claim every benefit they qualify for and apply residency dates correctly.
