If you were recently approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) but your condition existed for years, you may be entitled to a substantial retroactive refund. The CRA allows you to adjust prior tax returns going back up to 10 years, potentially returning thousands of dollars. A retroactive DTC refund of ~$1,414/year federal over 10 years equals up to $14,140 — plus provincial credits.
There are two methods to claim retroactive DTC credits:
File a T1 Adjustment Request for each year you want to amend. You can do this online through My Account at canada.ca, or mail Form T1-ADJ to your tax centre. Indicate line 31600 (or 31800 for a transfer) and the DTC base amount for that year. CRA will recalculate your taxes and issue a refund with interest.
If you never filed taxes for certain past years, file those original T1 returns now claiming the DTC on line 31600. CRA's Voluntary Disclosures Program may also help if you have outstanding obligations.
| Tax Year | Federal DTC Base Amount | Federal Credit (15%) | Child Supplement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $9,428 | $1,414 | $5,500 |
| 2025 | $9,428 | $1,414 | $5,500 |
| 2024 | $9,428 | $1,414 | $5,500 |
| 2023 | $9,428 | $1,414 | $5,414 |
| 2022 | $8,870 | $1,331 | $5,174 |
| 2021 | $8,662 | $1,299 | $5,053 |
| 2020 | $8,576 | $1,286 | $5,003 |
| 2019 | $8,416 | $1,262 | $4,909 |
| 2018 | $8,235 | $1,235 | $4,804 |
| 2017 | $8,113 | $1,217 | $4,733 |
| 2016 | $8,001 | $1,200 | $4,667 |
Once DTC is retroactively approved, you may also be eligible to open an RDSP and receive retroactive Canada Disability Savings Grants (CDSG) and Canada Disability Savings Bonds (CDSB) going back up to 10 years — an additional potential benefit of up to $70,000 in government contributions.
CRA pays prescribed interest on retroactive refunds from the day after the original filing deadline of the tax year being adjusted. Interest compounds daily. For a 10-year retroactive claim, interest on earlier years can meaningfully increase your total refund — often adding 15–25% to the base amount.
Many companies specialize in retroactive DTC claims and charge 20–30% of the refund they recover. For a $14,000 retroactive claim, that's $2,800–$4,200 in fees. Weigh this against your comfort filing T1-ADJ forms yourself. The process is straightforward for most people using My Account at canada.ca. If your situation is complex — multiple family members, transfers between supporters, or appeals — a professional service may be worthwhile.
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Get KOHO Free — Code 45ET55JSYAInformational only. Not tax or legal advice. Verify figures with CRA or a qualified tax professional. Last updated March 2026.