File your taxes correctly and claim every student credit available to you.
Filing taxes as a Canadian student is straightforward once you know what slips to collect and what credits you're entitled to. Many students get refunds — or can transfer credits to parents — making tax filing well worth the effort. This guide covers everything from the T2202 tuition slip to scholarship income, co-op taxes, and the best free tax software.
| Slip | What It Is | Where to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| T2202 | Tuition and Enrolment Certificate — shows eligible tuition fees | Your school's student portal (Feb/Mar) |
| T4 | Employment income and tax withheld from part-time jobs | Your employer (by end of February) |
| T4A | Scholarships, bursaries, fellowships, awards | Your school or award provider |
| T5 | Interest income (savings, GICs outside TFSA) | Your bank |
| RC210 | Canada Workers Benefit advance payments (if applicable) | CRA |
The T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) is issued by your post-secondary institution and shows the amount of eligible tuition you paid. You need this form to claim the tuition tax credit. Download it from your school's student portal each February/March for the prior tax year.
The T2202 shows your eligible fees by semester and confirms full-time vs. part-time enrollment status for the education amount (if still applicable in your province).
The tuition tax credit gives you a 15% federal tax credit on eligible tuition and fees paid to a designated post-secondary institution. On $8,000 in tuition, that's a $1,200 federal tax credit. Most provinces offer an additional provincial tuition credit (typically 5–15% of tuition).
Full guide: Tuition Tax Credit in Canada 2025
Whether scholarships and bursaries are taxable depends on the type and amount. The general rule:
See our full guide: Are Scholarships Taxable in Canada?
The GST/HST Credit is a federal payment made 4 times per year to low- and modest-income Canadians. Many students qualify, especially if their income is under $15,000–$20,000/year. You don't need to apply — CRA automatically assesses you when you file your tax return. For a single student with no income or low income, the annual GST credit is approximately $460–$500+.
Ontario students may qualify for the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB), which includes the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, and Northern Ontario Energy Credit. Students paying rent who file an ON-BEN form with their taxes can receive monthly OTB payments throughout the year.
Even if you had zero income in the tax year, you should still file a return to:
Students can file for free using CRA-certified software:
KOHO is perfect for students: no monthly fees, no minimum balance, cash back on groceries and transit, and instant spending notifications to keep your budget on track. Use code 45ET55JSYA for a sign-up bonus.
Open KOHO Free — No Fees — Code 45ET55JSYAThe tax filing deadline in Canada is April 30 for most Canadians. If you're self-employed (including many co-op and contract workers), the deadline is June 15 — but any balance owing is still due April 30. File on time even if you owe nothing — late filing can delay your GST and OTB payments.
Filing taxes as a Canadian student takes under an hour with free software like Wealthsimple Tax. Collect your T2202, T4, and T4A slips, use CRA Auto-Fill, and claim every credit you're entitled to. The tuition tax credit alone is worth hundreds of dollars per year — don't leave it on the table.