Filing Your Return -> Federal and provincial fitness tax credits

Federal child fitness tax credit

Income Tax Act s. 118.03, Regulations s. 9400

Starting in 2007, there is a federal non-refundable tax credit available to individuals for registration and membership costs of up to $500 per child, for prescribed programs of physical activity for their children who are, at the beginning of the taxation year

The tax credit is calculated using the lowest tax rate (15% for 2010/11), so the maximum tax credit per child for 2010/11 will be $75.

An additional tax credit is available to an individual for a child with a disability.  The additional credit will be $500 x the lowest tax rate, if the total of eligible fitness costs for that child in the year is $100 or more.  This brings the maximum tax credit to $150 for 2008, for a child with a disability.

Example of calculation of child fitness tax credit:

The tax credit may be claimed by either spouse, or apportioned between them.

A prescribed program of physical activity includes the following, which are not part of a school's curriculum:

1. a weekly program of 8 or more consecutive weeks in which all or substantially all of the activities include a significant amount of physical activity;

2. a program of 5 or more consecutive days, if more than 50% of the daily activities include a significant amount of physical activity;

3. a program of 8 or more consecutive weeks, offered to children by an organization where participants in the program may select from a variety of activities if

   1. more than 50% of the activities include a significant amount of physical activity, or

   2. more than 50% of the time scheduled in the program is scheduled for activities that include a significant amount of physical activity

4. membership in an organization for 8 or more consecutive weeks if more than 50% of the activities offered to children by the organization include a significant amount of physical activity

5. for a program of 8 or more consecutive weeks, which does not meet the 50% requirement of (c) above, offered to children by an organization where participants in the program may select from a variety of activities, the portion

   1. that is the percentage of those activities that include a significant amount of physical activity, or

   2. that is the percentage of time scheduled in the program that is scheduled for activities that include a significant amount of physical activity

6. for membership in an organization for 8 or more consecutive weeks, where the 50% requirement of (d) above is not met, the portion of membership that is the percentage of all the activities offered to children by the organization that are activities that include a significant amount of physical activity

Physical activity means a supervised activity suitable for children (other than an activity where a child rides on or in a motorized vehicle as an essential component of the activity) that

Horseback riding is deemed to be included in the above definition of physical activity.

Any costs which qualify as child care costs must first be claimed as child care costs, with the remainder of eligible costs then claimed through the fitness credit.

For more information, see the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Children's Fitness Tax Credit page.

The Federal Children's Fitness Credit is calculated by the Canadian Tax Calculator, but the amount is not checked to ensure that the maximum is not exceeded.

Provincial fitness tax credits

Some of these tax credits are not just for children:

Manitoba Fitness Tax Credit

Ontario Children's Activity Tax Credit

Nova Scotia Healthy Living Tax Credit

Saskatchewan Active Families Benefit

Yukon Child Fitness Credit

Yukon has the same non-refundable child fitness tax credit as the federal tax credit, with the only difference being the tax rate applied.  Yukon also provides the additional tax credit for a child with a disability.

See also:

Tax Tip:  Keep the receipts for your children's physical activity programs.

Revised: December 27, 2011