Starting with the 2006 taxation year, scholarship,
bursary and fellowship income is fully exempt
from tax when the income is received in connection with
a program for which the student will get an education
amount tax credit. The income is not reported on the tax return.
If you are not eligible to claim the education amount, then only the
first $500 of awards is tax free. Amounts received in excess of $500
are reported on line 130 of your tax return.
Prior to 2006, if you were eligible to claim the education amount
(see below), then the
first $3,000 of scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, study grants and
artists' project grants were not taxable. Your T4A slips reported
the total scholarships or awards. You totalled the T4A slips, then
reported this total less $3,000 (or zero if your awards
total less than $3,000) on the tax return.
Starting with the 2007 tax year, when you receive a
scholarship, bursary, or tuition for post-secondary education from the
employer of a family member, you will receive a T4A slip from the
employer. Previously, this income was taxable to the employee instead of
to the employee's family member who received the income. When
scholarships, bursaries, or tuition are provided for elementary or secondary
school, the fair market value (FMV) of these benefits are still a taxable
benefit to the employee.
Federal 2010 Budget Proposals
Budget 2010 proposes
to clarify that post-doctoral fellowships will be
taxable. A post-secondary program consisting primarily of research
will only be eligible for the education tax credit and the scholarship
exemption if it leads to a college or CEGEP diploma, or a bachelor,
masters or doctoral degree or equivalent.
that an amount will be eligible for the scholarship
exemption only to the extent that it is received in connection with
enrolment in an eligible educational program for the duration of the
period of study related to the scholarship.
that the scholarship exemption will be limited, in the
case of part-time programs, to the amount of tuition paid for the program
plus the costs of program-related materials. There would be an
exception to this for a student entitled to the disability tax credit, or
a student whose medical or physical impairment prevents them from being
enrolled on a full-time basis.
These measures will apply to the 2010 and subsequent
taxation years.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) resources:
IT75R4
Scholarships, Fellowships, Bursaries, Prizes, Research Grants and
Financial Assistance
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