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Non-refundable personal tax credits
For information on the amounts of most non- refundable
tax credits available to Nova Scotia residents, see the non-refundable
personal tax credits tables.
As announced in the 2006 budget, the basic personal
amount is increased by $250 per year over a 4-year period starting in 2007
and ending in 2010. This is a total increase of 13.83% in 4
years. The province's other non-refundable credits are also being
increased by 13.83% over the 4 years.
NS low income tax
reduction
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available to low income individuals and families |
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amount received depends on family net income |
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can be claimed by either spouse |
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cannot exceed NS tax payable (not refundable) |
See Canada Revenue Agency ( CRA) form NS428 from the
Nova
Scotia General Income Tax and Benefit Package for detailed calculation.
Healthy Living tax credit
Also called the Sport and Recreational Expenses for
Children tax credit, this is a non-refundable tax credit, claimed at the
lowest Nova Scotia tax rate (8.79% for 2008 and 2009). A maximum amount of $500 per child can be
claimed, for the registration of an eligible child in
a designated sport or recreational activity, which
would equal a maximum tax credit of $43.95 ($500 x
8.79%) per child. This tax credit has been
available since 2005. Either spouse can claim
the tax credit, or it can be split between both
spouses.
An eligible child is under 18 years of age at the end of
the year, and
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your child by blood, marriage, common-law
partnership, or adoption; |
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dependent on you for support and under your
custody and control, or |
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a spouse or common-law partner of your child |
The Nova Scotia 2008 budget announced that starting in
2009, this credit will be extended to all Nova Scotians. The 2009
budget announced that this extension would be deferred.
For more information on what constitutes designated
sport or recreational activities, contact the Nova
Scotia Office of Health Promotion.
See also the Nova Scotia Department of Finance
information on the Healthy
Living Tax Credit.
Volunteer firefighter tax credit
Volunteer firefighters can claim a tax credit by entering the amount of
$250 (for 2007) on line 83 of form NS428 from the Nova
Scotia General Income Tax and Benefit Package, if they meet all
of the following conditions:
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resident of Nova Scotia on December 31 of the tax year |
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volunteer firefighter for a minimum of six months during the tax
year |
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did not receive salary, wages or compensation, other than reasonable
reimbursement or allowance for expenses, and |
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listed as a volunteer firefighter on the report filed by the
volunteer fire department. |
To be eligible, firefighters must participate in no less than
20 per cent of emergency calls responded to by the volunteer fire department;
training sessions conducted by the volunteer fire department; and meetings held
by the volunteer fire department.
The amount of $250 will be increased to $375 for 2008, and
$500 for 2009.
For more information see the Nova
Scotia Department of Finance news release from January 31, 2008.
The Nova Scotia 2008 budget announced that this credit has
been expanded to include ground search and rescue volunteers.
Graduate Retention Rebate
This program is available to students who graduate in 2009 and later
years, and replaces the Graduate Tax Credit (see below).
The graduate retention rebate will be claimed as part of the annual tax
return.
Amount of the rebate:
| Graduates with a university degree
 | tax reduction of up to $15,000 over 6 years, to a maximum of
$2,500 per year |
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| Graduates with a college diploma or certificate
| tax reduction of up to $7,500 over 6 years, to a maximum of
$1,250 per year. |
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Graduate Tax Credit
This tax credit is replaced in 2009 by the Graduate
Retention Rebate (see above).
To receive the NS graduate tax credit, a taxpayer must:
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be a graduate of an eligible program from an
approved institution on or after January 1, 2006 and before January 1,
2009. This includes eligible post-secondary programs outside of
NS |
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be living and working in NS |
The credit is claimed on the tax return in the year of
graduation, and any unused portion can be claimed in the following 2
years. The maximum tax credit is $2,000 in 2008 and later years.
See the Nova Scotia web page on the Graduate
Tax Credit.
Refundable Tax Credits
Affordable Living Tax Credit (NSALTC)
The NSALTC provides a maximum credit of $240 for an individual or a couple,
plus $57 for each child. The credit is reduced by 5% of adjusted family
net income over $30,000.
The NSALTC is combined with the quarterly GST/HST
credit.
See also:
Revised: July 12, 2010
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