Death and taxes are inevitable, whether you\u2019re in a relationship or not.<\/p>\n
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But the range of benefits you\u2019re eligible to receive from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as part of your tax returns may shift depending on your relationship status, some tax experts say.<\/p>\n
The 2026 tax season began last month, with April 30 as this year\u2019s tax filing deadline.<\/p>\n
The CRA needs to know someone\u2019s relationship status because \u201cthere\u2019s a number of income-tested benefits that are based on the family income, not just on individual income,\u201d said Jamie Golombek, managing director of tax and estate planning with CIBC Private Wealth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most common benefits that are tested based on both your income and the income of your spouse or partner are things like the quarterly grocery benefit, formerly the HST credit. The other big one, of course, is the Canada Child Benefit,\u201d Golombek said.<\/p>\n
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And at a time when cost of living is straining so many Canadians, you might wonder: are you better off filing taxes as a single person, or with a partner?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what to know.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re single or in a relationship, one thing doesn\u2019t change: you still have to file an individual tax return.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Canada, each individual files their own personal tax return reporting only their own income. That being said, you still have to disclose to the CRA that you are either married or living in a common law relationship,\u201d Golombek said.<\/p>\n But what defines a \u201ccommon law\u201d relationship in Canada?<\/p>\n \u201cThere are two tests: You\u2019re common law if you live with somebody in a relationship for 12 months. Or you live together in a relationship with a child,\u201d said Ryan Minor, director of tax at CPA Canada.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n For tax purposes, the CRA treats married and common law couples \u201cexactly the same,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Retired couples have an additional tax benefit, Minor said.<\/p>\n Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cYou get to split, essentially move up to 50 per cent of your eligible pension income to a spouse or common law partner. The tax savings associated with pension splitting can be quite significant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In situations where one spouse or partner does not earn an income or earns a low income, the couple can also claim a spousal credit, Golombek said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can claim a second basic credit for your spouse or partner, but only to the extent that their income is below a certain threshold, which is around $16,000,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have a non-working spouse or a partner, then you can a claim a credit for yourself, a basic personal amount, and you can claim the spousal credit as well,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n In some cases, if a person is eligible for a credit but can\u2019t use it for some reason, that credit can be transferred to their partner, Minor said, pointing to benefits such as the age credit or the disability tax credit.<\/p>\n Couples can also combine medical and charitable expenses to maximize their credits, according to Canadian tax firm H&R Block.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can choose to designate one person to claim the combined amount of both of your donations to registered charities during the year. Donations totaling over $200 results in a larger deduction, so combining these credits can help maximize the credit you receive,\u201d the firm\u2019s website says.<\/p>\n To claim a tax credit for medical expenses, you have to spend either three per cent of your net income or $2,834, whichever is lower, on medical bills.<\/p>\n But combining your bills can help you get an edge, the firm says.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCan spouses file joint taxes?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tWhat advantages do couples have?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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