Benefits and tax credits for people
Benefit and tax credit programs for children, people with a disability, seniors, students and women.
Find out about Ontario benefit programs you may be eligible for, or calculate your tax credits.
Text messages/instant messaging scams
Beware of text messages and instant messaging that looks like it’s from the Government of Ontario.
The Government of Ontario will not send texts asking you:
- for personal or business information
- to receive a tax credit or benefit
- to receive a tax refund
- to make a payment
Learn more about how you can protect yourself from scammers and be scam smart.
The Ministry of Finance hosts free webinars to help you learn about Ontario taxes, tax credits and benefits.
All Ontarians
Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Programs
Low to moderate income households may be eligible for housing assistance. Please contact your local Service Manager to see if you’re eligible.
Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support to help unemployed individuals find work in high-demand occupations.
Dividend Tax Credit
A reduced tax rate on dividend income from investments in a Canadian corporation.
Employment Ontario: Find a job
A one-stop service that connects people looking for work with employers looking for workers.
Family Justice Services
Families facing separation and/or divorce can access a variety of family justice services at low or no cost.
Fee Waiver: Court or Enforcement Fees
If you cannot afford to pay court or enforcement fees you can request a fee waiver that can be applied to most fees in civil and small claims court proceedings, and family law cases.
HST: Ontario Point of Sale Rebates
Ontario provides a point-of-sale rebate of the 8% provincial portion of the HST for all Ontarians on specific items such as books, children’s clothing and footwear, children’s car seats and car booster seats, diapers, qualifying food and beverages, and newspapers.
Legal Aid
Access a range of legal services for low-income individuals.
Long-Term Care Home Rate Reduction Program
If you require long-term care but don’t have enough income to pay for a basic room, you may be eligible for a subsidy.
Low-Income Workers Tax Credit
If you’re a low-income worker, find out if you could get personal income tax relief through the Low-Income Workers Tax Credit.
Mandatory Mediation Access Plan
You may have an opportunity to settle certain civil actions and estate matters outside of court in Toronto, Ottawa and Windsor with the help of a mediator.
Northern Ontario Energy Credit
This credit helps Northern Ontario residents with the higher energy costs they face living in the north. The credit is part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit.
Ontario Electricity Support Program
This program lowers electricity bills for lower-income households by providing a credit directly to your monthly bill. Eligibility is based on household income and household size.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
This credit helps low- to moderate-income individuals and families with property taxes and the sales tax on energy. The credit is part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit.
Ontario Fertility Treatment Tax Credit
This credit helps families with their eligible medical expenses related to fertility treatment and surrogacy.
Ontario Focused Flow-Through Share Tax Credit
A personal income tax credit if you own shares in a mining exploration company.
Ontario Opportunities Fund
Make a contribution to help reduce Ontario’s debt and claim a personal income tax credit.
Ontario Sales Tax Credit
This credit helps low- to moderate-income individuals and families with the sales tax they pay. The credit is part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit.
Ontario Tax Reduction
A personal income tax credit that may reduce or eliminate your Ontario income tax.
Ontario Trillium Benefit
The Ontario Trillium Benefit helps people pay for energy costs, and provides relief for sales and property tax. It combines the payments of 3 tax credits into 1 payment.
Ontario Works
If you qualify, Ontario Works can help cover the costs of your basic needs (e.g. food) and housing costs while helping you prepare for and find a job.
Political Contribution Tax Credit
Learn how to claim a tax credit on eligible contributions made to a registered Ontario political organization when you file your tax return.
Trillium Drug Program
If you have high prescription drug costs compared to your household income, you may be able to pay $2 or less for every prescription.
Business owners
Employer Health Tax Exemption
Eligible Ontario employers can claim an Employer Health Tax exemption on the first $1 million of annual Ontario remuneration (payroll). The exemption is available to private-sector employers with a total payroll under $5 million, and registered charities regardless of payroll size.
Ontario Business Research Institute Tax Credit
Read how corporations can claim a credit for qualified expenditures on scientific research and experimental development work.
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit
Learn how corporations can claim a credit for expenditures on scientific research and experimental development.
Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit and the Expanded Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit
Corporations may qualify to receive corporate income tax support for investments in buildings, machinery and equipment used for manufacturing or processing. These tax credits help attract and encourage the business investment needed to create jobs in Ontario’s manufacturing sector.
Ontario Research and Development Tax Credit
Learn how corporations can claim a credit for expenditures on scientific research and experimental development.
Ontario Shortline Railway Investment Tax Credit
Learn about the temporary corporate income tax credit to support Ontario’s shortline railway industry to ensure the rail network is safe and reliable.
Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit
Learn how you could receive Corporate Income Tax support in Ontario, while investing in growth and job creation.
Small Beer Manufacturers’ Tax Credit
Learn about the Small Beer Manufacturers’ Tax Credit.
Children
Child Care Fee Subsidy
Get help to pay for the care of your child under 13 years old.
Healthy Smiles Ontario
Children 17 years old and under from low-income households may qualify to receive preventive, routine, and emergency dental services for free.
Ontario Child Benefit
Helps eligible families with the cost of raising their children under 18 years old.
Ontario Child Care Tax Credit
Find out if you are eligible to receive a personal income tax credit to help with child care costs.
Subsidies for adoption and legal custody
Families who adopt or take legal custody of eligible children may receive subsidies from their children’s aid society to help with the cost of caring for those children.
Temporary Care Assistance
If you are looking after a child in financial need and you are not the child’s legal caregiver, you may be able to get money on behalf of the child.
Farmers
Community food program donation tax credit for farmers
Learn about tax credits for farmers who donate agricultural products to eligible community food programs in Ontario.
Media
Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit
The Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit, based upon eligible Ontario pre-press, printing and marketing expenditures incurred by a qualifying corporation with respect to eligible book publishing activities, as well as expenses related to publishing an electronic or digital version of an eligible literary work.
Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit
The Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit based on eligible Ontario labour expenditures incurred by a qualifying corporation during a taxation year with respect to eligible computer animation and special effects activities.
Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit
The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit based upon eligible Ontario labour expenditures incurred by a qualifying production company with respect to an eligible Ontario production.
Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit
The Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit based on eligible Ontario labour expenditures and eligible marketing and distribution expenses claimed by a qualifying corporation with respect to interactive digital media products.
Ontario Production Services Tax Credit
The Ontario Production Services Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit based upon Ontario qualifying production expenditures (labour, service contracts and tangible property expenditures) incurred by a qualifying corporation with respect to an eligible film or television production.
People with a disability
Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities
If you are a parent caring for a child under 18 years old with a severe disability, you may be able to receive some financial help.
Assistive Devices Program
If you or your child has a long-term physical disability, you can apply for help to pay for some needed equipment and supplies.
Home and Vehicle Modification Program
You could get money to help with the cost of making your home and vehicle more accessible if you or your child has a disability that restricts mobility.
ODSP: Ontario Disability Support Program
Income and employment support to help people with disabilities and their families to live as independently as possible in their communities.
Ontario Disability Support Program Dental Care
Dental care services such as oral exams, x-rays, fillings and extractions may be provided for free to ODSP recipients and their family.
Ontario Drug Benefit Program
Get help paying for prescription drugs when you qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit Program.
Trillium Drug Program
If you have high prescription drug costs compared to your household income, you may be able to pay $2 or less for every prescription.
Seniors
Dental care for low-income seniors
Learn how to access free, routine dental care for eligible seniors 65 years or older.
GAINS: Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System
If you are 65+ years old and receive the federal Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement payments, you could get up to $87 per month to ensure your income stays above a certain amount.
Home and Vehicle Modification Program
You could get money to help with the cost of making your home and vehicle more accessible if you or your child has a disability that restricts mobility.
Ontario Drug Benefit Program
Get help paying for prescription drugs when you qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit Program.
Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant
If you are 64+ years old and own a home, you could get up to $500 to help with the cost of property taxes.
Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit
If you are 70 years or older, find out if you are eligible for a tax credit to help with eligible medical expenses, including those that support aging at home.
Ontario Seniors’ Public Transit Tax Credit
If you’re 65 years or older, find out if you could get a tax credit to help with public transit costs.
Reduced drug costs for lower income seniors
Depending on your annual income, you may be able to have the Ontario Drug Benefit $100 annual deductible waived and have your co-payment reduced to $2 per prescription.
Trillium Drug Program
If you have high prescription drug costs and a low household income, you may be able to pay $2 or less for every prescription.
Students
Co-operative Education Tax Credit
Read how Ontario businesses that hire students enrolled in a post-secondary co-operative education program are eligible for the tax credit.
OSAP: Ontario Student Assistance Program
How to apply for money that can help you pay for a college or university education.
Veterans and their families
Soldiers’ Aid Commission financial assistance
Learn about funding for eligible Ontario Veterans and their families in financial need.
Women
Women’s economic opportunities
Training and services for low income women to help you find employment, start your own business and improve your economic security.
Women in skilled trades and information technology training
Pre-apprenticeship training in the skilled trades and training in information technology to low-income women.
Other resources
- Maximum amounts of some credits/benefits will increase over time with inflation. View the current Personal Income Tax rates and credits chart for a summary of most Ontario tax credits and benefits, including amounts.
- View the CRA Benefit Payment Dates
- Income Ranges and Phase-out Rates
- Federal Programs and Benefits for Individuals and Families
Related
Tax credits and benefits for: