Community Update: Changes to Disability Tax Credit Certificate
Several changes were recently made to the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) Certificate which is used to apply for the DTC.
New Address for DTC Applications
One significant change is that residents of BC are now instructed to send their DTC applications to the Winnipeg Tax Centre. Previously BC residents were instructed to send these applications to the Surrey Tax Centre. The Winnipeg Tax Centre address is:
Winnipeg Tax Centre
66 Stapon Road
Winnipeg MB R3C 3M2
We have some concerns that this change will create inconvenience or confusion for people applying for the DTC. However, we also hope that centralizing the review of DTC applications will result in better and more consistent administration of the DTC over time.
Shorter “Effects of Impairment” Section
The section “Effects of Impairment” on page 5 has also been significantly shortened. This is the only section of the DTC where substantive information about the impacts of a person’s disability can be provided and is very important to establish DTC eligibility. We remind applicants and their doctors that they have the right to attach additional sheets of paper to the application if there is insufficient space in that section to explain the effects of their disabilities.
Other Changes
In addition to these changes there have been a number of other changes to the application including new language in the section for applicants applying under the “Life-sustaining Therapy” category.
The DTC application form can be downloaded from the Canada Revenue Agency website (link) or requested through 1-800-959-8281.
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DABC now provides help and support to apply for the DTC to people in BC who are eligible for the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) through our Access RDSP initiative. We thank the Vancouver Foundation for their generous funding of this work as well as our partner organizations Plan Institute and the BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society. For more information about the DTC and the RDSP please feel free to contact us at 604-872-1278 or toll free at 1-800-663-1278.
