Pieter and his wife support his mother, who was approved for the Disability Tax Credit three years ago. She has no taxable income, so the credit — worth approximately $1,400 federally per year — went completely unclaimed. Pieter did not learn it was transferable until an accountant flagged it during a routine review.
Who qualifies to receive a transferred disability credit?
A supporting family member can claim the unused portion if they financially support the person with the disability and that person does not need the full credit to reduce their own tax to zero. Eligible relatives include spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and adult children.
What documentation does CRA require to support the transfer?
The disabled individual must have an approved T2201 form on file with CRA. The supporting relative then claims the transfer on Schedule 1 of their personal return. No additional application is required beyond the original certification.
The Registered Disability Savings Plan connection
An approved T2201 also opens eligibility for the Registered Disability Savings Plan, which provides federal grants of up to $3,500 annually and bonds of up to $1,000 for lower-income families. Many families with an approved T2201 have never opened an RDSP.
Can retroactive claims be filed for prior years?
Yes. If the T2201 was approved and the credit was transferable but not claimed, a T1 adjustment can be filed going back 10 years. On a federal basis alone, unclaimed transfers over a decade can represent over $14,000 in recoverable credit value.
The transfer does not happen automatically. It requires a deliberate claim on the supporting relative's return each year the unused credit exists.