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Taxes

Disability Tax Credit (DTC): Who Qualifies and How to Apply

The disability tax credit is for people with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions, certified by a medical practitioner. Apply with Form T2201: you complete Part A (online, by phone or on paper) and a medical practitioner completes Part B. You can apply any time of year.

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Other disability benefits don't decide it

Getting CPP disability, workers' compensation or other disability benefits does not automatically mean you qualify for the DTC. Those programs have different rules, often based on your ability to work.

Conditions like ADHD

Eligibility is based on how severely and for how long an impairment limits daily functions, not on the diagnosis alone. A medical practitioner certifies this on Form T2201.

Why it matters beyond the credit

DTC approval can open other programs, such as the Registered Disability Savings Plan and the child disability benefit.

Step by step

  1. Check whether you may qualify.

    A medical practitioner must certify a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions, or that you need life-sustaining therapy. The questionnaire in Guide RC4064 helps, but doesn't replace the form.

  2. Complete Part A of Form T2201.

    Online in My Account, by phone, or on paper. Choose only one method.

  3. Have a medical practitioner complete Part B.

    Including medical doctors, nurse practitioners, optometrists, audiologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and speech-language pathologists, depending on the impairment.

  4. Send the application.

    Use the current version of Form T2201: older versions (before 2023) are no longer accepted.

Phone numbers

CRA individual enquiries

1-800-959-8281

Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time

From outside Canada and the U.S.: 1-613-940-8495

Apply for the DTC by phone (automated)

1-800-463-4421

7 days a week, 6 am to 3 am Eastern time

Related

Approved for the Disability Tax Credit? What Happens Next After approval you get a notice of determination showing which years you're eligible for. If you ticked the adjustment box on Form T2201, the CRA automatically adjusts your returns for those years. If not, you can ask for the adjustment after you receive the notice. Medical Expenses You Can Claim on Your Tax Return (Dental, Glasses, Therapy) You can claim eligible medical expenses, such as dental services, prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses, and rehabilitative therapy, paid in any 12-month period ending in the tax year. For 2025 you claim the amount above the lesser of $2,834 or 3% of your net income. Which Government Benefits Are Taxable in Canada? The Canada child benefit and the GST/HST credit (now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit) are not taxable and don't go on your return. Old Age Security, CPP and Employment Insurance are reported as income from your T4A(OAS), T4A(P) and T4E slips.

Frequently asked questions

What is the "$40,000 disability tax credit"?

There is no official $40,000 disability tax credit. What you get depends on your income and situation. When the DTC is approved, the CRA can also adjust several past years of returns, so a one-time refund can be larger than one year's credit.

Can I apply any time of year?

Yes. You can send Form T2201 at any time.

Sources

North Help Desk is an independent guide, not a government website. Rules, amounts and phone hours can change; always confirm on the official page before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.