Overview of dependant returns

If your dependant has earned income, creating and submitting a tax return will increase his or her RRSP contribution room. Also, it lets you determine the amount of any credits, such as disability amount or education amount, that he or she can transfer to you.

You can transfer information from your dependant's return when you create your own tax return. That way, you don't have to enter information twice and it's easier to claim dependant credits.

How do I transfer my dependant's information into my return?

First, prepare a return for your dependant (or have them prepare one) on the same computer where you will create your return.
Create your own return. (This can be either an individual or a combined return for you and your spouse or common-law partner.)
TurboTax searches your computer for existing returns with transferrable credits, and lists them on the Enter dependants screen.
From this list of returns, choose the dependant whose credits you want to transfer.

Why don't all my dependants appear on the list of dependants to import?

To be available for import into your tax return, dependants must have completed a tax return for the current year. Also, they must meet at least one of these conditions on their own return:

Students: have tuition available for transfer and have indicated their intention to transfer unused amounts
Other dependants (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew): have unused credits on their return
Children 17 and under: automatically appear on the list.

What information is transferred?

When you import a dependant return, the following information is filled in automatically:

SIN
Date of birth
Net income
Federal tuition transfer (if Schedule 11 was completed in the dependant's return)
Provincial tuition transfer (if provincial Schedule 11 was completed in the dependant's return)
Note: if the dependant lived in a different province from you, you might need to modify the imported information. Contact CRA to determine the provincial amount that you can claim.
the transferable disability amount
Note:
if the dependant lived in a different province from you, you might need to modify the imported information. Contact CRA to determine the provincial amount that you can claim.

Note: if anyone is claiming child care or attendant care expenses for the dependant, you need to modify the imported information.