Tax tips for parents

Ottawa paid out $12.9billion in child tax benefits and universal child care benefits in the 2012-2013 fiscal year along with another $4billion in goods and services tax credits, a good portion of which are claimed by low-income families with children.To ensure you'regetting your share ofthose and other benefitsand tax deductions, we've compiled a checklistof some of the things you should be thinking about when it comes to your kids and your taxes right from birth to when they leave the nest.

1. Claim birth-related medical costs

Claimon your returnsuch expensesas the cost of a hospital room or a nurse's pre-natal care.

2. Apply for Canada child benefits

In British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia andPrince Edward Island,you can apply for child benefits(see below) at the same time as you register a birthif you are the birth mother and a resident of one of those provinces. The information will be sent electronically to the Canada Revenue Agency.

3. Apply for a social insurance number for your child

New parents need a SIN for their offspring to take advantage of benefits and programs to encourage education savings, including:

Theregistered education savings plan(RESP): Parents, other family members and friends can contribute toan RESP as a way of savingfunds fora child's post-secondary education. You don't get a taxdeduction on the contribution, but the income earned once the money is insidethe RESP is not taxed until it is paid out to the beneficiary, who is the one to pay the tax. The federal government can also contribute to an RESP in the form of grants.Quebec,AlbertaandSaskatchewanprovide added incentives. Having an RESP may also qualify you for:

The Canada Learning Bond: For children born after 2003 whose family is receiving thenational child benefit supplement, the federal government will contribute $500 to an RESP to help cover the costs of a post-secondary education (it will also pay $25 toward the cost of starting an RESP account).It will continue to contribute$100for each year thatthe family qualifies for the supplement up to age 15 and to a maximum of $2,000.

The Canada Education Savings Grant: The federal government adds20 centsfor every $1 of the first $2,500 saved in an RESP each year. Depending on the family income, the government might also provide an extra 10or 20 cents on every$1 of the first $500 saved annually in an RESP. The grant has a maximum lifetime limit of $7,200 and is paid out up until the end of the calendar year the childturns 17.

4. Claimall federal andprovincialcreditsand deductions you can

Child tax credit: In the 2013tax year,the federal creditis $2,234 for each child under 18 (19 in Saskatchewan), which works out to tax savings of around $335 per child. Manitoba and Yukon also have additional amounts for children under 18, and Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Nunavut have them for children under six.

Children's fitness credit: Claim up to $500 annually insports and fitness activityfees per child under the age of 16, resulting in a maximum savings of $75 per child. The program must last at least eight weeks and be weekly; if it's a sports- or fitness-related day camp, it must run for five consecutive days. For children up to 18 with disabilities, claim an additional $500.

Children's arts tax credit: Claim up to $500 annually for children who wereyounger than16 at the beginning of the year (oryounger than18 if disabled) andwho took part in an eligible programof artistic, cultural, recreational or developmental activity. Besides traditional arts programs, this also includes such activities as academic tutoring,language lessons and Scout and Girl Guide programs.

Child care deduction: This is a deduction, as opposed to a tax credit, which lowers your taxable income. Theparent with the lower incomeclaims $7,000 for each child under seven and $4,000 for children age seven to 16. You must provide a receipt from the care provider.

Universal child care benefit: All families, regardless of income,are eligibleto receive $100 each month per child under six. Apply using theCanada child benefits application.

Canada child tax benefit: The eligibility and amount ofthis monthly non-taxable benefitfor each child under 18 is determined by total family income, province of residence and number of children. If you file late, payment may be temporarily put on hold as the amount is based on income reported on your annual tax returns. Child benefits are indexed to inflation and new rates take effectJuly 1 of each year.

National child benefit supplement: This is afederal supplementthat tops up the Canada child tax benefit for low-income families withchildren under 18. Families get a monthly payment of$185.08 ($186.75 from July 1,2014) for the first child; $163.67 ($165.17) for the second child; and $155.75 ($157.17) for thethird child. Thesupplementis reduced if the family's netincome ismore than$25,356 ($25,584) and couldaffect social assistance benefits since many provinces and territories treat it as income.

Child disability benefit: This is atax-free benefit for familieswho care for children under 18 with mental or physical disabilities.Check out the CRAcalculatorto see what benefits you're entitled to.

Adoption expenses: A tax credit can be claimed for expenses related to the adoption ofa child under the age of 18. For the 2013tax year, the government increasedthemaximum creditto $11,669 from $11,440, which would amount to a tax savings of $1,750.35. It also increased the eligible period forwhich expenses can be claimed.

Transit pass cost:Public transit passes used by childrenwho were younger than19 at the end of the tax year can beclaimedby either parent (including common-law partners).

Tuition, education and textbook amounts: Students enrolled full timeor part time at a university or college or other educational institution certified by the government and who pay more than $100 per institution in tuition feescan claim the totalof their tuition fees. Full-time students can claim an additional $400 each month that they are enrolled full time, plus $65a month for textbooks. Part-time students can claim an additional $120 each month and $20 a month for textbooks. If there are education-related amounts leftover after the student has claimed all he or she can on their own return, these can betransferred to a parent, grandparent, spouse or common law partner up to a maximum of $5,000. Unclaimed amounts carried forward from a previous year by the student cannot be transferred.

Student loan interest: Claimthe interest paid on your studentloanin 2013or the preceding five years for post-secondary education.

Moving costs: Claimeligible moving expensesif you moved in order to attend a university, college or other post-secondary educational institution full time.

5. Ask your employer to deductat source

Tell your employer to deduct anychild amounts, tuition, education and textbook amounts and amounts foreligible dependants to lower thetax you pay on your paycheque, so you don't have to wait until your refund to get what's coming to you. Apersonal tax credits returnshows you what's covered.

6. File a tax return for your child

Filing a return for children even those who make just a few dollars babysitting allows parents to claim deductions and credits on their behalfthat may be carried forward indefinitely, providing tax savings in later years when those children's earnings are high and increasing available contribution room for RRSPs. Some provinces even provide cash refunds from the GST credit for children 16 and over. As well, filing may allow someone with more than one job over a year to recover employment insurance premiums or Canada Pension Plan overpayments.