Families urged to review disability tax credits and related benefits

Advanced Tax Services is urging Canadian families in Richmond and across the country to check whether they are claiming the full set of disability-related tax benefits available to them. The firm says many households may be overlooking unused disability amounts, prior-year adjustments and linked programs that can reduce taxes or increase support.

Why it matters: - Disability-related tax benefits can lower taxes for families supporting a loved one with a disability. - Missing available credits can mean leaving money on the table, especially when multiple provisions apply together. - The issue affects a large share of Canadian households, including families navigating caregiving, medical costs and long-term planning.

What happened: - Advanced Tax Services in Richmond, British Columbia, is urging parents and caregivers to review disability-related tax credits and related benefits. - The firm says disability tax planning is often treated as a single-credit issue, even though several programs may apply at the same time. - The review comes as Canadians prepare for 2026 filing and after new disability approvals or changes in a dependant’s circumstances.

The details: - Statistics Canada reported that 27% of Canadians aged 15 and older, or nearly 8 million people, had at least one disability in 2022. - Canada Revenue Agency data shows about 1.73 million Canadians had an accepted Disability Tax Credit certificate in effect at the end of 2024. - Those two figures are not directly comparable because DTC eligibility is narrower than Statistics Canada’s broader disability definition. - For 2026, the federal disability amount is $10,341. - That amount can provide a federal tax reduction of up to $1,448 for an eligible individual. - Unused disability amounts may, in some circumstances, be transferred to a supporting family member. - The CRA may allow eligible taxpayers approved for prior years to adjust returns going back up to 10 years if the disability amount was not claimed. - DTC eligibility can also open access to the Child Disability Benefit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan. - Advanced Tax Services says families should review whether a family member qualifies, whether prior years were missed, and whether related benefits were properly considered.

Between the lines: - The message is not just about one tax credit. It is about making sure families connect the DTC to the broader tax and benefit system. - For many households, the biggest risk is not ineligibility. The bigger risk is failing to combine credits, transfers and prior-year adjustments that may already be available. - The statistics also show a gap between the number of Canadians living with disabilities and the smaller group currently approved for the DTC.

What's next: - Families can review prior returns, current eligibility and any newly approved DTC claims before filing or amending tax returns. - Advanced Tax Services recommends periodic reviews whenever a dependant’s condition changes or a new approval is received. - Parents and caregivers may also want to check whether linked benefits and savings programs are still being claimed correctly.

The bottom line: - A disability tax review can affect more than one return, more than one credit and more than one family member. Families that reassess the full picture may be able to capture benefits they missed before.