INCOME SPLIT AND SAVE
Seniors are allowed to split up to half of their eligible pension
income with a spouse or common-law partner.Income splitting allows some seniors to enjoy a significant
tax reduction. In the situation where the lower-income spouse has very little income, the tax savings
are substantial.
Get your benefits
Any senior receiving Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) through
Old Age Security should file on time to ensure their benefits continue uninterrupted.
Transfer amounts
If your spouse is unable to completely offset his or her age
amount, pension income and disability amount against tax payable, he or she may transfer the
unused portion to your return.
Caregiver amount
If you live with your children and you are over 65, they may
be able to claim a caregiver
amount for you if your income is less than $18,906.
Foreign pension income
Pensions from foreign countries may be subject to special
tax treatment under the terms of a tax treaty.Always check with a tax professional to find out if the
pension you receive from a foreign source is taxable in Canada .
Split your CPP and save
You may be able to split part of your CPP retirement benefits
with your spouse depending on how long you lived together when you were contributing to the plan. This is an
advantage if one senior is in a higher tax bracket than the other. However, to do so, you must apply to Human Resources
& Social Development Canada using Form ISP-1002.It cannot be done at the time of tax preparation
Medical expenses can add up
If you purchase medical insurance for a trip or wintering in
another country, it is considered a medical expense. Medical expenses are calculated based on income so the lower
income spouse should claim them And if you have to travel to obtain medical treatment that was not available where you live, you may be able to claim the cost of transportation, meals and accommodation.