Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Message to Canadian Parents



Did you know there was a 
Children's Arts Tax Credit (CATC)?

Did you have your kids in any sort of an artistic camp, class or spring break program in 2011?
I didn't know about the CATC and it is worth up to $500.  
I just learned about it at our Canadian Craft and Hobby Association meeting today.  
Here are some highlights:

To be eligible, a program must be supervised and suitable for children. Eligible programs include:
  • a weekly program of a minimum eight consecutive weeks duration in which a minimum of 90% of all the activities are eligible activities;
  • a program of a minimum five consecutive days duration in which more than 50% of the daily activities are eligible activities;
  • a program of a minimum eight consecutive weeks duration offered to children by a club, association or similar organization offering a variety of different activities when more than 50% of the activities offered are eligible activities or more than 50% of the time scheduled for activities offered to children is for activities that are eligible activities (if both 50% tests are not met, a prorated portion of the fees will be allowed, representing the percentage of eligible activities offered by the organization or the percentage of time scheduled for these activities by the organization); and
  • a membership of a minimum eight consecutive weeks duration in an organization if more than 50% of all the activities offered to children by the organization are eligible activities (if the 50% test is not met, a prorated portion of the fees will be allowed, representing the percentage of eligible activities offered to children by the organization).
Eligible activities will include an activity that:
  • contributes to the development of creative skills or expertise in artistic or cultural activities;
  • provides a substantial focus on wilderness and the natural environment;
  • helps children develop and use particular intellectual skills;
  • includes structured interaction among children where supervisors teach or help children develop interpersonal skills; or
  • provides enrichment or tutoring in academic subjects.

3 comments:

  1. Wow. I had no idea. Thanks for sharing Carmi.

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  2. Wow indeed - I wonder if girl guides counts....

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  3. Thanks Carmi! Found out this year...Aidan is taking Piano and her teacher gave us a tax receipt and link to the Revenue Tax site.

    There's also physical fitness tax break.

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