Studying in Canada
In this section, we talk a little bit about tax issues for students, followed by some general information about studying in Canada.
1. Why should my children file a tax return?
Receiving GST Quarterly Payments
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Anyone is entitled to receive GST payments quarterly If they are a resident of Canada for income tax purposes and 19 years of age or older before the month in which the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) issues a quarterly payment, In order to receive the payments, the person needs to file his income tax returns with CRA.
Tuition Tax Credit
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Generally, a course qualifies for a tuition tax credit if it was taken at a post-secondary education institution or for individuals 16 years of age or older at the end of the year, it develops or improves skills in an occupation and the educational institution has been certified by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
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The tax credit can be used to reduce the taxes they owe in the future years or be transferred to you as the parent or grandparent. They need to file tax returns so that the unused amounts of tuition credit are reported to the CRA.
2. Is there a banding system for schools in Canada?
The answer is No. Basically, Canadian parents tend to be more relaxed about which schools their children go to than our parents in Asia, there is no official rating or banding of schools published. However, if you really want some information as a quick reference, go to the Fraser Institute (www.fraserinstitute.org) and you will find some information under School Rankings.
3. Can I choose which school my children go to?
Which school your children go to depend on which part of the city you live and the school board that manages your area.
Children usually attend the public school closest to their home. To register your child in a public school, contact your school board. In some cases, there might well be just a school your son can go to because of the address you are at. So, if you have not bought but are thinking about buying your home, you must take this into consideration.
4. What are the common documents I need to register my children in a public school?
When you register your child for school, the basic documents that you will need to present include certificate of birth, proof of citizenship or PR status, proof of address where you live, your child’s immunization record, and copy of the child's most recent report card (if applicable).
Children under the age of 18 are considered minors in Canada. If your child is a minor, and plans to go to Canada to study without a parent or legal guardian, there will be additional requirements such as arranging custodianship. Each school board might have slightly different policies and requirements from the others. If it applies to your child, you should contact your nearest school board for the specific details.
5. What can I do if we're not in Canada yet?
Step 1 - If you know where you're going to stay, meaning you already know the address, find the closest school board to that address.
Step 2 - Make an appointment with your school board and find out from the staff when you can take your children to see them. During the appointment, they will assess your children academic level. After that, you should be given some sort of reports and the staff should be able to tell you which school your children would attend.
Step 3 - Make an appointment with the school so that the administrative staff can work with you and your children on which grades he is at (e.g. English as a second language, Grade 10 English or Grade 11 and etc ...) and what subjects your children are interested studying and the subject availability in the coming semester(s).
6. My son is 17 years old, can he still receive high school education in Canada?
While there are a great many similarities in the provincial and territorial education systems across Canada, there are significant differences in curriculum, assessment, and accountability policies among the jurisdictions. For example, while In British Columbia, all children between the ages of six and 16 must go to school or they can study at home, the age requirement in Ontario is aged 6 - 18. Therefore, the best way to find out is to contact your nearest school board and understand their rules and requirements.
7. Student grants and loans for post-secondary education
Each province has its own student assistance program, so you need to check the provincial aid program in the province you reside or intend to reside. Just to give you an idea, in Ontario, starting in 2017-18, eligible students whose parents earn $50,000 or less in annual income will receive enough OSAP grants to cover average tuition. For more information about the two major provinces, Ontario and British Columbia, go to Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) or StudentAidBC.
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