3 CRA Benefits Most Canadians Can Grab in 2024

You can save on taxes by claiming the dividend tax credit on Fortis Inc (TSX:FTS) shares.

| More on:

Do you know that there are many Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) benefits you can claim in 2024? It’s true. Most of the common ones, like Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contributions, are well known. However, there are other benefits you can claim that aren’t so well publicized. In many cases, they aren’t calculated for you automatically by the CRA. So, you have to identify them and manually claim them.

In this article I will explore three such benefits you can claim in 2024.

Canada Workers Benefit

The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is a benefit available to all “low-income” Canadians. The threshold varies between $35,000 and $43,000 — it’s decided at a provincial level in some provinces. The Federal level is $43,000 — if you don’t live in Alberta, Quebec, or Nunavut, you are eligible at this level and below.

The payment schedule for the CWB is a little peculiar. You get two quarterly payments combined in a single lump sum that covers a half year, while the remaining two payments are paid quarterly and cover a quarter. The maximum amount is $1,428 per year for single Canadians and $2,461 for families. Be sure to claim this benefit if you are eligible for it, as it can save you a decent amount of money. For a single Canadian, the CWB and GST/HST cheques combined can be worth up to $1,924 per year.

GST/HST cheques

GST/HST cheques are quarterly payments you get from the Canada Revenue Agency if your income falls below a certain threshold ($52,500 for this tax year). You can get a certain amount as a single individual and even more if you are part of a family with children. The maximum amount you can get from GST/HST cheques as a single individual is $496 per year. You can get $650 per year if you are married with children.

Dividend tax credit

The dividend tax credit is a tax credit applied to dividends. The way it works is, you take the amount of dividends, increase them by 38%, and apply a 15% tax credit to that amount. The savings can be incredible.

Let’s imagine, for argument’s sake, that you held $10,000 worth of Fortis (TSX:FTS) shares at the start of last year in a taxable account.

In the scenario we’re going to consider, you held the shares early enough to get the fourth quarter payment, paying $53 per share. The amount of dividends you would have received is shown in the table below:

COMPANYRECENT PRICENUMBER OF SHARESDIVIDENDTOTAL PAYOUTFREQUENCY
Fortis.$53189$0.59 per quarter ($2.36 per year).$111.51 per quarter ($446 per year).Quarterly.
Fortis dividend math

As you can see, you get $446 in dividends per year. If you had a 30% marginal tax rate and there were no dividend tax credits, you’d be left with $133.8 in taxes owing. Now, let’s look at how much you’d actually pay. Your grossed-up amount would be $615. The 15% tax credit on that would be $92.32. The pre-credit tax would be $184.5. Subtract the dividend credit from that and you’re left with just $92.18 in taxes owing — a tax savings of 31%!

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Andrew Button has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Fortis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Dividend Stocks

Start line on the highway
Dividend Stocks

1 Incredibly Cheap Canadian Dividend-Growth Stock to Buy Now and Hold for Decades

CN Rail (TSX:CNR) stock is incredibly cheap, but should investors join insiders by buying the dip?

Read more »

bulb idea thinking
Dividend Stocks

Down 13%, This Magnificent Dividend Stock Is a Screaming Buy

Sometimes, a moderately discounted, safe dividend stock is better than heavily discounted stock, offering an unsustainably high yield.

Read more »

Canadian Dollars bills
Dividend Stocks

Invest $15,000 in This Dividend Stock, Create $5,710.08 in Passive Income

This dividend stock is the perfect option if you're an investor looking for growth, as well as passive income through…

Read more »

A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions with a 100 dollar banknote and dollar coins.
Dividend Stocks

3 Compelling Reasons to Delay Taking CPP Benefits Until Age 70

You don't need to take CPP early if you are receiving large dividend payments from Fortis Inc (TSX:FTS) stock.

Read more »

A worker overlooks an oil refinery plant.
Dividend Stocks

Better Dividend Stock: TC Energy vs. Enbridge

TC Energy and Enbridge have enjoyed big rallies in 2024. Is one stock still cheap?

Read more »

Concept of multiple streams of income
Dividend Stocks

Got $10,000? Buy This Dividend Stock for $4,992.40 in Total Passive Income

Want almost $5,000 in annual passive income? Then you need a company bound for even more growth, with a dividend…

Read more »

Investor reading the newspaper
Dividend Stocks

Emerging Investment Trends to Watch for in 2025

Canadians must watch out for and be guided by emerging investment trends to ensure financial success in 2025.

Read more »

RRSP Canadian Registered Retirement Savings Plan concept
Dividend Stocks

Watch Out! This is the Maximum Canadians Can Contribute to Their RRSP

We often discuss the maximum TFSA amount, but did you know there's a max for the RRSP as well? Here's…

Read more »