Tax Credit Question: Private Education

[muchacho_007]

Does there exist and tax credit or any sort of benefit at the federal or provincial level for parents that have children who take private education (non religious) in Ontario?

Is there any way to use the tuition paid for private education as anything that will provide a benefit or credit on a tax return?

The private education would be JK to grade 12.

[ghostryder]

None that I am aware of. Tuition and education credits are for post-secondary education.

[muchacho_007]

Thanks Ghost Writer.

I am familiar with the post secondary credits. I was wondering if there is anyway to use the tuition you have paid for private JK - Grade 12 education to help you out in any way on your tax return.

[doc79]

I always found it a little unfair there are no tax credits for private schools earlier than post-secondary institutions. By using private schools, there is a burden being taken off the public system with resulting savings for the government.

[ghostryder]

I always found it a little unfair there are no tax credits for private schools earlier than post-secondary institutions. By using private schools, there is a burden being taken off the public system with resulting savings for the government.

Talk to your MP. They are the ones who make changes to the Income Tax Act.

But don't expect a groundswell of popular support for a tax credit for "rich fat cats that can afford to send their kids to private school" (potential NDP campaign sound bite :cheesygri )

[doc79]

I'm not holding my breath. But I can dream of that, and maybe a 15% flat income tax...:)

[zeddy]

Check out http://www.childrenfirstgrants.ca/main/index.php for tuition grants.

Also check with the school. I know our local religious school has ways of making part of the tuition tax deductable - a small portion but at least it is something.

[DrXenon]

The Conservatives in Ontario brought in a tax deduction for private school for a while, but it was reversed by a subsequent government.

It's kind of unfair, because my parents paid public school taxes in addition to the (not insignificant) private school tuition. I guess the theory is that they benefit from educating the local youth not to scratch the Rolls-Royce, so the money wasn't totally wasted.

[muchacho_007]

Check out http://www.childrenfirstgrants.ca/main/index.php for tuition grants.

Also check with the school. I know our local religious school has ways of making part of the tuition tax deductable - a small portion but at least it is something.

My income does not allow me to qualify for the grants you pointed to.

For the second idea you provided, I know that religious schools have an exemption that allows them to make their tuition tax deductible, but this does not apply for secular schools.

I don't make loads of money, but if I could get a tax deduction or a $2000 tax credit, I could just afford to send one child to private school.

[brunes]

I always found it a little unfair there are no tax credits for private schools earlier than post-secondary institutions. By using private schools, there is a burden being taken off the public system with resulting savings for the government.

Part of the problem IMO is there are no decent private universities in Canada to point to. Most private post-secondary schools in Canada that are not trade schools, are quite sub-par.

I am referring to the Compu-Colledges and the ITT Techs. No way i would want my tax dollars funding those schools.