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The recent Quebec budget has introduced tax breaks for seniors, involved in certain activities (including chess).
"Introduction of a refundable tax credit for seniors’ activities
The budget provides for the introduction of a refundable tax credit to support the participation of seniors in physical, artistic, cultural and recreational activities. This tax assistance will apply to eligible expenses paid as of June 5, 2014.
The tax credit will represent 20% of eligible expenses not exceeding $200 a year and target seniors 70 and over with an individual income of $40,000 or less.
Eligible expenses
An eligible expense of an individual for a particular taxation year will be any amount paid by the individual in the year to a person – other than a person that, at the time of the payment, is the operator of a private seniors’ residence where the individual lives, or is related to the individual and does not hold a registration number assigned under the Act respecting the Québec sales tax – to the extent that the amount is attributable to the cost of the individual’s registration or membership in a recognized program of activities offered by the person.
To that end, the cost of registration or membership in the program offered by a person will include the cost to the person with respect to the program’s administration, instruction, rental of required facilities, and uniforms and equipment that are not available to be acquired by a participant in the program for an amount less than their fair market value at the time, if any, they are so acquired.
However, the cost must not include the cost of accommodation, travel, food or beverages.
Recognized programs of activities
Activities eligible for the tax credit
To qualify for the tax credit, an activity must generally be:
engaged in weekly for at least eight consecutive weeks or for 5 consecutive days;
structured, that is, it must enable seniors to participate in an activity in a specific setting.
A physical activity must also enable seniors to develop or maintain their cardiorespiratory endurance, their muscular strength or endurance, their flexibility or their balance.
An artistic, cultural or recreational activity must enhance seniors’ ability to develop or improve their dexterity, coordination, cognitive skills, social integration or psychological well-being.
Examples of structured activities eligible for the tax credit
Physical activities
Dance
Curling
Swimming
Tai chi
Aquafitness
Bowling
Artistic, cultural and recreational activities
Computers
Singing (e.g. choir)
Arts and crafts
Chess
Painting
Knitting
Application date
The refundable tax credit for seniors’ activities will apply to amounts paid after June 4, 2014 for the registration or membership of an eligible individual in a recognized program of activities, provided the amounts are attributable to activities that take place after that day."
"Introduction of a refundable tax credit for seniors’ activities
The budget provides for the introduction of a refundable tax credit to support the participation of seniors in physical, artistic, cultural and recreational activities. This tax assistance will apply to eligible expenses paid as of June 5, 2014.
The tax credit will represent 20% of eligible expenses not exceeding $200 a year and target seniors 70 and over with an individual income of $40,000 or less.
Eligible expenses
An eligible expense of an individual for a particular taxation year will be any amount paid by the individual in the year to a person – other than a person that, at the time of the payment, is the operator of a private seniors’ residence where the individual lives, or is related to the individual and does not hold a registration number assigned under the Act respecting the Québec sales tax – to the extent that the amount is attributable to the cost of the individual’s registration or membership in a recognized program of activities offered by the person.
To that end, the cost of registration or membership in the program offered by a person will include the cost to the person with respect to the program’s administration, instruction, rental of required facilities, and uniforms and equipment that are not available to be acquired by a participant in the program for an amount less than their fair market value at the time, if any, they are so acquired.
However, the cost must not include the cost of accommodation, travel, food or beverages.
Recognized programs of activities
Activities eligible for the tax credit
To qualify for the tax credit, an activity must generally be:
engaged in weekly for at least eight consecutive weeks or for 5 consecutive days;
structured, that is, it must enable seniors to participate in an activity in a specific setting.
A physical activity must also enable seniors to develop or maintain their cardiorespiratory endurance, their muscular strength or endurance, their flexibility or their balance.
An artistic, cultural or recreational activity must enhance seniors’ ability to develop or improve their dexterity, coordination, cognitive skills, social integration or psychological well-being.
Examples of structured activities eligible for the tax credit
Physical activities
Dance
Curling
Swimming
Tai chi
Aquafitness
Bowling
Artistic, cultural and recreational activities
Computers
Singing (e.g. choir)
Arts and crafts
Chess
Painting
Knitting
Application date
The refundable tax credit for seniors’ activities will apply to amounts paid after June 4, 2014 for the registration or membership of an eligible individual in a recognized program of activities, provided the amounts are attributable to activities that take place after that day."
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