Canada Tax Question

[JAYSLOL]

So my wife completed a Health Care Aid course in BC last year and got a job working as a Community Care Worker shortly after graduating, she got an email around the same time she was starting her new job that she qualified for a cash recruitment incentive from BC Health Authority or something for completion of an approved course and starting an approved job.  She got the cash a few months later after applying.  It’s not clear however if the money is taxable.  It came on a T4a, and the amount is on line 105, but when I enter in there are a pile of options for taxable or tax exempt and some that are in between.  I’ve called the CRA twice and got two different answers from two different people, and neither the school she went to, or the BC Health Authority knows either.  Anyone come across this?  Thanks

[PharmaStache]

When I received a similar bonus upon hiring (high demand health care position) in 2006, my dad (who at the time did my taxes) also did the same research and never came up with a concrete answer.  He did not declare it, and I was reassessed and had to pay taxes on it.  Logically, I agree that it is taxable income.

[Mighty Eyebrows]

I am not super experienced with taxable vs non-taxable T4A Line 105 income, but this might shed some light:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/personal-income/line-13000-other-income/line-13010-scholarships-fellowships-bursaries-artists-project-grants-awards.html

[JAYSLOL]

Yeah, so we decided to declare it as taxable, it just isn’t clear enough and I’d rather pay the tax on it to avoid any hassle.  If the CRA gets back to me in writing that it isn’t taxable, then I’ll see if I can adjust it, but for now it is what it is

[snacky]

CRA is happy to correct any mistakes you make. I report everything and let them figure it out.

[Mighty Eyebrows]

CRA is happy to correct any mistakes you make. I report everything and let them figure it out.

Best not to rely on this. CRA has no obligation to fix your mistakes to benefit you.

(I doubt that you meant this, but what you wrote could be easily misunderstood.)

[afulldeck]

CRA is happy to correct any mistakes you make. I report everything and let them figure it out.

Best not to rely on this. CRA has no obligation to fix your mistakes to benefit you.

(I doubt that you meant this, but what you wrote could be easily misunderstood.)

This is an unfortunate truth. However, there is no reason for not fixing it. In fact, I think since we pay taxes (their salary), they have a moral obligation to fix it.

[Goldielocks]

It was on a T4a,  if the amount was less than tuition and schooling costs, I would put it down as a grant or scholarship, not taxable.

Student loan forgiveness / grants for timely completion are not taxable either.

[Missy B]

CRA is happy to correct any mistakes you make. I report everything and let them figure it out.

Best not to rely on this. CRA has no obligation to fix your mistakes to benefit you.

(I doubt that you meant this, but what you wrote could be easily misunderstood.)

This is an unfortunate truth. However, there is no reason for not fixing it. In fact, I think since we pay taxes (their salary), they have a moral obligation to fix it.

It's policy not to correct taxpayer mistakes that benefit the taxpayer. Morality got nothing to do with policy :)

[afulldeck]

CRA is happy to correct any mistakes you make. I report everything and let them figure it out.

Best not to rely on this. CRA has no obligation to fix your mistakes to benefit you.

(I doubt that you meant this, but what you wrote could be easily misunderstood.)

This is an unfortunate truth. However, there is no reason for not fixing it. In fact, I think since we pay taxes (their salary), they have a moral obligation to fix it.

It's policy not to correct taxpayer mistakes that benefit the taxpayer. Morality got nothing to do with policy :)

This is an unfortunate truth. How I was working with some elderly tax payer and its morally reprehensible what they are doing to them. CRA needs to put the tax payer first and stop taking the tax payer for granted.