[British Columbia renter's tax credit]

UFile management has responded to my issue. They don't intend to change the program to allow dependents to use for BC 479 and claim BC Renter's Tax Credit. They also said they would consider, for next year, providing an automated feature to convert dependent data to an Independent Family Head account to allow simpler workarounds on this issue (and allow customers to convert data for children growing up to be independent adults in future tax return filing). However, as this feature has been requested by other customers for several years, I am not too optimistic.

[British Columbia renter's tax credit]

On 3/10/2024 at 12:55 PM, Geo123 said:

Hello Mahogany Bomber,

You can create a separate account for the Dependant and claim the renter’s tax credit as Family Head in that account AND keep the Dependant in the current file (but do not file) for the credits.

FYI -B.C. renter's tax credit

Who's eligible for the credit

For the 2023 and subsequent tax years, you can claim the renter’s tax credit if you meet the following criteria:

    During the year:
        You occupied an eligible rental unit in B.C. under a tenancy agreement, licence, sublease agreement or similar arrangement for at least 6 one-month periods
        Rent was paid for that rental unit
    On December 31 of the tax year, you were a resident of B.C. and you were:
        19 years of age or older, or
        A parent, or
        Cohabiting with a spouse or common-law partner

Note: Eligible tenants who rent and occupy an eligible rental unit under a rental or tenancy agreement together but are not married or in a common-law relationship with each other (roommates) may each claim their own renter's tax credit if all other criteria are met. 

You cannot claim the renter’s tax credit if you:

    Are the cohabitating spouse or common-law partner of a renter who has already claimed the credit for the tax year
    Were confined to a prison or similar institution on December 31 of the tax year and were confined for periods totalling more than 6 months during the year
    Were an employee of a foreign country or resided with a family member or a servant of the employee of a foreign country in Canada
    Die before the end of the year
 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/income-taxes/personal/credits/renters-tax-credit#whos-eligible-for-credit

BUT this is a lot of work for the user-creating separate account, duplicating entry, and ensuring carryover amounts etc are entered. This would not be necessary if UFILE would make the simple fix to allow Dependents to use BC Renter's Tax Credit. It was a mistake for UFILE programmers to think that a dependent could NOT claim the BC Renter's tax Credit -as others have mentioned it is possible for a dependent adult child to be renting an apartment BUT the Family Head can still claim the Canada Caregiver amount, or Disability credit, for the dependent. Therefore, the program should allow those credits to be claimed by the simple change of allowing a dependent to view/claim the BC 479 form to claim BC Renter's tax Credit. I have raised this issue with email support and asked for it to be escalated to senior management.