📄 Registering Your Court Order or Written Agreement for Support Payments
If your court order or written agreement includes spousal support payments, you must register it with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Registration helps the CRA identify which portion of your payments is spousal support and, if applicable, the child support portion, and ensures your tax return is processed without delays or adjustments.
🧾 Why You Need to Register
Registering the court order or written agreement allows CRA to:
- Verify the part of the payments that are spousal support.
- Determine the correct tax treatment of support payments.
- Avoid unnecessary delays or changes to your tax return assessment.
If the written agreement or court order requires only child support payments, you do not need to register it.
📝 How to Register with CRA
To register your document, complete and send:
- Form T1158 – Registration of Family Support Payments
- A copy of the court order or written agreement that includes the terms of spousal support.
Do not include your order or agreement when filing your tax return; register it separately with the CRA.
📍 Keeping CRA Updated
If the amount of spousal or child support payable changes (except for cost-of-living adjustments or changes already stated in your court order or written agreement), you should notify the CRA of these changes.
📌 Tips for Support Payments and Tax Returns
- Register each court order or written agreement separately — complete a separate Form T1158 for each.
- Keep copies of all support documentation (court order, written agreement, receipts) in case CRA requests them later.
- You only register if the document includes spousal support — not for child-only support orders.
