👤 Marital Status on Your Tax Return

When completing your Canadian income tax return, you must indicate your marital status as of December 31 of the tax year. Your status affects eligibility for benefits, credits, and certain tax calculations.

📋 Definitions of Marital Status

  • Married: You are legally married and not separated due to breakdown of the relationship.
  • Living common-law: You live in a conjugal relationship with someone who is not your spouse and at least one of these applies: you’ve lived together for at least 12 continuous months, share a child, or your partner has custody and control of your child who is wholly dependent on them.
  • Separated: You live apart from your spouse or common-law partner due to a relationship breakdown for at least 90 days.
  • Widowed: Your spouse or common-law partner has died and you have not remarried or entered a new common-law partnership.
  • Divorced: You are legally divorced from your former spouse.
  • Single: None of the other statuses apply.

📆 Reporting on Your Tax Return

Enter the box that best describes your situation on page 1 of your return, and if your status changed during the year, enter the date of change.

For example: if you separated due to a breakdown in the relationship, you must wait until you’ve been apart for at least 90 days before indicating “separated.”

📌 Why Marital Status Matters

Your marital status influences benefit and credit calculations such as:

  • GST/HST credit
  • Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
  • Other income-tested tax credits

If your status changes, the CRA recalculates entitlements based on the adjusted net family income.

🛠️ Updating Your Marital Status with CRA

If your marital status changes, **tell the CRA by the end of the month after the change**. You can update it online using your CRA My Account, by phone, or by mailing Form RC65 – Marital Status Change.