T2202 – Tuition and Education Amounts

If you or your dependent is enrolled in a qualifying post-secondary institution in Canada, the T2202 slip is key for claiming tuition tax credits. It shows how much you paid in eligible tuition and confirms whether you were a full- or part-time student during the year.

At Optimize, we use your T2202 to help identify tuition credits available to you or your family, plan education-related deductions, and integrate these into your overall tax strategy. Understanding what the T2202 reports can also help you or your student client maximize credit carryforwards and transfer opportunities.

The Foundation of Tuition Tax Credit Reporting

The T2202, officially titled Tuition and Enrolment Certificate, is issued by designated educational institutions in Canada. It outlines the eligible tuition fees paid and the number of months you were enrolled in school.

Your T2202 includes:

• Eligible tuition amount: the portion of your fees that qualifies for a federal or provincial tax credit.

• Number of months enrolled: broken down by full-time and part-time study.

• Institution information: name, address, and CRA registration number.

• Student information: full legal name and SIN.

The T2202 helps you claim non-refundable tuition tax credits on your T1 personal income tax return and may support additional provincial credits or grants.

Why the T2202 Matters in Your Financial Plan

Even though the T2202 is most often associated with student tax returns, it also plays a larger role in family and financial planning. Tuition credits can reduce tax payable for students, be carried forward to future years, or be transferred to a supporting individual.

Learn how to read a T2202 form to better understand what tuition amounts are eligible, how study periods affect other tax benefits, and what options are available for credit usage.

This matters when you are deciding whether to:

• Claim the tuition credit yourself or transfer it to a parent, spouse, or grandparent.

• Carry forward unused credits for future years when income is higher.

• Coordinate RESP withdrawals to align with study periods and eligible expenses.

• Estimate tax savings or refund potential related to full-time or part-time education.

For example, if your T2202 shows you were a full-time student for eight months and paid $7,000 in eligible tuition, but had little or no income that year, you may want to transfer up to $5,000 of the credit to a parent and carry the rest forward for future use.

Learn how to read a T2202 

Understanding your T2202 goes beyond claiming a credit. It helps you use tuition and enrolment information to optimize your tax return and financial strategy. Whether you're a student or supporting one, this slip is key for education credits and related benefits.

At Optimize, we help you make the most of your T2202 by breaking it down clearly so you can use, transfer, or carry forward your credits with confidence.

Identification and Institution Information

This section confirms your identity as a student and the school issuing the slip.

Student’s name and SIN
Used to match your T2202 with your personal tax return.

Educational institution details
Includes the school’s name, address, and CRA registration number. Required to verify eligibility for tuition tax credits.

Tax year
Indicates the calendar year during which tuition was paid and courses were taken.

Tuition and Enrolment Information

This is the core of the T2202, showing how much you paid and how long you studied.

• Eligible tuition amount
  The total tuition fees that qualify for the federal and provincial non-refundable tax credit. This amount excludes non-qualifying fees like student union dues or meal plans.

• Full-time months of study
  The number of months during which you were enrolled full-time in a qualifying post-secondary program.

• Part-time months of study
  Used to determine eligibility for part-time student credits or education-related deductions.

• Program type and duration
  In some cases, your T2202 may indicate the type of program or credential being pursued (e.g. certificate, diploma, degree).

Transferring or Carrying Forward Tuition Credits

Your T2202 helps determine whether you should use, transfer, or defer your tuition credit.

• Transferring to a family member
  Students may transfer up to $5,000 of the current year’s unused tuition credit to a parent, grandparent, or spouse.

• Carrying forward unused amounts
  If you don’t use the credit this year and don’t transfer it, it can be carried forward indefinitely to use in future years when your income is higher.

Additional Fields You May See

Depending on the institution, your T2202 may contain other notations or categories.

• Program status codes
  Used internally to track program eligibility and funding rules, though not typically needed when filing.

• Official transcript or supporting letter
  Some schools include a reference to your program of study to support additional provincial credits or grants.

• International students
  T2202 slips issued to non-residents can still be used to claim tuition credits if a Canadian tax return is filed.