The third sort of income is taxable income - the amount you pay income tax on. For most people in upgrading programs, if you are working, your taxable income is likely to be the same as your net income. Although you are allowed to deduct some items from your net income to reduce your taxable income, these usually only concern people with a lot more money who have stocks and shares or who have made capital gains or losses.

If you are not employed but did receive social assistance payments, you do have to fill in a line in this section. You will have already entered the amount you got for social assistance on line 145. You can now enter this same amount on line 250. This cancels out the amount you entered on line 145. You will likely not have to pay any income tax.

You enter your taxable income on line 260.

Why did I enter an amount on line 145 if I just take it out again on line 250?
Although you may not have to pay any income tax, you have to fill out a tax return if you want to get the GST Credit or the CCTB. This is a convenient way for CCRA to collect the information they need to make these payments.

Why did I enter an amount on line 145 if I just take it out again on line 250?
Although you may not have to pay any income tax, you have to fill out a tax return if you want to get the GST Credit or the CCTB. Your social assistance payments are not taxable, but they are used by CCRA to work out how much GST Credit and CCTB you will get.