Tax Guide/Life events
Having a baby or adopting
Updated November 4, 2026
What to do
- Apply for the Canada Child Benefit. You can often do this with your birth registration or through My Account.
- Get a social insurance number for your child. You will need one for an RESP.
- Open an RESP to collect the education grant.
- Keep child care receipts.
- Claim medical expenses that qualify.
Adoptive parents may also be able to claim the adoption expense tax credit, on up to $19,972 of eligible expenses per child for 2026.
Parental leave pay through EI is taxable, and tax may not be fully withheld, so you could owe at filing.