This section is reserved for the family-status vocabulary that changes eligibility for benefits, credits, and filing outcomes.
Use This Section When
- a benefit or credit depends on household or dependant information
- the meaning of spouse, partner, child, or dependant changes the tax result
- you need family-status context rather than just a return-calculation definition
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What Belongs Here
This section covers household-status and dependant concepts that change benefit eligibility, credit claims, or filing interpretation. It is the right place for spouse, partner, child, dependant, and family-context language when those labels materially affect a Canadian tax outcome.
In this section
- Dependants
Start with the Canadian tax terms used when a child, parent, or other supported person affects benefits or credits.
- Dependant
Learn what a dependant means in Canadian tax context and why the word does not have one universal rule across every credit or benefit.
- Eligible Dependant
Learn what an eligible dependant means in Canadian tax context and why it is more specific than the general idea of supporting a family member.
- Filing Context
Start with the Canadian family-status labels that change how the CRA reads a taxpayer's household context.
- Common-Law Partner
Learn what a common-law partner means in Canadian tax context and why the CRA definition matters for benefits and household reporting.
- Marital Status
Learn why marital status is a core CRA reporting concept and not just a personal-profile label.