About the digital news subscription tax credit

Changes to legislation

On June 29, 2021, Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021, and other measures received Royal Assent and is now law. This bill includes the changes that were announced by the Department of Finance on April 17, 2020, with respect to the tax measures that support journalism, with an additional change to the digital news subscription tax credit. The guidance has been updated on that basis.

The amendments clarify the CRA’s authority to publish both the names of organizations whose digital news subscriptions are eligible for the subscription tax credit, and the qualifying subscriptions they offer. As a result, a process is in place so organizations can get confirmation from the CRA that the subscriptions they offer are eligible for the digital news subscription tax credit for individuals.

Overview

The digital news subscription tax credit is a non-refundable tax credit for amounts paid by individuals to a qualified Canadian journalism organization (QCJO) for qualifying subscription expenses after 2019 and before 2025.

Qualifying subscription expense

A qualifying subscription expense is the amount a subscriber paid in the year for a digital news subscription with a QCJO that does not hold a licence as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act. To qualify for the credit, a digital news subscription must entitle an individual to access content in digital form that is primarily written news.

How can a QCJO request a determination of eligible subscription(s)

A QCJO can complete and submit Form T622, Digital News Subscription Tax Credit – Eligible Subscription to request confirmation that the subscriptions it offers are eligible as qualifying subscriptions. Eligible subscription names will be published on CRA's List of qualifying digital news subscriptions (List).

Organizations can submit Form T622 either at the time that they apply for designation as a QCJO or at a later date.

For more information on applying for QCJO designation, go to Supporting Canadian Journalism.

Organizations whose subscriptions no longer qualify for the credit are required to inform their subscribers.

How individuals can claim the digital news subscription tax credit

Individuals who have entered into an agreement with a QCJO for a qualifying subscription that is eligible, can claim the credit on Line 31350 of their T1 Income Tax and Benefit Return for the years 2020 to 2024.

A list of organizations that offer eligible qualifying subscriptions is posted on the List .

The List is compiled based on organizations that submit a request to the CRA for a determination as to whether the subscriptions they offer meet the criteria in the Income Tax Act. Other organizations may offer a subscription that qualifies for the digital news subscription tax credit, but may have not requested a determination from the CRA. You should contact the organization that offers the digital subscription for more information if the name is not on this list.

The maximum credit will be calculated by:

Only the individual(s) who entered into the agreement can claim the credit:

If the qualifying subscription is eligible and provides access to content in non-digital form or content other than content of the QCJO:

Subscribers should keep all their receipts in case the CRA asks to see them at a later date.

For more information on the digital news subscription tax credit criteria, go to Guidance on the income tax measures to support journalism.

If you have additional questions about the digital news subscription tax credit, please send an inquiry through our webform.

Page details

Date modified: