Marital status

Tick the box that applied to your status on December 31, 2016. Tick "Married" if you had a spouse, "Living common-law" if you had a common-law partner, or one of the other boxes if neither of the first two applied. 

Spouse
This applies only to a person to whom you are legally married.

Common-law partner
This applies to a person who is not your spouse, with whom you are living in a conjugal relationship, and to whom at least one of the following situations applies. He or she:

1. has been living with you in a conjugal relationship, and this current relationship has lasted at least 12 continuous months;

   Note
   In this definition, 12 continuous months includes any period you were separated for less than 90 days because of a breakdown in the relationship.

2. is the parent of your child by birth or adoption; or
3. has custody and control of your child (or had custody and control immediately before the child turned 19 years of age) and your child is wholly dependent on that person for support.

Separated

If you were separated because of a breakdown in the relationship

• If you were married - you do not need to be separated for 90 days before being considered separated on December 31st.
• If you were living common-law, you must wait 90 days from the date of your separation to be considered separated.

Note
If the 90-day period includes the end of the tax year (December 31st), you may want to wait until 90 days have elapsed before filing your return, to avoid confusion and possibly having to submit a request for a change to your return.

If you were separated because of an involuntary separation

• You are still considered to have a spouse or common-law partner if you were separated involuntarily. An involuntary separation could happen when one spouse or common-law partner is away for work, school, health reasons, or incarcerated.

Completing your tax return

Enter on page 1 of your income tax return the following information about your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable:

• your spouse or common-law partner's social insurance number
• his or her first name
• his or her net income for 2016 (line 236 of his or her tax return, or the amount it would be if he or she filed a return even if it is zero)
• the amount of universal child care benefits (UCCB) included on line 117 of his or her return
• the amount of UCCB repayment included on line 213 of his or her return
• whether he or she was self-employed in 2016. Tick the corresponding box in this area.

Your spouse's or common-law partner's net income
Even though you show your spouse's or common-law partner's net income on your tax return, he or she may still have to file a tax return for 2016. See Do you have to file a return?

Your spouse's or common-law partner's universal child care benefit (UCCB)
This is the amount on line 117 of your spouse's or common-law partner's return, or the amount that it would be if he or she filed a return. Although this amount is included in your spouse's or common-law partner's net income, we will subtract this amount in the calculation of credits and benefits.

Your spouse's or common-law partner's UCCB repayment
Claim the amount from line 213 of your spouse's or common law partner's return, or the amount it would be if he or she filed a return. Although this amount is deducted in the calculation of your spouse's or common law partner's net income, we will add this amount to calculate credits and benefits.

Your spouse or common-law partner was self-employed in 2016
Tick the corresponding box in this area. If your spouse or common law partner carried on a business in 2016 (other than a business whose expenditures are primarily in connection with a tax shelter), your return for 2016 has to be filed on or before June 15, 2017.

Forms and publications

• General income tax and benefit package - Guide, return and schedules
• Booklet T4114, Canada Child Benefits
• Booklet RC4210, GST/HST Credit
• Form RC65, Marital Status Change