The senior assistance tax credit [crédit d’impôt pour soutien aux aînés] gives Québec residents 70 and older with low or modest incomes up to $2,000 a year, or $4,000 for a couple. There’s nothing to apply for: Revenu Québec calculates it when you file your Québec tax return and adds it to your refund.
How much you’ll get
For the 2025 tax year (the return you filed in 2026), the amounts are:
| Your situation on December 31, 2025 | Maximum credit | Credit shrinks when family income is over | No credit at family income of |
|---|---|---|---|
| No spouse | $2,000 | $27,835 | $64,873 |
| Spouse who is also eligible, and you’re both 70 or older | $4,000 | $45,270 | $119,345 |
| Spouse, but only one of you qualifies or is 70 or older | $2,000 | $45,270 | $82,308 |
The credit goes down by 5.40% of your family income above the threshold. Family income is line 275 of your return, plus line 275 of your spouse’s return if you have one.
Example: a senior living alone. Gisèle is 74 and had a family income of $20,000. That’s under $27,835, so she gets the full $2,000.
Example: a little more income. If Gisèle’s income were $35,000, it would be $7,165 over the threshold. 5.40% of that is $386.91, so her credit would be $2,000 − $386.91 = $1,613.09.
Example: a couple. Roger and Denise are both over 70, with a family income of $60,000. They’re $14,730 over the $45,270 threshold, which takes $795.42 off. Their credit is $4,000 − $795.42 = $3,204.58.
Who qualifies
You may get the credit if all of these are true:
- You, or your spouse, were 70 or older on December 31 of the year.
- You lived in Québec on December 31.
- You or your spouse was a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protected person, or a temporary resident who had lived in Canada for the last 18 months.
- Your family income was under the limit in the table above.
- You filed a Québec income tax return. If you have a spouse, they must file one too.
You can’t get it if you were in prison on December 31 and for more than 183 days in the year, or if you or your spouse was exempt from income tax. If your spouse died during the year, they had to meet the conditions on the date of death.
How to get it
- File your Québec income tax return every year.
- That’s it. Revenu Québec calculates the credit for you. It is a refundable credit, so you get it even if you owe no tax.
- If you prefer, you can calculate it yourself on form TP-1029.SA-V.
If you and your spouse both qualify, you can split the credit between you. One of you files form TP-1029.SA-V with their return, and both of you sign it.
The credit is paid with your Québec tax refund, so there’s no separate payment date. If you owe tax, it lowers what you owe.
What changed in 2026, and what’s been promised
Nothing changed in the law for 2026. The maximum is still $2,000 per eligible person.
During the 2026 Québec election campaign, the CAQ promised to raise the maximum to $2,200. That is a campaign promise, not law. Québec votes on October 5, 2026. The amount changes only if the government elected then passes the change. Until then, plan on $2,000.
Payment late, missing or different?
Because the credit comes with your refund, start with your notice of assessment. It shows whether the credit was included.
- Check the status of your return in My Account for individuals.
- Make sure your spouse’s return was filed too. Revenu Québec needs both to work out family income.
- Call Revenu Québec: 418 659-6299 (Québec City area), 514 864-6299 (Montréal area) or 1 800 267-6299 (toll-free), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Common reasons for a smaller credit: your family income was over the threshold, only one spouse is 70 or older, or your spouse’s income was higher than you expected.
Revenu Québec never asks for fees, gift cards or passwords by text or email. No one can make you pay to “unlock” this credit.
Other help you might be missing
- Home-support services credit: 70 and older? Part of your housekeeping, snow removal or rent can come back to you.
- Solidarity tax credit: monthly help for many seniors with modest incomes.
- Guaranteed Income Supplement: a monthly top-up to Old Age Security for low-income seniors.
- Shelter Allowance: up to $170 a month if housing takes a big share of your income.
- Québec Pension Plan: see when your pension is paid.
Common questions
When is the senior assistance tax credit paid?
It’s paid with your Québec tax refund after Revenu Québec processes your return. There’s no separate deposit.
Is the $2,000 senior credit going up to $2,200?
Not now. The $2,200 figure is a CAQ campaign promise from the 2026 election. It isn’t law, and the maximum stays $2,000 unless the next government changes it.
Do I need to apply for the senior assistance tax credit?
No. You only need to file your Québec tax return. Revenu Québec works it out for you.
My spouse is 68 and I’m 72. Can we get it?
Yes, if you’re eligible and your family income is under $82,308 (2025). The maximum for your couple is $2,000.