Tax credits and incentives

When you hire a student enrolled in a co-operative education program, there are a number of tax credits that you can take advantage of. We make it easy by providing all employers with a letter from the University and the tax receipts that you need to submit when filing your taxes.
 

As an official Waterloo employer, you can get a receipt from our job portal, WaterlooWorks. For help on finding your receipts and necessary documents in WaterlooWorks, visit our page on how to obtain a tax credit receipt

Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit

Amount:

Large corporations can claim 25% of expenditures, up to $3,000, while small businesses can claim 30% of expenditures up to $3,000, per eligible work placement. This tax credit is available for each work placement. Each work placement needs to be a minimum of 10 weeks and maximum of 4 months with no cap on the amount of eligible work placements an employer submits.

Employers may have multiple work placements which take place at the same time and throughout the year (I.e. iIf an organization decides to hire for an eight-month work term, or two students for four-month work terms, both would be considered as two work placements and would be eligible for a total tax credit of up to $6,000).

Who can apply (eligibility): Any Ontario employer hiring students from a post-secondary co-op program
How to apply:

Corporations claim the tax credit on Schedule 550 of their T2 corporation income tax return. Unincorporated businesses claim the credit on Form ON479 in their personal tax return.

Learn more about the forms you need to submit on the government website.

Application deadline: Tax season each year

Other credits and incentives

Tax credit and incentives in Central Canada Tax credit and incentives in Western CanadaTax credit and incentives in Atlantic Canada Tax credit and incentives in Northern Canada

Available across Canada: Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Credit

Amount: 15 -35% tax credits for eligible expenditures, which may include the salaries of co-op students
Who can apply (eligibility): Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors who complete research and development in Canada. This includes basic research, applied research and experiential development.
How to apply:

Corporations claim the tax credit on Schedule 508 and file it with their T2 corporation income tax return.

Learn more about the forms you need to submit on the government website.

Application deadline: Tax season each year