Nearly 2 in 3 Canadians can still claim missed fertility tax credits from the past 10 years
Nearly two-thirds of Canadians don’t know they can go back 10 years to claim missed tax credits, even on big-ticket fertility treatments that can run into tens of thousands of dollars.
An estimated 8–15 percent of Canadian couples have difficulty conceiving and seek fertility treatments to build their family, according to Procrea.
For plan sponsors and advisors looking at total rewards and health spending, that combination of high need and high cost makes tax efficiency a practical concern, not a niche issue.
“Facing fertility treatment can be harrowing emotionally and physically, and the costs of fertility care can be high,” said Yannick Lemay, H&R Block tax expert.
He noted that federal medical expense claims for fertility treatments can often be combined with provincial tax credits and reimbursements “to provide a significant financial difference,” but Canadians need to know which credits they qualify for and keep records and receipts for tax time.
On the federal side, the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) now covers a broader range of fertility and surrogacy-related expenses.
Eligible costs can include IVF, IUI, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), prescribed fertility medications, embryo, sperm or egg storage and processing fees, clinic fees, tests, and some travel, such as travelling more than 40 kilometres for treatment.
The Refundable Medical Expense Supplement can also help lower-income working families offset high medical expenses, including fertility treatments, if they meet income thresholds.
Provinces layer additional support on top.
Ontario’s refundable Fertility Treatment Tax Credit covers 25 percent of eligible fertility treatment costs, including IVF, IUI, egg/sperm freezing and surrogacy-related expenses, up to $5,000 a year based on $20,000 in eligible expenses, and must also be claimed as part of the METC.
Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan offer refundable fertility credits that cover a significant share of eligible costs (up to $8,000–$10,000, depending on the province), while Québec provides a fertility tax credit with a variable rate tied to income, with lower-income claimants able to receive up to 80 percent of their costs back.
Beyond tax credits, several provinces provide direct funding or reimbursement.
New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador offer government reimbursement programs that cover a portion of IVF and IUI costs up to set limits.
British Columbia runs a publicly funded IVF program that subsidizes costs for eligible residents.
Despite this growing patchwork of support, an H&R Block Canada survey found that nearly 2 in 3 Canadians (65 percent) did not know they can amend a previous tax return from the past 10 years to claim credits, benefits or deductions they missed.
More than a third (38 percent) believe they likely left credits or benefits unclaimed.
Lemay says many Canadians do not know about the credits and benefits available to them, so they can miss out on ways to lower their taxable income or get a substantial tax refund.
He notes that when H&R Block reviews new clients’ previously filed returns, the firm finds that “about half have missed credits they can claim,” and on average uncovers “over $2700” by taking a second look at filings done elsewhere.
