DTC Application Helper: Step-by-Step Guide & Form Tips

To apply for the Disability Tax Credit, use Form T2201 in two parts. Choose either the digital process or the paper process for the whole application; Part A and Part B must use the same method. Part A is completed by you or your legal representative online in CRA My Account (Apply for DTC), by phone with the CRA, or on paper. With the digital form, you receive a reference number valid for up to 12 months and single use; give it to your medical practitioner for Part B. Part B must be completed only by a medical practitioner; applicants cannot complete Part B themselves. As of July 14, 2025, new applications must be submitted through the CRA digital DTC form or by mail. You cannot upload Form T2201 through the submit documents feature in CRA My Account. This page explains the application steps; the CRA makes the final decision based on your practitioner's certification.

Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate, is the official CRA form to apply for the Disability Tax Credit. Individuals with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions use this form to apply. Part A collects your personal details and consent. Part B is the medical certification: your practitioner describes how the impairment affects daily activities. The CRA needs this information to assess your application; it compares Part B against DTC eligibility criteria and sends a notice of determination. Part B cannot be filled out by the applicant. With the digital process, Part B submits automatically when the practitioner finishes. With paper forms, mail Part A and Part B together. MyEligible does not certify or approve applications; your practitioner and the CRA do.

After the CRA receives a complete application (Part A and Part B together, submitted by the same method), it assesses whether the information from your medical practitioner meets DTC eligibility criteria. The CRA aims to process your application and send a notice of determination in a timely manner; it may take longer if information is missing. The CRA may contact your practitioner for more information; the practitioner has 60 business days to respond. Processing times vary; check the CRA's current targeted processing times for Form T2201 on canada.ca. You can track status in CRA My Account using the progress tracker. When the review is complete, the CRA sends a notice of determination by mail or through My Account. This page does not determine whether you will be approved.

Being approved for the DTC can make you eligible for other programs such as Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) grants and bonds and the Canada disability benefit. It does not reduce your other benefits. Each program has its own rules; DTC approval is required first, but it does not guarantee payment. If you are approved, you may open an RDSP and receive matching grants and bonds. If you are ages 18 to 64 and approved for the DTC, you may also apply for the federal Canada Disability Benefit through Service Canada. Amounts are income-tested, not a flat payment.

If you were eligible in past years but did not claim the DTC, you can request the CRA reassess your returns for up to 10 previous tax years by filing a T1 Adjustment Request (T1-ADJ) for each year. Your eligibility start date is based on when your impairment began, as certified on Form T2201. Because the DTC is a non-refundable credit, the actual retroactive benefit depends on how much tax you owed in each of those years; years with little or no tax payable may yield little or nothing. Confirm your situation with the CRA.