After Applying for the Disability Tax Credit

What are the possible outcomes of my DTC application?

There are three possible outcomes of your DTC application: 

1. The CRA needs more information on your application 

2. Your application is approved, either indefinitely or for a certain number of years 

3. Your application is denied

We will look at each of these outcomes in more detail below. However, it is important to note that even if your application is denied, you still have options to re-apply or challenge the decision. 

1. The CRA needs more information on your application

If the CRA needs more information to make a decision about your application, they may send an additional questionnaire directly to your medical practitioner.  

The information your medical practitioner provides in the additional questionnaire should give extra detail on how your disability affects the areas of daily living mentioned in your application. The questionnaire should not contradict the information that was included in your original application. Instead, it is an opportunity to provide further clarification.  

You will not receive a copy of the questionnaire from the CRA or be notified that an additional questionnaire has been sent. It can be helpful to tell your medical practitioner in advance that you would like to have an appointment with them to discuss a follow-up questionnaire before they submit it, or to be updated if they get one. Plan Institute’s Disability Planning Helpline advisors can support you with providing information to help your medical practitioner complete the questionnaire.

2. Your application is approved

If your DTC application is approved, the Notice of Determination will specify which year(s) you are approved for. This could include: 

• Only the current year 

• A number of years 

• This number can include both future years and any previous years your medical practitioner certified in your application 

• All future years 

• If your DTC is approved for all future years, you will not have to reapply unless the CRA asks you to

Once you receive approval, you can claim the Disability Amount on your tax return for the years that you have been approved.  

For example, if your DTC approval is for the years 2021-2029, you can claim the Disability Amount retroactively for past years starting in 2021, and then for every future year including 2029.

If you are approved for a certain number of years, remember to keep the date of your eligibility handy so that you can be prepared to reapply just before your current DTC expires.

For example, if your DTC is approved until 2029 and you believe you are still eligible past this date, we recommend reapplying at the end of 2029. This will help to give the CRA enough time to review and hopefully re-approve your DTC before 2030. This is important to avoid risking a lapse in benefits tied to the DTC, like the monthly Canada Disability Benefit.

It is a good idea to keep copies of your past applications so that you can refer to them if you need to reapply in the future.

If you do not agree with the time period for your approval, you can request a review of your application. Typically, this is done with the help of a medical practitioner who confirms that you meet eligibility for all years being requested.

3. Your application is denied

A denial does not mean you will not be approved in the future! If you do not agree with the CRA’s decision it is a good idea to speak to a DTC expert to discuss your options. Plan Institute provides free 1:1 support with the DTC application as well as with denials and appeals.

There could be many reasons your DTC application is denied. It is important to review your Notice of Determination, your original application, and all submitted documentation to see if any information might be missing or could be improved. You can request a copy of your application and other documentation from the CRA at any time and they are required to provide this to you. If you have any difficulty in getting this information, please ask to speak with a CRA manager as you are entitled to your personal information.

If your application has been denied, you have three options:

Option 1: Submit additional information and request a review

If your DTC application is denied and you have additional medical information that you think will support your case, you can request a review by submitting a short letter to the CRA.  

When requesting a review, you may submit additional medical information that was not included in your original application. For example, you can ask your medical practitioner to write a letter that includes more details about restrictions that are relevant to the application. 

Requests for review can be submitted through your online CRA My Account or by mail to the CRA tax centre that originally processed your DTC application. There is no specific deadline to request a second review, but it is a good idea to start this process within a year of receiving your Notice of Determination.  

Option 2: Reapply

You can submit a new DTC application to the CRA at any time. Any previous applications or denials will not impact your new application, however the CRA will have access to all prior DTC applications submitted.  

When you reapply, try to be as specific as possible about how your disability or condition impacts your daily life. For help with preparing your application see our page on applying for the DTC, use Disability Alliance BC’s DTC tool, or speak to one of our Helpline advisors,

Option 3: Submit a formal objection

If you disagree with the CRA’s decision but do not have any additional medical information to support your case, you can file a formal objection to the Chief of Appeals within 90 days of the date on your Notice of Determination letter. When you file an objection, you must clearly explain why you disagree with the decision in your Notice of Determination. 

You can file an objection through your CRA My Account, through a representative, or by delivering it in person to a tax services office or tax centre. You can also mail your objection to the Appeals Intake Centre. 

After an objection is filed, the CRA will re-assess your original application. If they agree in whole or in part with your objection they will send a Notice of Redetermination either by mail or through your CRA My Account. If they do not agree with the objection, they will send you a new letter stating that they will maintain the decision made during the initial Determination. 

If your objection is denied, you can file an appeal to Tax Court of Canada. We recommend you consult an experienced advocate, accountant or lawyer for assistance with this process. You can connect with an advocate from Disability Alliance BC by calling the toll-free number, 1-800-663-1278, or by sending an email to dtc@dabc.ca.