Life Events and Taxes
How marriage, living together, separation, a new baby and other life changes affect your taxes and benefits, and what to tell CRA.
The short version
- Big life changes change your taxes even when your income doesn't: who counts as family, which benefits you get, and which credits you can claim.
- Marriage, becoming common-law and separation all have to be reported to CRA, usually by the end of the month after the change (after 90 days apart for a separation).
- A new baby brings the Canada child benefit and RESP grants, but only if you apply.
- Moving, buying a home, retiring and selling property each have their own rules; the guides below cover them.
- Most of the money lost in life events comes from not telling CRA on time, not from the tax itself.
Life Events and Your Taxes
CRA's computers don't know you got married, had a baby or moved out, until you tell them. Until then they keep paying benefits on old facts and then, a year later, ask for the money back. Each life event below comes with a short list of things to update and a few credits or benefits worth claiming. Start with the one that just happened.
Relationships
| Event | Main tax effects | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Getting married | Combined income for benefits, shared credits, one principal residence | Marriage and taxes |
| Living together | Common-law after 12 months or a child together; same rules as marriage | Common-law tax rules |
| Separating or divorcing | Benefits on your own income, support payments, dividing property and RRSPs | Separation and divorce |
Something big just changed?
Tell the assistant what happened and when. It lists what to update with CRA, which benefits and credits change, and the deadlines that apply.
Children and Family
| Event | Guide |
|---|---|
| Having or adopting a baby | Having a baby: tax and benefits checklist |
| Child benefits | Canada child benefit |
| Paying for child care | Child care expenses |
| Supporting a relative | Canada caregiver credit and eligible dependant |
Home, Work and Retirement
| Event | Guide |
|---|---|
| Buying your first home | Home Buyers' Plan, FHSA, home buyers' amount |
| Selling your home | Selling your home |
| Moving to Canada | Taxes for newcomers, international students |
| Moving for work or school | Moving expenses |
| Starting a side business | Side hustle taxes |
| Retiring | Retirement and taxes |
| A death in the family | Death and the final tax return, inheritance tax |
The Habits That Save the Most
- Update CRA promptly about marital status, address and children, in My Account.
- Both partners file every year, even with no income, so benefits keep coming.
- Update beneficiaries and your will after marriage, separation or a birth.
- Keep receipts for child care, medical costs and moving.
Dealing with CRA after any of these changes is covered on the CRA guide.
Life Events Tax Questions
How do I tell CRA my marital status changed?
Update it in My Account or send form RC65 by the end of the month after the change. For a separation, wait until you have been apart for 90 days.
Do benefits change when my family changes?
Yes. The Canada child benefit and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit are based on family income and the number of children, so they are recalculated after marriage, separation or a birth.
Do I need to apply for child benefits when my baby is born?
Yes. In most provinces you can apply on the birth registration form; otherwise apply in My Account or with form RC66.
What happens if I do not tell CRA about a change?
CRA keeps paying benefits on the old information and later asks for the overpayment back, sometimes for more than a year.
Are the rules the same for common-law and married couples?
For federal income tax and benefits, yes. Common-law status starts after 12 months of living together, or sooner if you have a child together.
Sources: CRA, Has your marital status changed?; Canada child benefit. Checked October 2026. Details and sources for each event are on the linked guides.
Last reviewed October 5, 2026 against CRA and Government of Canada sources. How we check our facts.