Training tax credit for employers

This grant program provides refundable tax credits for employers to support the training and hiring of apprentices within British Columbia, ensuring flexibility and incentivization for businesses investing in skill development. The financing modalities for the training tax credit are structured to accommodate various training phases and unique participant characteristics.

• Refundable tax credits are available for both Red Seal and non-Red Seal apprenticeship programs, ensuring a broad applicability to different trades.
• The basic tax credit refunds employers 20% of eligible salary and wages, up to $4,000, within the first 24 months of enrolling an apprentice in non-Red Seal programs.
• The completion tax credit offers 15% of eligible salary and wages, with maximum credits of $2,500 and $3,000 for completing levels 3 and 4, respectively, applicable to both Red Seal and non-Red Seal programs.
• Enhanced credits are provided at a rate of 50% of the basic or completion tax credits, specifically for First Nations individuals and persons with disabilities, offering additional support to underrepresented groups in trades.
• The structure allows employers to claim multiple credits for an employee in one year, enhancing financial support throughout the apprenticeship period.
• All credits must be claimed within 36 months after the relevant fiscal year, ensuring timely recapture of training investments.
• Eligible wages for calculating the credits exclude any bonuses, benefits, profits, stock options, or unpaid wages, aligning the credits with direct employment costs only.

Eligibility for the employer's training tax credit is determined by specific requirements related to the business and its taxable status in British Columbia.

• The applicant must be a sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation.
• The business must be subject to B.C. income tax for the taxation year the credit is being claimed.
• The business must either be a resident of B.C. on the last day of the taxation year or maintain a permanent establishment in B.C. at any time during the taxation year.
• Employees must be working in a position related to their apprenticeship program through SkilledTradesBC and the business must be carried on in B.C. during the taxation year.
• Active members of a partnership can claim their proportionate share of the partnership's tax credit, though limited partners are not eligible.
• The applicant is not eligible if the corporation is exempt from tax under section 27 of the Income Tax Act or if taxable income is exempt under Part 1 of the federal Income Tax Act.
• Corporations directly or indirectly controlled by a tax-exempt entity are also not eligible.

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

Certain companies are not eligible for the training tax credit based on their tax-exempt status. These restrictions ensure that credits are claimed by entities contributing to BC's tax revenues.

• Corporations exempt from tax under section 27 of the Income Tax Act.
• Corporations with taxable income exempt under Part 1 of the federal Income Tax Act.
• Corporations directly or indirectly controlled by a tax-exempt entity for the aforementioned reasons.

Eligible expenses

The training tax credit in B.C. supports employers who provide apprenticeships in both Red Seal and non-Red Seal trades. This credit aims to encourage businesses to engage in vocational training by offering financial incentives.

• Employing apprentices enrolled in non-Red Seal programs to claim the basic tax credit.
• Engaging apprentices who complete level 3 or 4 of any apprenticeship program (both Red Seal and non-Red Seal) to claim the completion tax credit.
• Providing apprenticeships to First Nations individuals and persons with disabilities to claim the enhanced tax credit.
• Documenting and applying eligible salary and wages paid to apprentices during their training period.

Eligible geographic areas

This tax credit is available to businesses operating within British Columbia, Canada. Eligible locations are identified based on their subjection to B.C. income tax and operational presence.

• Businesses in British Columbia, Canada.

Employers can claim the training tax credit by submitting the required forms with their tax returns, and various deadlines apply for different types of credits.

• Corporations must complete Schedule 428, British Columbia Training Tax Credit and submit it with their T2 Corporation Income Tax Return.
• Individual employers must complete British Columbia Training Tax Credit (Employers) form (T1014-1) and submit it with their T1 Individual Income Tax Return.
• The basic tax credit and enhanced basic tax credit must be claimed no later than 36 months after the end of the tax year for which the eligible salaries and wages are paid.
• The completion tax credit and the enhanced completion tax credit must be claimed no later than 36 months after the end of the tax year in which the employee completed the requirements for a tax credit level.
• A deadline extension allowed claims required to be made between March 13, 2020, and December 30, 2020, to be extended to six months from the original due date or to December 31, 2020, whichever was earlier.