You can claim this amount if, at any time in the year, you supported your spouse or common-law partner and his or her net income was less than $11,138. However, if you claimed the family caregiver amount for your spouse or common-law partner, his or her net income must be less than $13,196. Calculate your amount on line 303 of your Schedule 5, Amounts for Spouse or Common-Law Partner and Dependants.
Enter the information about your spouse or common-law partner in the "Identification" area on page 1 of your return if you were married or living common-law on December 31, 2014. In certain situations, your spouse's or common-law partner's net income must be stated even if your marital status has changed. See "Net income of spouse or common-law partner" below.
Both of you cannot claim this amount for each other for the same year.
If you had to make support payments to your current or former spouse or common-law partner, and you were separated for only part of 2014 because of a breakdown in your relationship, you have a choice. You can claim the deductible support amounts paid in the year to your spouse or common-law partner on line 220 of your return, or an amount on line 303 of your Schedule 1, Federal Tax, for your spouse or common-law partner, whichever is better for you. If you reconciled with your spouse or common-law partner before the end of 2014, you can claim an amount on line 303 and any allowable amounts on line 326 of your Schedule 1.
Remember to claim the corresponding provincial or territorial non-refundable tax credit to which you are entitled, on line 5812 of your provincial or territorial Form 428.
Net income of spouse or common-law partner
This is the amount on line 236 of your spouse's or common-law partner's return, or the amount it would be if he or she filed a return.
If you were living with your spouse or common-law partner on December 31, 2014, use his or her net income for the whole year. This applies even if you got married or back together with your spouse in 2014 or you became a common-law partner or started to live with your common-law partner again. For more information, go to Marital status.
If you separated in 2014 because of a breakdown in your relationship and were not back together on December 31, 2014, reduce your claim only by your spouse's or common-law partner's net income before the separation. In all cases, enter, in the "Information about your spouse or common-law partner" area on page 1 of your return, the amount you use to calculate your claim, even if it is zero.