8 surprising (and bizarre) federal tax deductions you can actually claim on your return

With the 2024 tax season underway in Canada (the deadline is April 30, guys... get on it), you may be stressing about whether you'll be getting a refund or wind up having to pay the government big bucks this year — and much of that is dependent on how you file your tax return.

You don't have to be an accountant — or even good with money — to know that the more deductions and credits you can claim, the better for your bank account.

While a number of these credits and deductions are pretty well known, like charitable donations and out-of-pocket non-cosmetic dental expenses, there are some little-known tax breaks that may surprise you. Some of them are unexpected and others are downright weird. But hey, when it comes to finances, we'll take what we can get.

To help you save some money, we asked H&R Block spokesperson Yannick Lemay to walk us through some of the most unusual things you can claim on your federal 2023 personal income tax return.

Sunglasses & swimming goggles...

But only if they're prescription — in which case both are eligible for the medical expense tax credit. This is a good one to keep in the back of your mind for the future: if you're thinking of getting a new pair of shades or swim goggles and you have a diagnosed vision impairment, you might as well make them prescription so you can claim them.

Weed...

But only if it's medical. Sorry, but the joint you bought off your friend's brother to smoke at Tam-Tams won't count. If you have a medical document from a healthcare practitioner and you buy your cannabis from this list of licensed sellers with whom you are a registered client only then is it fair game as a medical expense come tax time.

Vitamin B12...

But only if prescribed as "therapy for a person with pernicious anaemia (either by injection, pills or other methods)," according to the Government of Canada. The weirdest part is that absolutely no other vitamins or supplements are eligible to be claimed as medical expenses so it's a pretty niche benefit. If you have pernicious anaemia, this one's for you.

Digital news subscriptions...

But only if it's for a qualifying news outlet on this list. You can claim up to $500, determined by multiplying the amount you spent on subscriptions by 15%. If you split the subscription (such as with a spouse or roommate), you can also split the credit up to the maximum amount!

Crutches...

Without any certification or prescription. So, technically, even if you bought the crutches to pull a prank on someone or as a prop for the student film you were making, you can claim them as a medical expense.

Living with your parents...

Kind of. The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit is a new refundable tax credit that applies if you do renovations to create a secondary unit in your home where a senior or disabled adult, such as an elderly parent, would live. You have to make sure both you and the person living with you are considered "qualifying individuals" with a "qualifying" relationship, but if all that checks out, you can claim up to $7,500.

Food...

But only if you're a bike and/or foot courier and you might have to go to court over it. Basically, in 1998, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that a man named Alan Wayne Scott could write off extra food he required due to physical exertion from his job as a bike and foot courier. His argument was that he considered it fuel — much in the same way you can write off fuel for a vehicle if you use it to earn business income. If you want to try your luck, this precedence exists, but it might not be worth ruffling the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)'s feathers over.

Firefighting and search-and-rescuing...

Oh, and don't forget to claim money earned from illegal activity!

Bad news for all the drug dealers reading this (and we don't mean pharmacists) — you're still expected to pay income tax on illegal earnings. This isn't a tax break, but it's something you're shockingly expected to claim so we included it as a sort of bonus.

As explained in a blog post by Toronto tax lawyer Jason Rosen, if you're ever caught committing a crime, the police will report it to the CRA, which has a history of auditing criminals for unpaid taxes on money earned through illegal activity like theft or fraud. Obviously, claiming money you got through illegal means leaves much to consider, but there is a voluntary disclosure program that allows you to fix errors or omissions in tax filings without the risk of penalties or criminal prosecution.