Singles vs couples: Who has the edge during tax filing season?

The range of benefits you receive as part of your annual income tax returns may depend on your relationship status, some tax experts say.

Death and taxes are inevitable, whether you’re in a relationship or not.

But the range of benefits you’re eligible to receive from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as part of your tax returns may shift depending on your relationship status, some tax experts say.

The 2026 tax season began last month, with April 30 as this year’s tax filing deadline.

The CRA needs to know someone’s relationship status because “there’s a number of income-tested benefits that are based on the family income, not just on individual income,” said Jamie Golombek, managing director of tax and estate planning with CIBC Private Wealth.

“The most common benefits that are tested based on both your income and the income of your spouse or partner are things like the quarterly grocery benefit, formerly the HST credit. The other big one, of course, is the Canada Child Benefit,” Golombek said.

And at a time when cost of living is straining so many Canadians, you might wonder: are you better off filing taxes as a single person, or with a partner?

Here’s what to know.

Whether you’re single or in a relationship, one thing doesn’t change: you still have to file an individual tax return.