How to fill out Form T2201, the Disability Tax Credit Certificate

What Form T2201 is

Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate, is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) form used to apply for the disability tax credit. It has two parts. Part A is filled in by the person with the impairment, or by a family member or legal representative. Part B is filled in and certified by a medical practitioner.

The CRA reviews the certificate and decides whether the person is eligible, and for which years. Only after that decision can the disability amount be claimed on a tax return. This guide explains the paperwork. It is general information, not tax or medical advice, and it does not tell you whether you will qualify. The CRA's own guide to the disability tax credit is the source to rely on for eligibility.

Who fills in which part

Part	Who completes it	What it covers
Part A	The person with the impairment, or their legal representative. A supporting family member adds their own details if they plan to claim the credit.	Identity, the person claiming the amount, a question about adjusting past returns, and the signed authorization
Part B	A medical practitioner who is allowed to certify the type of impairment	The impairment, its effects on daily activities, when it began, how long it is expected to last, and the practitioner's certification

You cannot complete Part B yourself, and the CRA will not accept a certificate without it.

Two ways to apply: digital or paper

You can apply with the digital application or with the paper form. Both lead to the same review.

• Digital. The applicant completes Part A in CRA My Account, or by phone with the CRA, and receives a reference number. You give that number to your medical practitioner, who completes Part B online and submits it directly to the CRA.
• Paper. You download the current T2201 from the CRA, complete and sign Part A, and take the form to your medical practitioner. They complete and sign Part B. The finished form is then sent to the CRA, either uploaded through My Account or mailed to the tax centre listed in the form's instructions.

Ask your practitioner's office which route they prefer before you start. Many clinics now have a set process, and using it avoids delays.

How to fill out Part A, step by step

Part A is short and asks for facts you already have. Take care with the names and numbers, because they must match CRA records.

1. Information about the person with the impairment. Enter their legal name, social insurance number, mailing address, and date of birth.
2. Information about the person claiming the disability amount. Complete this only if a supporting family member, such as a spouse or parent, intends to claim the amount. The form asks for that person's name, SIN, and relationship, and asks questions about the support they provide, such as food, shelter, or clothing. Answer these in plain, specific terms.
3. Adjusting previous tax returns. The form asks whether you want the CRA to adjust earlier returns if the person is found eligible for past years. Read the wording on the current form and tick the option you want. If you choose no, you can still ask for adjustments later.
4. Authorization. The person with the impairment, or their legal representative, signs to allow the medical practitioner to share information with the CRA and to allow the CRA to adjust returns as requested. A parent or guardian signs for a child.

If you are working from the paper form, you can type Part A on screen. Open the fillable Form T2201 helper, or download the official PDF from the CRA and open it with the free fill a PDF tool. Your file stays in your browser on your device, which matters for a document that holds a SIN and health details.

Who can certify Part B

The practitioner must be qualified for the specific category of impairment. Medical doctors and nurse practitioners can certify all categories. Other professionals can certify the category that matches their field, as listed on the form:

• Optometrists for vision
• Audiologists for hearing
• Speech-language pathologists for speaking
• Occupational therapists for walking, feeding, and dressing
• Physiotherapists for walking
• Psychologists for mental functions necessary for everyday life

The form also has sections for eliminating, for life-sustaining therapy, and for the cumulative effect of significant limitations. Check the current form for who may certify each one.

How to prepare for the practitioner appointment

Part B asks about the effects of the impairment on everyday activities, not just the diagnosis. The practitioner can only describe what they know, so bring clear, honest information.

• Bring the form or your digital reference number, and tell the office in advance that the visit is for a T2201.
• Write down how the impairment affects daily activities: what takes much longer than it would for someone without the impairment, what cannot be done at all, and how often this happens.
• Note when the limitations began and any changes over time. The form asks for the year the impairment started.
• List devices, medication, and therapy used, and how much help from another person is needed.
• Bring relevant reports or assessments the practitioner may not have on file.
• Ask about the fee. Practitioners may charge for completing the form. The CRA does not pay that fee. Ask your tax preparer whether you can claim it as a medical expense.

How to send the form to the CRA

For the digital application, your practitioner submits Part B online and the CRA joins it to your Part A. For the paper form, make sure both parts are complete and signed, keep a full copy, and then send it one of two ways:

• Online: scan the form and upload it through the submit documents service in CRA My Account. If you need to turn phone photos into one file first, use JPG to PDF, put the pages in order with organize PDF, and shrink a large scan with compress PDF. The first two run in your browser. Compress PDF processes the file on our server and deletes it right away, so decide whether you are comfortable with that for a medical document, or rescan at a lower resolution instead.
• By mail: send it to the tax centre address given in the form's instructions.

You can send the form at any time of year. You do not need to wait for tax season, and applying before you file can save you from having your return adjusted afterwards.

What happens after you apply

The CRA reviews the certificate and sends a notice of determination that says whether the person is eligible and for which years. Processing times vary, and the CRA may write to the practitioner for more detail, so tell the clinic to watch for a follow up letter.

• If approved, the notice shows the years covered. Eligibility can be indefinite or can end after a set year, in which case a new certificate is needed later. The disability amount is then claimed on the tax return of the person with the impairment, or transferred to a supporting family member where the rules allow.
• If denied, the notice explains why. You can send more medical information and ask for a review, or file a formal objection within the time limit stated in the notice.

Approval can also matter beyond the credit itself, because some other federal programs use disability tax credit eligibility as a condition. Check each program's own rules.

Common mistakes that slow an application

• Using an old version of the form. Download the current T2201 from the CRA each time.
• Leaving the authorization in Part A unsigned.
• A name, SIN, or date of birth that does not match CRA records.
• Asking a practitioner to certify a category outside their field.
• Part B that names a diagnosis but does not describe its effects on daily activities.
• Missing dates for when the impairment began.
• Sending an unreadable scan, or pages out of order.
• Keeping no copy of what was sent.

Do you need to pay someone to apply?

No. You can apply yourself, and the only unavoidable cost is any fee your practitioner charges for Part B. Some companies offer to handle the application for a share of the refund. That is a personal choice, but read any contract carefully, and know that the form and the CRA's guidance are free.

Next step

Open the CRA Form T2201 page to see every field before your appointment, and complete Part A on screen if you are using the paper route. For other CRA paperwork, browse the Canadian forms hub. If you expect a refund once you are approved, setting up CRA direct deposit means it arrives in your account, not by mailed cheque. For questions about eligibility, contact the CRA or a qualified tax professional.