Due to the prevalence of childhood obesity due to poor diets and a sedentary lifestyle, the Federal Goverment legislated a tax credit called the “Child Fitness Tax Credit” in 2007 to encourage children to participate in daily activity.
Parents can claim up to $500 per child for registering children under 16 years of age in programs eight weeks or longer which include a significant amount of physical activity that contributes to cardio-respiratory endurance, plus one or more of:
- Muscular strength,
- Muscular endurance,
- Flexibility, and
- Balance.
All of these factors are addressed in most dance classes.
- more information about the Child Fitness Tax Credit
Why Not an Adult Fitness Tax Credit?
There is no current fitness tax credit for anyone over 16, but Canada “would save $2.5 billion over the next 21 years by extending the benefits of the current Children’s Fitness Tax Credit program to adults,” according to AdultFitnessTaxCredit.ca, which is petitioning for this tax credit program to be extended to adults.
So should there also be an “Adult Fitness Tax Credit”? Let us know what you think.
As of January 1, 2017, the Children’s Activity Tax Credit will no longer be available.
There should be an Adult Fitness Tax Credit!
Absolutely, it would encourage more people to keep fit and help those who are struggling financially, to spend some time on keeping themselves healthy. They would therefore have less illnesses and thus less expenses on medicines. It would also shorten the queue at the doctor’s, which is already seriously overloaded by a lot of illnesses that could have been prevented by regular exercise.