Want it done for you? Answer a few questions and get the official CRA forms filled in and signed, free.
The rule: claim your credits once
Your personal tax credits, starting with the basic personal amount, can only be claimed once for the year, no matter how many employers or payers you have. Claim them in full on the TD1 for one job, usually the one that pays the most.
How to fill out the TD1 for your second job
- On page 2 of the federal TD1, tick More than one employer or payer at the same time.
- Enter 0 on line 13, and leave lines 1 to 12 blank.
- Do the same on the provincial or territorial TD1 for that job: enter 0 as your total claim.
- Sign, date and give both forms to the second employer.
With a 0 claim, the second employer deducts tax from the first dollar you earn there, which is what you want, because your credits are already being used at your main job.
What if both jobs are small?
If your total income from all jobs for the year will be less than your total claim, you can tick Total income is less than the total claim amount instead. No tax is deducted. Only do this if you're sure your combined income will stay under your claim, for example a student with two part-time jobs.
Still worried about owing?
Even with a 0 claim, two incomes can push you into a higher tax bracket than either employer assumes. Page 2 of the TD1 lets you ask for additional tax to be deducted from each pay. A small extra amount per pay at one job can turn a spring balance owing into a refund.
Using Easy TD1 for a second job
The tool asks whether you already have another job where you claimed your credits. Answer yes and it ticks the box and enters 0 on both forms for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim the basic personal amount at both jobs?
No. If you already claimed your credits on another TD1 for the year, you can't claim them again. Tick “more than one employer” and enter 0 on line 13 for the other job.
Which job should get my full TD1 claim?
Usually the job that pays the most, or the one you'll keep all year. Either works, as long as you only claim once.
What happens if I claimed at both jobs already?
Fill out a new TD1 for one of them with a 0 claim and give it to that employer. Tax deducted for the rest of the year will be closer to right, and you can ask for additional tax to catch up.
Does this apply to EI or pension payments too?
Yes. Any payer that deducts tax, including a pension plan or Employment Insurance, counts as another payer. Claim your credits with only one of them.