Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit (AJCTC) is a non-refundable tax credit equal to 10% of the eligible salaries and wages payable to eligible apprentices in respect of employment after May 1, 2006. The maximum credit an employer can claim is $2,000 per year for each eligible apprentice. If your business hires an “eligible apprentice”, you qualify to claim the credit.

Who is an “eligible apprentice”? 

An “eligible apprentice” is someone who is working in a prescribed trade in the first two years of their apprenticeship contract. This contract must be registered with a federal, provincial or territorial government under an apprenticeship program designed to certify or license individuals in the trade.

A prescribed trade includes the trades currently listed as Red Seal Trades. For more information, see the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program.

How to claim?

If you are an employer, you will be able to claim the credit on your Individual Income Tax Return, on line 412 – Investment tax credit, by filing Form T2038(IND), Investment Tax Credit (Individuals).

In addition, any unused credit may be carried back three years and carried forward 20 years.

When two or more related employers employ the same apprentice, special rules apply to ensure that the $2,000 limit is allocated to only one employer.