As long as your public transit expenses are eligible for the OSPTTC, you can claim the expenses that you incurred starting July 1, 2017.

In general, you can only claim the OSPTTC for discounted senior fare. However, if the transit service you use does not offer a senior rate for the type of pass or ticket you purchase, non-senior fare is eligible. In your case, you could claim the cost of your adult fare monthly pass, provided other eligibility conditions are met.

Monthly passes are not necessary in order for you to be eligible for the OSPTTC. Provided that other eligibility conditions are met, your public transit costs can be eligible for the OSPTTC if you pay using any of the following methods:

• Passes for an unlimited number of rides during a period of at least one day;
• Passes for set number of rides;
• Fare paid using an electronic payment card, such as PRESTO; and
• Single ride tickets or tokens, as long as you have an itemized receipt.

However, cash fare is only eligible if it was paid for specialized public transit service (offered to people with disabilities) and you have a record that you booked and used rides on that service. Cash fare for conventional public transit services is not eligible for the OSPTTC.

Monthly passes and electronic payment cards are not necessary in order for you to be eligible for the OSPTTC. Provided that other eligibility conditions are met, your transit costs can be eligible for the OSPTTC if you pay using any of the following methods:

• Passes for an unlimited number of rides during a period of at least one day;
• Passes for set number of rides;
• Fare paid using an electronic payment card, such as PRESTO; and
• Single ride tickets or tokens, as long as you have an itemized receipt.

However, cash fare is only eligible if it was used to pay for a specialized public transit service (offered to people with disabilities) and you have a record that you booked and used rides on that service. Cash fare for conventional public transit services is not eligible for the OSPTTC.

Cash fare is only eligible for the OSPTTC if it was used to pay for a specialized public transit service (offered to people with disabilities) and you have a record that you booked and used rides on that service. Cash fare for conventional public transit services is not eligible for the OSPTTC.

You are eligible to claim the OSPTTC for a tax year if you were 65 at the beginning of that year and you resided in Ontario at the end of the year. As a result, you will not be eligible to claim the OSPTTC for expenses you incurred in 2017. You will meet the age condition for claiming the OSPTTC on your 2018 Ontario income tax and benefit return. On that return, you could claim expenses incurred in 2018 for eligible public transit services.

You can claim the OSPTTC for fare paid for public transit operated by the Government of Ontario or by the government of a municipality in Ontario (this includes the Metrolinx-operated GO network).

Via Rail and Greyhound fare are not eligible for the OSPTTC as they are not operated by the government of Ontario or by a municipality in Ontario.

Provided that other eligibility conditions are met, your fare for use of a bus originating in Ontario can be eligible for the OSPTTC. Make sure you read information above about Eligible Public Transit Services and Qualifying Payment Methods.

You can claim your OSPTTC for fares paid for eligible public transit services, provided that other eligibility conditions are met. Eligible transit services include GO Transit.

In addition, the service must be:

• a short haul service of the sort that people would typically use for a return trip in a single day;
• offered to the general public; and
• operated by bus, subway, train or tram.

Specialized public transit services are designed to transport persons with disabilities. All other public transit services are considered conventional services.

If you accessed public transit using either of the following payment methods, you do not need to have a receipt:

• a pass that provides unlimited rides over a period of time, or that provides a set number of rides; or
• an electronic payment card that provides a usage report that shows your name.

If you accessed public transit (conventional or specialized) using tickets or tokens, or using an electronic payment card that does not provide a personalized usage report, or if you paid for specialized public transit using cash, you will need a receipt.

Receipts for Electronic Payment Cards

If you used an electronic payment card to access public transit and your card does not provide a personalized usage report, you will need a receipt to be able to claim the OSPTTC.

• The receipt must show the name of the transit operator, the date you added value to your card, and the amount added.
• If the receipt shows your name, no additional information is required.
• If the receipt does not show your name, you will need a credit card or bank statement in your name that records the value added to your electronic payment card.

Receipts for Tickets or Tokens

If you used single ride tickets or tokens to access public transit (conventional or specialized), you will need a receipt to be able to claim the OSPTTC.

• The receipt must show the name of the transit operator, the date of purchase, and the amount paid.
• If your receipt shows your name, no additional information is required.
• If the receipt does not show your name, you will need a credit card or bank statement in your name that records the payment for the tickets or tokens.

Receipts for Cash Paid for Specialized Transit Service

If you paid cash to use specialized transit service, you will need to keep the following to be able to claim the amount paid through the OSPTTC:

• A record that you booked rides on that service; and
• Proof of your rides on the service (such as dated transfers).