British Columbia Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG)

BCTESG

The British Columbia Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) is a unique provincial grant that provides a one-time payment of $1,200 for a child's RESP, with no matching contributions required.

A child is eligible for BCTESG when they turn six, up until the day before they turn nine.

Children who were between the ages of 6 and 9 when the program was introduced in 2015 were given three years to apply. The program was later extended to include children who were born in 2006

To qualify for the BCTESG, a B.C. resident must open an RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan) and complete an application as follows:
  • For a beneficiary born in 2006, the deadline to apply is August 14, 2019;
  • For a beneficiary born in 2007 or 2008, the deadline to apply is August 14, 2018;
  • For a beneficiary born on or between January 1, 2009 and August 15, 2009, the deadline to apply is August 14, 2018; or
  • For a beneficiary born any time on or after August 16, 2009, the deadline to apply is by the beneficiary's ninth (9th) birthday.
 
Required documents to prove B.C. residency:
  • If this is a new RESP, the parent/guardian and the child must both possess a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN). Additionally, the parent/guardian must possess one of the following:
    1. A valid British Columbia driver's licence;
    2. A British Columbia Identification (BCID) Card with a picture;
    3. A British Columbia Services Card; or
    4. A British Columbia utilities bill (dated within the last 3 months and listing the current address of the custodial parent or legal guardian). A utilities bill can be any of: electricity, gas, phone, cable, water or garbage bills.
 
If approved, the $1,200 grant will be deposited directly into the RESP once the application has been processed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
 
Please note that transferring the B.C. Training and Education Savings Grant from an RESP held at a participating financial institution to a non-participating financial institution may result in a loss of the grant.
 
 

Application Process

You (the Subscriber/Client)

  1. Subscriber completes and submits the BCTESG application form to Knowledge First Financial head office.
 

Knowledge First Financial

  1. Knowledge First Financial reviews the BCTESG eligibility criteria and information provided on the BCTESG application form.
  2. Knowledge First Financial submits the BCTESG information to ESDC on the subscriber's behalf.
 

ESDC 

  1. ESDC processes transactions, validates eligibility, calculates and makes payments of the BCTESG on behalf of the Government of British Columbia to Knowledge First.
 

Knowledge First Financial

  1. Knowledge First Financial deposits the BCTESG payment towards the specific RESP accordingly.
  2. Knowledge First Financial notifies the subscriber, via the annual Statement of Account, that the BCTESG payment has been deposited towards the RESP.
 
 

Restrictions and Conditions

The BCTESG must be used for post-secondary education or training purposes.  Once the beneficiary is enrolled in full-time or part-time studies at a qualifying post-secondary educational institution, the BCTESG is withdrawn from the RESP by the way of an Educational Assistance Payment (EAP).
 
The grant can be used for any qualifying post-secondary education or training program in or outside of Canada. 
 
In the event that the RESP is closed or the beneficiary chooses not to pursue post-secondary education or a training program, the BCTESG will be returned to the Province of British Columbia.
 
 

Taxation

The BCTESG is not considered as taxable income until it is taken from the RESP in an EAP for post-secondary education. Once deposited into the RESP, it is tax-sheltered until maturity of the plan.
 
However, money paid out of the RESP as an EAP is taxed as income in the hands of the student. Since many students have little or no income while they attend a post-secondary institution, they typically pay little to no tax.
 
 
For more information on the B.C. Training and Education Savings Grant:
Employment and Social Development Canada
Canada Education Savings Program
 
Toll-Free Call center: 1 888 276-3624
TTY Call Center: 1 866 260-7723

There's no better time to take advantage of this amazing benefit. 
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