British Columbia Training and Education Savings Grant
If you live in BC, the British Columbia Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) can add $1,200 to your education savings. Access this one-time grant starting on your child’s sixth birthday and you have until the day before their ninth birthday to apply.
Benefits of the BCTESG
- If you and your child live in the province of BC, your child is eligible to receive $1,200 towards their RESP. No matching contribution from you is required.
- The grant money remains in your child’s RESP, even if you move out of BC.
How do I apply for BCTESG?
- Download the BCTESG application form.
- Fill out the form, ensuring all fields are complete to avoid processing delays
- NOTE: the form requires the legal custodial parent/legal guardian to provide proof of residency. Acceptable documents include:
- A valid British Columbia driver’s licence;
- A British Columbia Identification (BCID) Card with a picture;
- A British Columbia Services Card; or
- A British Columbia utilities bill (dated within the last 3 months and listing the current address of the custodial parent/legal guardian). A utilities bill can be any of: electricity, gas, phone, cable, water or garbage bills.
- Fax or mail the completed form and a copy of your proof of residency to us at:
Knowledge First Financial
50 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Suite 1000
Mississauga, Ontario L5B 4A5
Fax: 1-800-668-5007
Email: contact@kff.ca
For detailed instructions on how to complete the form, please see our
step-by-step guide
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)
Subscriber completes and submits the BCTESG application form to Knowledge First Financial head office.
Knowledge First Financial
Knowledge First Financial reviews the BCTESG eligibility criteria and information provided on the BCTESG application form. Knowledge First Financial submits the BCTESG information to ESDC on the subscriber's behalf.
ESDC
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
Knowledge First Financial deposits the BCTESG payment towards the specific RESP accordingly.
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, please visit the
BC Government website.
To find out more, or if you have questions, contact Customer Service at
contact@kff.ca.