General information — consult a CPA for your personal situation.
01
What Wealthsimple reports to the CRA
Wealthsimple does not issue a T4A slip for referral bonuses deposited into a Chequing account (non-registered). This doesn't mean the income is tax-exempt — the reporting responsibility falls on you.
No T4A issued
02
What you may need to report
If your bonus is deposited into a non-registered account, it may be considered "other income" on line 13000 of your federal return. For $25, the tax impact is typically $6 to $12 depending on your marginal rate.
Line 13000
03
Caution: bonus in an RRSP or TFSA
If the bonus were deposited into a registered account, Wealthsimple would treat it as a contribution, consuming contribution room. The Chequing account is required to receive the bonus — so this risk is normally avoided automatically.
Chequing account required
04
For larger bonuses ($100+)
If you earn a larger bonus through the referral tiers (e.g. $275 for a friend who deposits $50,000), reporting becomes more relevant. Consult an accountant or use Wealthsimple Tax to verify.
Consult a CPA