What DTC companies charge, and what your alternatives are
Every figure on this page is quoted from that organisation's own published terms, with the date we read it. We have not characterised anyone, and our own price and the free routes are in the same table, because a comparison that leaves either out is an advertisement.
There are two pricing models
Contingency, a percentage of your refund
You pay nothing unless the application succeeds. If it does, the firm takes an agreed percentage of what the CRA pays you, commonly between 23% and 25% plus applicable taxes.
The genuine advantage is that the firm carries the risk. If you are refused, you pay nothing. Some also cover your practitioner's fee.
The thing to understand is what the percentage attaches to. The Disability Tax Credit can be claimed retroactively for up to ten years, so a successful application often produces one large determination rather than a small annual saving.
Flat fee, stated up front
You pay a fixed amount regardless of outcome or claim size. The cost is known before you start, and it does not scale with your refund. The trade is that you carry the risk of refusal.
Published fees
| Who | Published fee | Model |
|---|---|---|
| The CRA, directly | Free | No charge |
| Access DTC (Disability Alliance BC) | Free | No charge |
| Free tax clinics (CVITP) | Free | No charge |
| DTC Prep | CAD 299 | Flat fee |
| Disability Credit Canada Inc. | 25% of benefits recovered, plus applicable sales taxes | Percentage of refund |
| True North Disability Services | 25% of the refund recovered | Percentage of refund |
| Trust Disability Solutions | 23% of the refund recovered | Percentage of refund |
Prices change. If you are reading this well after 1 August 2026, check directly with the organisation before relying on any figure here, including ours.
What a percentage actually costs, worked through
Percentages are hard to feel in the abstract. Here is the same arithmetic at three claim sizes, at a 25% rate, before tax.
| If the CRA pays you | A 25% fee is | A flat CAD 299 fee is | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAD 2,000 | CAD 500 | CAD 299 | CAD 201 |
| CAD 8,000 | CAD 2,000 | CAD 299 | CAD 1,701 |
| CAD 20,000 | CAD 5,000 | CAD 299 | CAD 4,701 |
A flat fee is better value the larger the claim, and retroactive claims are often large.
What the CRA actually pays depends on your age, your province, how many years you are found eligible for, and your tax situation. Nobody can tell you your number before a determination, and you should be wary of anyone who offers to.
The free routes
These belong in any honest comparison. If one fits your situation, it is a better answer than paying anybody.
- The CRA, directly The CRA answers Disability Tax Credit questions by phone at 1-800-959-8281, and publishes the full eligibility criteria and application steps at no cost. This is the general individual tax enquiries line, not a dedicated DTC line.
- Access DTC (Disability Alliance BC) Free, step-by-step support through Disability Tax Credit applications, renewals, denials and appeals. They also run a fund that helps cover the fee a medical practitioner may charge. British Columbia residents. By appointment. A national affiliate, Disability Alliance Canada, also operates.
- Free tax clinics (CVITP) Volunteers file income tax returns at no cost, which is the step where an approved Disability Tax Credit is actually claimed, including adjustments to earlier years. Modest income and a simple tax situation. Volunteers file returns; they do not complete Form T2201.
Where we sit
We charge a flat CAD 299. The fee does not grow with your refund, and you know it before you start. Some firms cover your practitioner's fee as part of their percentage; we do not, so that cost sits with you separately.
When paid preparation is worth it, and when it is not.
Start with the self-check
Whichever route you take, you will need a clear description of how your impairment affects your daily life. The self-check produces one. It is free, it runs in your browser, and it sends us nothing unless you choose to send it.
Sources
- Disability Credit Canada Inc.: "Upon approval, Disability Credit Canada Inc. is entitled to a fee equal to 25% (plus applicable sales taxes such as GST/HST) of all benefits, refunds, credit adjustments, or future credit transfers issued by the CRA or a provincial agency resulting from the application prepared by DCCI." Published on their own site, read 2026-08-01.
- True North Disability Services: "If successful and a client has received their refund from CRA, it is then that we collect our 25% contingency fee." Published on their own site, read 2026-08-01.
- Trust Disability Solutions: "We only charge a contingency fee if we are successful in getting you a refund. Our fee of 23% is among the lowest in the industry." Published on their own site, read 2026-08-01.
We are not affiliated with any organisation named on this page. Nothing here is legal, medical, or tax advice.