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Official CRA program. The CRA says that starting in March 2027 about 1 million people will get an invitation to a pre-filled 2026 return in their CRA account. This page uses the CRA page dated 2 November 2026 and a CRA news release dated 22 September 2026, both read on 10 November 2026.
If you are on the list, the CRA fills in the slips it already has and you review the return before you send it. Whether you are on the list depends on your income, your age, your province and your account settings.
What is the pre-filled tax return?
The CRA uses information it already has on file to pre-fill an income tax and benefit return for eligible people. The invitation is for the 2026 tax year, which you file in 2027. It is available through your CRA account only, starting in March 2027.
The CRA says about 1 million individuals will get an email notification in 2027. The email tells you the invitation is waiting in your CRA account. You can open it from the link in the invitation or from Tax returns on the Overview page of your account. If you have not set up the account yet, see CRA My Account, phone and scams: reaching the real CRA.
You can review, update and add missing information before you accept and submit the return. After you file, the CRA sends a notice of assessment, and you keep your supporting documents for six years. The notice is explained in Notice of Assessment in Canada: What It Shows and Why It Matters.
Who qualifies for an invitation?
The CRA says you must meet all of these conditions.
- You are registered for and can use your CRA account.
- Your correspondence preference is set to electronic mail.
- You have no income, or your income comes only from the listed slips and stays under a limit for your situation.
- You were a resident of Canada for tax purposes from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
- You filed your 2025 tax return.
- You are filing for yourself and you were 15 or older in 2026.
- You are not claiming exempt income under the Indian Act.
- You did not sell your principal residence in 2026 and you were not bankrupt at any time in 2026.
- You made no 2026 repayment of federal COVID-19 benefits received from 2020 to 2022, and nothing under the Home Buyers' Plan or Lifelong Learning Plan.
- You did not own specified foreign property with a total cost over $100,000 in 2026.
The CRA page links to a way to change your mail preference online but does not describe the setting in more detail.
Which income slips fit the program?
Your income has to come from the sources below, or you have none. For what each slip is, see Tax slips decoder: what each Canadian slip means.
| Slip | Income it reports |
|---|---|
| T4 | Employment income |
| T4A | Canada emergency benefits |
| T4A(OAS) | Old Age Security pension and net federal supplements, including GIS |
| T4A(P) | CPP or QPP benefits |
| T4E | Employment insurance benefits |
| T5 | Interest from Canadian sources |
| T5007 | Social assistance, income assistance or workers' compensation benefits |
The net federal supplements on the T4A(OAS) and the T5007 payments are not counted toward the income limit.
What are the income limits?
The limit depends on the province or territory where you lived on December 31, 2026, your age on that day, and whether you qualify for the disability tax credit. Amounts are in Canadian dollars and come from the CRA page.
| Province or territory | Age 15 to 64 | Age 15 to 64 with DTC | Age 65 and over | Age 65 and over with DTC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon | $16,452 | $26,793 | $25,660 | $36,001 |
| British Columbia | $13,216 | $23,129 | $19,143 | $29,056 |
| Manitoba | $15,780 | $21,960 | $19,508 | $25,688 |
| New Brunswick | $13,664 | $23,874 | $19,822 | $30,032 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $13,094 | $20,643 | $20,236 | $27,785 |
| Nova Scotia | $11,932 | $19,273 | $17,758 | $25,099 |
| Ontario | $12,989 | $23,483 | $19,331 | $29,825 |
| Prince Edward Island | $15,000 | $21,890 | $21,510 | $28,400 |
The disability tax credit column applies if you qualify for the credit. The credit itself is explained in Disability Tax Credit in Canada: Who Qualifies.
What should you do before March 2027?
Nothing you do guarantees an invitation, because the CRA picks who gets one. You can still check the parts that are in your hands. Make sure you can sign in to your CRA account and that your correspondence preference is electronic mail. Keep the slips you receive for 2026, and compare them with the pre-filled numbers when the return arrives. If you want refunds to arrive faster, see CRA Direct Deposit: How to Set It Up or Change It.
One tip from us: an email that looks like this one is easy to copy. Do not follow a link in an email you did not expect. Open your CRA account the way you normally do and look for the invitation there. More on spotting fakes is in CRA scams: how to spot a fake call, text or email.
Is there a new sign-in step when you file online?
Separately, the CRA says that beginning February 22, 2027 you can choose to authenticate yourself by signing in to your CRA account when you file or adjust a return online. It applies to NETFILE, used by individuals and their authorized representatives in tax software, and to EFILE, used by tax preparers and volunteers. The CRA says the step is optional, and for the 2026 return authenticating yourself is optional.
Once you are authenticated you can keep filing until the session ends. The CRA says anyone whose account is locked, restricted or otherwise inaccessible should fix that before filing. First-time filers with no filing history have no account to sign in to, and they can still file with NETFILE. If a representative files for you, make sure they are authorized first. How online filing works is covered in E-Filing Income Tax in Canada: NETFILE and EFILE.
For the whole 2027 picture in one place, including confirmed numbers, Budget 2026 proposals, CRA program changes and key dates, see Canadian Taxes in 2027: Confirmed Numbers, Proposals and Dates.
What could we not confirm?
The CRA gives "about 1 million" and no exact count. It does not name the exact day in March when invitations go out, and it does not say whether a 2026 return filed without the optional sign-in is treated differently. Check your CRA account in March rather than waiting for a date from us.
This is an independent information site. It provides no services, does not represent the CRA or any organization, and collects information from open sources. It does not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current, and it accepts no liability for how you use it. Check the CRA page before you rely on any condition or limit.
Frequently asked questions
When does the CRA send the pre-filled tax return invitation?
The CRA says invitations go out through CRA accounts starting in March 2027, with an email notification. It does not give an exact day.
How many people will get a pre-filled return?
The CRA says about 1 million individuals will get an email notification in 2027. It gives no exact number.
Which tax year is the pre-filled return for?
The 2026 tax year. You file it in 2027.
Is the sign-in step for filing online required?
No. The CRA says authenticating yourself with your CRA account is optional for the 2026 return. The option starts February 22, 2027 for NETFILE and EFILE.
Do I have to accept the pre-filled return as it is?
No. The CRA says you can review, update and add any missing information before you accept and submit it.
Does the pre-filled return replace the notice of assessment?
No. The CRA says that after you file, it sends a notice of assessment as usual.