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Free taxes in Canada come two ways. If your income is modest and your return is simple, a volunteer at a free tax clinic will complete and file it for you. If you’d rather do it yourself, most CRA-certified software will prepare a basic return at no cost for modest incomes, though what counts as basic differs by product.
Who can get free taxes done at a clinic?
The CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program needs two things: a modest income and a simple tax situation. The CRA sets suggested income limits by household size, and local organizations can adjust them. We found two different sets of figures on CRA pages, so we won’t quote any. Check the current limits with the clinic.
The “simple” part is easier to pin down. Here’s how the CRA sorts it.
| Usually fine at a clinic | Usually not accepted |
|---|---|
| Employment income and T4 slips | Self-employment income |
| Pensions, CPP, OAS, EI, social assistance | Business or rental income |
| RRSP income, scholarships | Capital gains |
| A small amount of interest | Foreign property, and most foreign income |
| U.S. Social Security | Bankruptcy |
Quebec has its own program, the Income Tax Assistance Volunteer Program, so Quebec residents look there.
What should you bring?
Photo ID, your social insurance number, every tax slip you got, receipts for anything you’ll claim, and last year’s notice of assessment if you have it.
Clinics run three ways. Some are walk-in, first come first served. Some are drop-off, where you leave the papers and collect the finished return later. Others work by appointment, in person or by phone or video. The CRA’s tax clinic directory lists the ones near you.
Is tax software really free?
Sometimes, so read the small print. The CRA certifies the software each year and publishes the list. It says most products prepare a basic return for free if your income is modest, and otherwise usually charge a fee. Some ask you to pay what you want. What you get free depends on the product, so ask the developer before you start typing. We can’t confirm any price or free tier for a named product, so we don’t compare them.
A quick check before you commit: does the free version cover your situation? A T4, a few slips and an RRSP receipt is usually fine. Rental income or a stock sale might not be.
What does a simple return look like in dollars?
Take an Ontario employee with $32,000 of T4 income. The income tax calculator shows federal and Ontario tax of $2,804.23. If $3,000 was withheld during the year, the tax refund calculator shows a refund of $195.77.
That’s a small number, and it’s the point: a return on this income is short, with one slip and a few boxes, so a volunteer or free software can handle it in one sitting. For a return with credits, the tax credits calculator gives a federal estimate, and it doesn’t include provincial credits.
If you have children or a low income, the GST/HST credit calculator and the Canada child benefit calculator show what you might get.
Where do free options stop?
A clinic won’t take a business, a rental or a share sale, and free software may charge for those forms. At that point you pay for software, or for a preparer, and we haven’t confirmed fees for either. Walk-in clinics run on advertised hours, so look up the schedule before you go, and don’t leave it to the last week if a deadline is close.
For the 2025 return, filing opened on February 23, 2026 and the due date was April 30, 2026. We couldn’t find the dates for the 2026 return yet.
Where do these numbers come from?
The CRA’s free tax clinics pages and its certified software pages, read in September 2026. The dollar figures come from our calculators. This site has no connection with the CRA or any government body.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for a free tax clinic?
People with a modest income and a simple tax situation. The CRA suggests income limits by household size, and local clinics can adjust them.
What makes a return too complex for a clinic?
Self-employment, business or rental income, capital gains, bankruptcy, foreign property and most foreign income. U.S. Social Security is an exception.
What do I bring to a free tax clinic?
Photo ID, your social insurance number, all tax slips, receipts and your previous notice of assessment if you have it.
Is CRA-certified tax software free?
The CRA says most software prepares a basic return free for modest incomes and otherwise usually charges a fee. Ask the developer what its free version covers.
Is there a free option in Quebec?
Quebec residents use the Income Tax Assistance Volunteer Program instead of the federal clinic program.
- How to choose a tax preparer in Canada
How to decide if you need a tax preparer, what a preparer does, the questions to ask before you hire one and where to find free help in Canada
Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.