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NETFILE closes on Friday, January 29, 2027 for 2025 tax returns, according to the CRA. That date is the end of the electronic filing window, not the filing deadline, which was April 30, 2026 for most people. Returns go through 17 certified software products, four of them free for everyone. If you have not filed 2025 yet, you have about three months left.
When does NETFILE close for 2025 returns?
The Canada Revenue Agency: NETFILE overview says NETFILE and ReFILE are open from Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. Eastern time until Friday, January 29, 2027. The service is also down every day from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern for maintenance, and it was closed from February 1 to 22, 2026 for tax year updates.
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| NETFILE and ReFILE opened | February 23, 2026, 6:00 a.m. Eastern |
| Filing deadline, most people (2025 return) | April 30, 2026 |
| Filing deadline, self-employed (business income) | June 15, 2026 |
| Payment deadline, everyone | April 30, 2026 |
| NETFILE and ReFILE close | January 29, 2027 |
The CRA page states the transmission window. It does not call January 29, 2027 a filing deadline, and the penalty clock runs from the real due dates in the table. The dates in the middle come from Canada Revenue Agency: Filing due dates for the 2025 tax return.
Who does the NETFILE closing date affect?
Mostly people who are late. If your 2025 return went in last spring, nothing changes for you. The date matters if you are still sitting on a 2025 return, or on an older one: the CRA lists initial NETFILE returns for tax years 2018 to 2025 in this window. ReFILE, which sends amended T1 returns, covers 2022 to 2025 in the same window.
Self-employed people whose return was due June 15, 2026 are in the same spot if they have not sent it. So is anyone who started a return in software and never pressed send. Our missed filing deadline page covers the basics for people who are already late.
Which software is certified for NETFILE?
You cannot send a return through NETFILE without certified software. The CRA list for the 2025 tax year has 17 products: AdvTax, Better Tax, CloudTax, EachTax, FastnEasyTax, FutureTax, GenuTax Standard, H&R Block Tax Software Free, myTaxExpress, StudioTax, Tax Chopper, TaxFreeway, TaxTron, TurboTax, UFile, Wealthsimple Tax and WebTax4U.ca. Four carry a “Free” price on the Canada Revenue Agency: Find certified tax software page.
| Product | CRA list price |
|---|---|
| Better Tax | Free |
| CloudTax | Free (optional paid services) |
| GenuTax Standard | Free |
| Wealthsimple Tax | Free (optional paid services) |
Other products list a free option that depends on your situation, such as modest income, a simple return or your province. EachTax lists free and paid versions, and StudioTax has a free mobile app. The CRA says to check each provider’s website for the terms that apply to the tax year. See also our pages on how NETFILE works and free NETFILE options.
What happens if you miss the NETFILE window?
The CRA page on sending a return says that if NETFILE is closed or unavailable, you print your return and mail it to the CRA. It links to a mailing address page. It does not describe other routes for late returns after January 29, 2027, so ask the CRA or a tax professional if your situation is more complicated.
Missing the window does not cancel the duty to file. It only changes how you send the return. The cost of being late comes from the original due date, which is covered next.
What does filing late cost?
The CRA late-filing penalty applies when you file after the due date and owe tax. For 2025 returns it is 5% of the balance owing plus 1% of that balance for each full month late, up to 12 months. If the CRA charged a penalty for 2022, 2023 or 2024 and sent a demand to file, the repeat rate is 10% plus 2% per full month, up to 20 months. The rules are on Canada Revenue Agency: Late-filing penalty.
Here is an example. Say someone owed $2,000 for 2025 and files six full months after the due date. Under the first-time rate that is 5% plus 6 months at 1%, or 11% of $2,000, which is $220. This is our calculation from the CRA rule. Interest is a separate charge on top. If you are owed a refund and owe nothing, the penalty rule has nothing to apply to, but the CRA says filing late can disrupt benefit payments such as the GST/HST credit, the Canada child benefit and Old Age Security.
What should you do if you have not filed 2025?
- Gather your slips and receipts for 2025 (T4, T5, RRSP receipts, rent or property tax details).
- Pick one product from the certified list. Check that the free option fits your situation before you start.
- Finish the return and use the NETFILE step in the software. Save the confirmation message, which carries the code showing the CRA received it.
- Pay any balance owing. Payment was due April 30, 2026, so interest may already be running.
- Watch for the notice of assessment. The CRA page says it usually arrives with any refund in about 2 weeks.
Benefits depend on the return too. The CRA bases the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payments from July 2026 to June 2027 on your 2025 return, and says missed amounts from a late return are paid with the next scheduled payment once the return is assessed. Our CGEB explainer has the amounts, and the payment dates page has the schedule.
What to watch for the 2026 filing season
The CRA NETFILE pages do not give an opening date for 2026 returns yet, and they do not say which tax years the next window will accept (checked October 31, 2026). The only 2027 item on the sending page is an optional step to sign in to your CRA account, coming in February 2027 for 2026 returns. Without it you cannot use your most recent return to confirm your identity. The opening date will appear on the CRA NETFILE overview page, which is the page to check. Our 2027 tax calendar lists the usual dates for the 2026 return, and the 2027 tax questions page collects the rest.
Where does this information come from?
Dates and software come from the Canada Revenue Agency pages NETFILE overview, Find certified tax software, Sending a tax return, Filing due dates for the 2025 tax return and Late-filing penalty. Checked October 31, 2026. Checked on 31 October 2026. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, we collect information from open sources, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. Check the official source before you rely on it. See the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
When does NETFILE close for 2025 tax returns?
The CRA says NETFILE and ReFILE stay open until Friday, January 29, 2027. They opened on Monday, February 23, 2026. This is the end of the electronic transmission window, not a filing deadline, since most 2025 returns were due April 30, 2026.
Can I still file my 2025 taxes online after April 30, 2026?
Yes, until January 29, 2027, with certified software that uses NETFILE. The CRA list has 17 products for the 2025 tax year. The late-filing penalty can still apply if you owe tax, because it runs from the original due date.
Which NETFILE software is free in 2027?
The CRA list shows four products priced Free for the 2025 tax year: Better Tax, CloudTax, GenuTax Standard and Wealthsimple Tax. CloudTax and Wealthsimple Tax have optional paid services. Other products offer free options only in some situations, so check each provider.
What if I miss the NETFILE closing date?
The CRA says that when NETFILE is closed or unavailable you print your return and mail it to the CRA. The page does not list other routes for late returns after the window, so ask the CRA or a tax professional about your case.
How much is the CRA late-filing penalty?
For a 2025 return the first-time penalty is 5% of the balance owing plus 1% for each full month late, up to 12 months. The repeat rate is 10% plus 2% a month, up to 20 months. It applies when you owe tax.