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A tax refund in Canada is what you get back when your employer and you paid more during the year than your return says you owe. File online and register for direct deposit, and the CRA says you may see it in about two weeks. Paper filing is slower. The CRA runs a processing times tool, so check it for the current wait.
How much tax refund should you expect?
Look at your T4. Box 22 shows the income tax your employer took off. Your return works out the tax you actually owe, and the difference is your refund or your bill. The tax refund calculator does that subtraction for you.
Here’s a case. An Ontario employee earns $75,000 and has $14,000 withheld. The tax on that income is $12,704.65, so the refund is $1,295.35. If the same person puts $5,000 into an RRSP and deducts it, tax falls to $11,072.15 and the refund grows to $2,927.85. The RRSP calculator shows what that $5,000 does over time.
Flip it and the same $75,000 with only $12,000 withheld gives a balance owing of $704.65. So a big refund isn’t a prize. It’s your own money that sat with the government all year.
How long does a refund take?
The CRA doesn’t publish one number for everyone. Its refunds page points to the processing times tool, where you pick how you filed and when. The one figure it gives for chasing is 12 weeks: if you live in Canada, wait that long before you contact the CRA about a refund. From outside Canada, it’s 16 weeks.
To check on it sooner, sign in to My Account, or call 1-800-959-8281 (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern). The automated line is option 4 and runs most of the day and night.
| Item | What the CRA says |
|---|---|
| Fastest route | NETFILE-certified software plus direct deposit, about two weeks |
| Wait before calling | 12 weeks in Canada, 16 weeks outside |
| 2025 return filing opened | February 23, 2026 |
| 2025 return due date | April 30, 2026 (June 15 if self-employed) |
| 2026 return dates | Not published yet |
Why can the CRA keep your refund?
It can keep all or part of it if you owe something. That includes a balance from another year, certain federal, provincial or territorial debts, or GST/HST returns that are still missing. A refund of $2 or less isn’t paid at all. It doesn’t matter how tidy your return was.
You can also move the refund to next year’s instalment account when you file. If you pay instalments, the tax instalments calculator shows what you’d owe each quarter, so you can judge whether the transfer helps.
Does the CRA pay interest on a refund?
Sometimes. The CRA says it pays compound daily interest on a 2025 refund in some cases. The clock starts on the latest of three dates: 30 days after your balance due date, 30 days after you filed, or the date you overpaid. We didn’t find the interest rate for this quarter, so we don’t quote one. File on time and it rarely matters.
What goes wrong with refunds?
Leaving out a slip is the classic one. It changes your number, and it’s the first thing to check if your refund looks too big. Skipping direct deposit is another. A cheque by mail adds days you can’t control.
And remember the estimate above is only an estimate. It skips credits and benefits it doesn’t model, so the CRA’s figure can differ from ours. Keep your notice of assessment.
Where do these numbers come from?
The CRA’s tax refunds page, its NETFILE information and its 2025 filing dates page, read in September 2026. The dollar figures come from our calculators, which use 2026 rates for a 2026 example, so a 2025 return would differ. This site has no connection with the CRA or any government body.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a tax refund take in Canada?
The CRA says NETFILE plus direct deposit can bring a refund in about two weeks. Use its processing times tool for a current estimate.
When should I call the CRA about my refund?
Wait 12 weeks if you live in Canada and 16 weeks if you live outside Canada. Before that, check My Account.
Can the CRA keep my refund?
Yes, if you owe tax, have certain government debts or have GST/HST returns outstanding. A refund of $2 or less is not paid.
Does a refund earn interest?
In some cases the CRA pays compound daily interest. It starts on the latest of 30 days after your balance due date, 30 days after filing or the overpayment date.
How much would I get back on $75,000 in Ontario?
With $14,000 withheld, our calculator shows tax of $12,704.65 and a refund of $1,295.35.
- How to file your tax return in Canada: steps and dates
What to gather, when your return is due and how to file in Canada, from the first slip to the notice of assessment that closes the year
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.