Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Yes, you can still file a 2022 tax return online. The CRA lets you send returns for 2018 through 2025 with NETFILE, as long as your tax software is certified for that specific year, and the service stays open until January 29, 2027.
Which tax software works for a 2022 return?
Only software the CRA has certified for the 2022 tax year. Many providers kept prior-year versions, and TurboTax is one name people search for, but we haven’t confirmed that any single product still sells or supports 2022, or what it charges. Check that yourself before you pay.
The quickest way is the CRA’s own list of certified software. Each provider has a details page that shows which years it covers. If 2022 isn’t listed, that product can’t file it online.
What does a late 2022 return cost?
That depends on one thing: do you owe tax? If you’re due a refund or your balance is zero, the CRA charges no late-filing penalty. Filing late only costs you the refund you haven’t collected yet.
Owe tax and the CRA takes 5% of that amount up front, then adds 1% more for every whole month you’re behind, stopping after 12 months. A penalty in any of the three earlier years doubles the rates to 10% and 2%, and the cap becomes 20 months.
| Situation | Late-filing penalty |
|---|---|
| No balance owing | None |
| Balance owing, first offence | 5%, then 1% a month, 12 months at most |
| Balance owing, penalized in the last three years | 10%, then 2% a month, 20 months at most |
Here’s what that looks like. Suppose you owed $2,000 for 2022 and file eight full months late. That’s $100 for the first 5%, then $160 for eight months at 1%, so $260 in all. A different balance scales the same way. Interest on the unpaid tax is separate, and we haven’t priced it here.
Now the harsher case. Same $2,000 balance, same eight months, but you were penalized in one of the three earlier years. The first charge is 10%, or $200, and eight months at 2% adds $320. That’s $520, double the first-offence figure. Interest comes on top of both.
Steps for filing an old return
Start by collecting the slips for that year. You’ll need the T4s, T5s and RRSP receipts. Then enter them into software certified for 2022.
Two more things trip people up. First, use 2022 rules, not this year’s. The calculators on this site use 2026 tax data, so they can’t reproduce a 2022 return and shouldn’t be used for one. Second, claim what applied for 2022, not what applies now.
To gauge the size of a typical return under current rules, the tax refund calculator estimates a refund or balance from your pay and the tax withheld. The income tax calculator shows total tax on your income, and the tax deductions and credits calculator shows what deductions save. They give you a sense of size, not a 2022 answer.
Mistakes people make with old returns
- Buying this year’s software and finding it can’t open 2022.
- Skipping the CRA list and trusting a search result that says “2022 supported.”
- Waiting because they fear a penalty when they’re actually owed money.
- Sending it on paper, which is slower, when NETFILE would take it in minutes.
Not every return qualifies for NETFILE. We haven’t checked every exclusion, so read the CRA’s NETFILE eligibility page if the software rejects your file.
Where the numbers come from
NETFILE years, the January 29, 2027 closing date and the penalty rates come from the Canada Revenue Agency’s tax software and late-filing pages, read in September 2026. The refund and tax tools use the site’s 2026 federal and Ontario data. This site is not connected to any software company or government body.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still file a 2022 tax return in Canada?
Yes. NETFILE accepts returns for 2018 to 2025 from software certified for that year, and it is open until January 29, 2027.
How do I know if a program supports 2022?
Open the CRA's list of certified tax software. Each provider's details page shows the years it covers.
Is there a penalty if I file 2022 late?
Only if you owe tax. It starts at 5% of the balance and grows 1% a month for up to a year.
What if I was penalized before?
If the CRA charged a late-filing penalty in any of the three earlier years, the rates rise to 10% and 2% a month, for up to 20 months.
Can the calculators on this site do a 2022 return?
No. They use 2026 tax data, so they give a sense of size but not a 2022 result.
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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.