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Yes, you can still file a 2022 tax return in Canada. The CRA lets you send your initial 2022 T1 by NETFILE if you use certified software, and its list covers the tax years 2018 to 2025. If you owe tax for 2022, a late-filing penalty (a flat 5% of what you owe, then 1% more for every full month that passes) has probably been building, so file now.
Can you file a 2022 return online?
You can. The CRA says you can file your 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 initial personal return by NETFILE. You need software that’s certified for the specific year. A program built for this year’s return won’t prepare a 2022 one, so look for a product that still offers the 2022 edition.
TurboTax is one example of software that appears on the CRA’s certified list. We haven’t confirmed if any product still sells a 2022 edition, or what it costs, so check before you pay. If you’ve already filed and made a mistake, the CRA’s ReFILE service accepts amended T1 returns for 2022 to 2025.
No software? You can still use paper forms. We didn’t find the current CRA steps for ordering a 2022 package, so use the forms page on canada.ca.
What does a late 2022 return cost?
Did you owe tax? That’s the question. A late filing penalty applies when you miss the deadline and have a balance owing. If you were owed a refund, there’s no penalty, but you won’t get the money until you file.
| Item | CRA rule |
|---|---|
| Late-filing penalty | A flat 5% of the amount owing, then 1% per full month, stopping after 12 months |
| Repeat penalty | 10% up front, then 2% a month for up to 20 months, if you were penalized in 2022, 2023 or 2024 after a demand to file |
| Interest | Compounded daily on any unpaid amount, from the day after the due date |
| Penalty relief requests | Must fall within a 10-year window |
Take $2,000 owing for 2022 and a return that’s four full months late (an invented case, to show the pattern). The flat part is $100 and the monthly part is $80, so $180. Interest comes on top, and the CRA changes its rate each quarter, so we won’t guess a figure.
Why file if you owed nothing?
Because benefits depend on it. The CRA notes that filing on time keeps your child benefit and GST/HST credit payments coming without a gap. A missing 2022 return can hold up payments you were entitled to. Check what you might have missed with the GST/HST credit calculator, though it uses current rules and can’t give the exact 2022 amount.
And if the CRA is owed nothing and owes you nothing? File anyway. Some people have a T4 slip from 2022 and never sent the return. It’s easier to do it in one evening than to explain it in a letter.
What if you can’t pay the balance?
File anyway. The CRA’s line is to file on time even if you can’t pay, because the penalty is charged on filing late, and paying late adds interest only. Then contact the CRA about a payment arrangement. We haven’t covered those terms, since we couldn’t confirm the details.
If something outside your control stopped you from filing, such as a serious illness, you can ask the CRA to cancel or waive penalties and interest.
Can our calculators work out a 2022 return?
No, and this is the limit you should know. Every tool on this site runs on 2026 rules. The income tax calculator and the credits calculator give a rough sense of scale, but 2022 brackets, credit amounts and CPP rates were different. Your 2022 software applies the right ones.
For 2022 figures you’ll need the CRA’s rates pages for that year. We haven’t loaded them into any tool, so we’ll say nothing more about them.
Where do the numbers come from?
The penalty rates, interest rule, NETFILE years and ReFILE years come from CRA pages, which we read on 30 September 2026. The page lists the repeat penalty for demands issued in 2022, 2023 or 2024. This site has no link with the CRA or any software company.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still file my 2022 tax return?
Yes. The CRA accepts initial 2022 returns through NETFILE with certified software, and lists the years 2018 to 2025.
What is the penalty for filing a 2022 return late?
If you owe tax, a flat 5% of the amount owing applies, then 1% more per full month for up to a year. Interest compounds daily on top.
Is there a penalty if I was owed a refund?
The late-filing penalty applies to a balance owing, so there isn't one on a refund. You just won't be paid until the return is filed.
Can I fix a 2022 return I already filed?
Yes. The CRA's ReFILE service takes amended T1 returns for 2022 to 2025.
Can I use your calculators for 2022?
No. They use 2026 tax rules, so they only show rough scale for an older year.
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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.