Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Yes, you can file taxes online in Canada through NETFILE, which the CRA has kept open from 23 February 2026 until 29 January 2027 for the 2025 tax year. You need certified software to send it, and a product such as TurboTax Online is one example of that group.
What is NETFILE, and what do you need to use it?
NETFILE is the CRA’s system for receiving personal returns electronically. You don’t log in to it yourself. Your software sends the return for you. That software has to be certified, which means the Canada Revenue Agency has approved it to calculate a return and send it over NETFILE. The agency publishes a list of certified products each year, as described on its tax software page, and it doesn’t say which one is best. Some have free versions and some charge a fee, and the CRA page lists no prices, so read the price for your own return on the provider’s page before you enter any data.
Gather your slips first. Most people need a T4 from each employer, and many also need T5 slips for interest and dividends, receipts for donations or medical costs, and last year’s notice of assessment. Having them in one place takes the sting out of tax time and saves an evening of hunting through email and the junk drawer.
What are the deadlines for a 2025 return?
| Situation | Filing date | Payment date |
|---|---|---|
| Most individuals | April 30, 2026 | April 30, 2026 |
| You or your spouse is self-employed | June 15, 2026 | April 30, 2026 |
| Return sent late through NETFILE | Until January 29, 2027 | Interest runs from May 1, 2026 |
For the 2026 tax year the usual dates are April 30, 2027 (June 15, 2027 if self-employed), but check the CRA page before you plan. NETFILE staying open doesn’t remove the April deadline, and a balance owing still collects interest after April 30. If you’re reading this in October and haven’t filed for 2025, you can still send it, but every month adds interest and, when you owe tax, a late-filing penalty. Sooner is cheaper.
How much refund will you get?
A refund is the tax already withheld minus the tax you owe for the year, and the tax refund calculator will test it for you. Take an Ontario worker with $60,000 of employment income and $9,500 withheld. Tax for the year is $8,320.50, so the refund is $1,179.50.
Now add a $5,000 RRSP deduction. Taxable income falls from $59,435 to $54,435, tax falls to $7,103.72, and the refund grows to $2,396.28. That’s $1,216.78 of tax saved by one deposit. The RRSP calculator shows how that deposit could grow over the years.
What if only $8,000 was withheld? The same $60,000 income then leaves a balance owing of $320.50. One caution: the calculator only counts the basic credits, so real refunds can be higher when you claim donations, medical costs or tuition.
How do you get the refund sooner?
File as soon as your slips are in, and don’t wait for the last week of April when everyone else files too. Double-check the amounts before you hit send, because a typo is the most common reason a return gets held up. Set up direct deposit so the money doesn’t wait on a mailed cheque. And keep an eye on your CRA account. The CRA’s preparer page says a notice of assessment and refund are usually processed within two weeks, so if it’s been much longer, something may need your attention, such as a request for receipts.
What slows a refund or changes the result?
- A skipped slip. A missing slip can change your tax and lead to a reassessment later.
- A box number typed into the wrong field. Check each amount against the slip.
- A claim you can’t document. Keep receipts, since the agency may ask for them.
- The belief that a paid tier changes your tax. Software does the arithmetic and doesn’t create credits you don’t qualify for.
- Forgotten instalments if you’re self-employed. The self-employed tax calculator shows that on $80,000 of net business income in Ontario, income tax and both halves of CPP come to $22,126.47.
How do you choose between products?
Match the product to your return, not to the advertising. Ask whether it’s on the CRA certified list for the tax year you’re filing. Ask what it costs for your forms, whether it can import slips, and what help comes with it.
A free version usually suits a plain return, while rental or business income may need a paid tier or a preparer. Prices, discounts and head-to-head comparisons of named products change too often to print here, so check each provider’s current page.
Where these figures come from
Filing dates and the NETFILE window are from the Canada Revenue Agency pages for the 2025 return, read on 30 September 2026. Tax figures in the examples come from the 2026 federal and Ontario rates used in our calculators. This site has no link with any government body or software company.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need certified software to file online?
Yes. Online returns go through NETFILE, which only takes returns from software the CRA has certified.
When is the deadline for a 2025 return?
April 30, 2026 for most people. Self-employed filers and their spouses have until June 15, 2026, but tax owing is still due April 30.
Can I still file a 2025 return late through NETFILE?
Yes. NETFILE is open until January 29, 2027, though interest applies to any balance owing after April 30.
How can I estimate my refund?
Subtract the tax for the year from the tax already withheld. The refund calculator on this site does that from your income.
Does paying for software raise my refund?
No. Software does the arithmetic and doesn't create credits. Your refund depends on your income, withholding and claims.
- 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