Documents to gather for your Canadian tax return

Updated October 1, 2026 · Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team · How we check

Most redone returns come down to one missing piece of paper. Tick these off before you sit down to file, and print the page if you’d rather work from paper, since a printed list stays on the desk while the slips pile up around it. Don’t have everything yet? Start anyway.

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Income slips

You’ll get most of these by the end of February. Tick the ones that apply to you.

• T4: pay from each employer you had during the year.
• T4A: pension, retirement and some other income.
• T4A(OAS) and T4A(P): Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan benefits.
• T4E: Employment Insurance benefits.
• T5: interest and dividends from banks and investments.
• T3: income from trusts and some investment funds.
• T5008: sales of shares and other securities.
• T4RSP or T4RIF: money you took out of an RRSP or RRIF.

Receipts and slips for deductions and credits

These are the claims people most often forget. Each one lowers your tax.

• RRSP contribution receipts, including the ones from the first 60 days of the year.
• FHSA contribution statement, if you have an account.
• Child care receipts with the provider’s name and number.
• Tuition slip (T2202) from your school.
• Medical expenses and the receipts for them.
• Donation receipts from registered charities.
• Union or professional dues, if they’re not already on your T4.

Personal details

• Social insurance number, yours and your spouse’s.
• Date of birth for you, your spouse and any dependants.
• Last year’s notice of assessment, which shows your RRSP deduction limit.
• Your bank details, if you want a refund by direct deposit.

One thing to settle before you start: if you’re married or common-law, decide who’ll claim the shared items, because who claims what can change the result for both of you, and it’s far easier to agree on that before you fill anything in than after the return is filed.

If you work for yourself

You’ll need more. Our self-employed expenses checklist covers the costs, and the self-employed guide explains the rest.

What next?

With the pile in front of you, the filing guide walks through the steps, and the tax calendar tells you the due date. Wondering what your return will look like? The income tax calculator gives a rough estimate.

Frequently asked questions

What if a slip is missing?

Ask the payer first, since most can reissue it. You can often find slips in your CRA My Account too. If a slip never turns up, you still have to report the income.

Do I send these documents to the CRA?

Usually not. You keep them, and the CRA can ask to see them later. Keep receipts and slips in one folder, on paper or on your computer.

Is this list complete?

No. It covers what most people need. A situation like a sale of property, a death in the family or income from abroad will need more.

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.