Checklist for newcomers: your first tax steps in Canada

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

The first months in a new country are full of forms. These are the ones that matter for your taxes, in the order they usually come up. Print the page if it helps, and tick things off as you go. Feeling behind already? Most newcomers do, and nobody expects you to finish this list in a week.

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In your first weeks

• Apply for your Social Insurance Number, because every employer and the CRA will ask for it.
• Write down the exact date you arrived to settle, since that day often marks the start of your tax residency.
• Keep your passport, permit and entry papers together, in case the CRA asks to see them.
• Open a Canadian bank account so you can receive pay and benefits by direct deposit.
• Create a CRA My Account, where your slips and benefit payments will appear.

Benefits to apply for

Don’t wait for the first return to ask about these. Each has its own form for new residents.

• The GST/HST credit, if your income is modest.
• The Canada Child Benefit, if you have children under 18.
• Your province may add its own benefits, so check its site as well.

Records from before and after you arrived

Gather these early, because getting a statement from another country can take weeks, and you don’t want to be chasing an overseas bank in April.

• Statements for income you earned abroad after you arrived, with the dates and amounts.
• The tax you already paid to another country on that income.
• A list of foreign property you own, such as bank accounts, shares and real estate, with its cost.
• Exchange rates for the dates you need, so you can report everything in Canadian dollars.

When it’s time to file

You’ll file by April 30 of the following year. Our document checklist covers the slips, the newcomer guide explains the rules, and the tax calendar keeps the dates in one place. Not sure what your pay will look like? Try the take-home pay calculator.

Ask for help if the foreign property rules apply to you, because they come with their own form and penalties for missing it, and it’s easy to get this one wrong in a first year.

Can’t find a record? Write down what you do know, with dates, and ask the bank or employer for a copy. That’s better than leaving a gap.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Social Insurance Number before I can work?

Yes. Your employer needs it for your pay slips, and the CRA uses it to match your return.

Do I have to file if I arrived late in the year?

Usually yes, even with little or no income. The return is how benefits like the child benefit and the GST/HST credit get worked out.

What exchange rate should I use for foreign income?

Convert it to Canadian dollars with a Bank of Canada rate. Use the rate on the day you received the money, or an average rate if you received it in many small amounts.

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.