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Most people file by April 30. Gather your slips, file online with certified software or a free service, and pay any balance by that same day, because interest starts even if you file late.
Filing a Canadian return takes three things: your income slips, your receipts and a way to send it to the CRA. If your income is ordinary, you can finish in an afternoon once the papers sit in one place.
What do you need before you start?
Gather these first. A missing slip is the most common reason a return gets redone.
- Income slips: a T4 from each employer, T5 for interest and dividends, T3 or T5008 for investments, T4A for pensions and other income
- Your RRSP receipts and last year’s notice of assessment
- Receipts for what you plan to claim, such as donations, child care, tuition and medical costs
- Your social insurance number, and your spouse’s if you’re married or common-law
Our guide to how income tax works explains what each claim does to your bill. Tax time goes smoother if you’ve dropped slips into one folder as they arrive instead of hunting for them on April 29.
When’s your return due?
April 30 for most people. Self-employed people and their spouses have until June 15 to file, but any tax owing is still due April 30, so waiting means interest. The CRA’s due dates page for individuals confirms both dates. The tax calendar and the deadline page give this year’s exact dates.
The RRSP deadline is different. It falls 60 days after the year ends, so you can still lower last year’s bill in early March, and the CRA’s notice of assessment will tell you how much room you have.
What are your ways to file?
You can file on paper, use certified tax software, or hand the job to a preparer. The CRA’s own pages list the free options and the software it has certified. Not sure a preparer is worth the fee? Read how to choose a tax preparer, and see the article on free online filing for the no-cost route.
What if you missed the deadline?
File anyway, and file as soon as you can. If you owe tax, the late-filing penalty is 5% of your balance owing plus 1% of it for each full month late, up to 12 months, according to the CRA’s page on the late-filing penalty. Say you owe $1,000 and file three full months late: that’s $50 plus $30, so $80, with interest on top. If you can’t pay it all, file on time anyway and sort out a payment plan afterwards. Filing on time avoids the penalty even when the payment isn’t there.
What happens after you file?
The CRA assesses the return and sends a notice of assessment. Read it. It shows what the CRA accepted, what it changed, your refund or balance owing, and next year’s RRSP deduction limit.
Refunds usually arrive sooner when you’ve signed up for direct deposit. A balance is due April 30 whatever your filing date, and the instalments calculator tells you if you should pay during the year next time.
More about filing
- What Is the Last Day to File Taxes in Canada?
The last day is April 30 for most people and June 15 for the self-employed. See the weekend rule, the late penalty and a $2,000 example
- TD1 Forms for Quebec Employees: What to Fill In
Quebec employees hand in a federal TD1 and Revenu Québec's TP-1015.3-V. See when, why and how they change your take-home pay
- How to File Income Tax Online in Canada
File your return online with certified software and a NETFILE access code. The 2025 deadline was April 30, 2026, and e-filing runs to January 2027
- How to Get Your T4 Online in Canada
Find your Canada T4 online in My Account, learn what boxes 14 and 22 mean and see how a $75,000 salary works out on 2026 payroll figures
- Alberta TD1 Form: Who Fills It In and When
Starting a job in Alberta? See which TD1 forms to fill in, the 2026 basic amounts, and how a claim changes what lands in your pay cheque
- Canada’s Tax Year: Which Dates and Rules Apply
In Canada the tax year for most people is January 1 to December 31, with the return due April 30. See how business owners and companies differ
- How to File Income Tax in Canada for 2025
Most people have until April 30, 2026 to file the 2025 return, and June 15 if you or a spouse are self-employed. Payment is still due April 30
- Tax Return 2023 in Canada: Filing It Late
Filing a tax return 2023 late is still possible. See what a late penalty can cost, what to gather and which benefits may stall
Frequently asked questions
When is my tax return due?
April 30 for most people. If you or your spouse run a business, the filing deadline is June 15, but any tax you owe is still due April 30. A date on a weekend moves to the next weekday.
What happens after I file?
The CRA sends a notice of assessment that shows your income, deductions, refund or balance, and your RRSP deduction limit for next year.
What if I find a mistake after filing?
You can ask the CRA to change a return you already filed. Wait for the notice of assessment first, because it often explains what the CRA adjusted.
Can this site file my return?
No. We publish information and calculators, and we don't prepare or file returns. The CRA lists the ways to file on its own site.