Taxes by life event: what changes and what to do

Taxes rarely change because the calendar says so. They change because you got a job, had a baby, bought a house or retired. Pick the moment that fits you, and each page shows what changes, which dates matter and which calculators help.

This hub is for the days when something big has just happened, or is about to, and you suspect it has a tax side you haven’t thought about yet. A first job brings a form to sign and a first paycheque that’s smaller than you expected. A baby brings a child benefit to apply for and leave pay to make sense of. Moving to Canada, getting married, splitting up, starting a business or losing someone you love each come with their own to-do list and their own deadlines.

Each life event page is short on purpose. It names what changes, links to the guide that explains the rule, and points to a calculator so you can try your own numbers. You won’t have to read a dozen pages to find the one thing that applies to you. Skim the page for your moment, jot down the dates, and come back for the rest when you need it.

Say Dani moves from Halifax to Vancouver for a new job, and a month later gets engaged. That’s two life events in one season, and both pages apply. Read them side by side, keep one list of dates, and you’ll rarely miss a step. This is an information site. It doesn’t prepare or file returns, so for advice on your own case, ask a qualified preparer or the CRA.

Most read right now

• First time tax filing in Canada

  Return dates, the slips to gather, the late penalty and a $20,000 Ontario example.

• Canada tax residency rules

  Which ties make you a resident, and when 183 days makes you a deemed resident.

• First time home buyer tax credit

  The $10,000 amount on your first home, plus the FHSA and the Home Buyers’ Plan.

• Canada Child Benefit calculator

  Estimate the benefit for your family before you apply.

• Final tax return after death

  Due dates, which income counts and how RRIFs and gains are taxed.

Which moment are you in?

• New to Canada

  Residency, world income, your first return and the benefits to apply for.

• Students

  The tuition credit, your T2202, scholarships and a summer job.

• First job

  Forms to sign, what comes off your pay and why you should file.

• Marriage and common-law

  When you count as a couple, and what to tell the CRA.

• Having a baby

  The child benefit, leave pay and childcare costs.

• Buying or selling a home

  Transfer tax, the principal residence rule and the FHSA.

• Starting a business

  Registering for GST/HST, instalments and records.

• Separation and divorce

  Benefits, support payments and property.

• Retiring

  CPP, OAS, RRSP withdrawals and the RRIF.

• Death and estates

  The final return, the estate and who files.

Something missing?

Not every life event has its own page yet, and it’s better to get a few right than to publish many half-sure ones. If yours isn’t listed, the guides are organised by topic too, the calculators let you test your numbers, and the tax calendar keeps the dates in one place.

What should you do first when something big happens?

Don’t panic about it. Most of these moments come with weeks or months of runway before any deadline bites.

Write down the date it happened, since many rules turn on a date. Gather the paper that goes with it, such as a lease, a birth record or a closing statement. Then read the page for your moment, and make a note of anything you need to tell the CRA or an employer. The checklists help when a life event means collecting documents, and the benefits and credits guide lists what you may be able to apply for.

What do you need to do after a life event?

Event	First steps	Watch the date
New baby	Register the birth, then apply for the Canada Child Benefit. Open an RESP if you want to use the grants	Apply as soon as you can. Benefits can be backdated, but only so far
Marriage or common-law partnership	Update your marital status with the CRA	Tell the CRA by the end of the month after the change
Separation	Update your marital status and your benefits. Keep records of support payments	Tell the CRA by the end of the month after you have lived apart 90 days
Moving to another province	Update your address. Your province for the whole year is where you lived on December 31	Update your address with the CRA and provincial programs
Losing a job	Ask your employer for a record of employment and apply for EI	Apply right away. Delays can cost you weeks of benefits
Starting a business	Choose a structure, register for GST/HST when needed and keep records	You must register once your sales pass $30,000 over four calendar quarters
Retiring	Plan when to start CPP and OAS, and what to do with your RRSP	Apply for CPP up to a year before you want it to start
Buying your first home	Look at the FHSA, the Home Buyers Plan and closing costs	Plan the FHSA or RRSP withdrawals before you sign
Selling a home	Report the sale on your return even if the gain is exempt	The sale goes on the return for the year it closed
Going back to school	Keep your tuition slip and ask about credits	The school sends the slip by the end of February
Coming to Canada	Get a SIN and learn what counts as residency for tax	Your first return may be a part-year return
A death in the family	Notify CRA and Service Canada, and get help with the final return	The final return is due April 30 for deaths from January to October, and six months after the date of death otherwise

Pick your situation on My tax year to see only the dates that apply to you. The tax calendar lists them all.

Every page here is information only. What fits you can depend on a dozen details we can’t see from here, so if your case is complicated, ask a qualified preparer or the CRA. The guide to choosing a tax preparer explains what to ask.

Filing for the first time? Read how to file your first tax return.