# How to file your tax return in Canada: steps and dates > What to gather, when your return is due and how to file in Canada, from the first slip to the notice of assessment that closes the year 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](https://tax-services.ca/guides/how-canadian-taxes-work) 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](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/important-dates-individuals.html) confirms both dates. The [tax calendar](https://tax-services.ca/tax-calendar) and the [deadline page](https://tax-services.ca/income-tax/tax-deadline) give this year's exact dates. The [RRSP](https://tax-services.ca/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](https://tax-services.ca/guides/choose-a-tax-preparer), and see the article on [free online filing](https://tax-services.ca/articles/file-my-taxes-online-for-free-canada) 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](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/interest-penalties/late-filing-penalty.html). 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](https://tax-services.ca/calculators/income-tax/tax-installments) tells you if you should pay during the year next time. ## More about filing --- Source: https://tax-services.ca/guides/file-your-taxes Last updated: 2026-10-09 Independent information site. Not affiliated with the CRA. No services, no guarantee of accuracy. See https://tax-services.ca/disclaimer