How to File a T1 Tax Return in Canada (Step by Step)
The T1 is Canada's personal income tax return — due April 30 each year (June 15 for self-employed, but taxes still due April 30). Free CRACanada Revenue Agency — Canada's tax agency. It administers income tax, benefits like the GST/HST credit, and CRA My Account.Click for official info ↗-certified software files it electronically in about an hour.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(2025-Latest).
0 of 7 steps
- Before You Go 15 min
Confirm you need to file
You must file if you owe tax, have capital gains, or want to trigger benefits — the GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and GST/HST refund all require a filed return even with zero income. Newcomers file for the part-year they were resident; the CRACanada Revenue Agency — Canada's tax agency. It administers income tax, benefits like the GST/HST credit, and CRA My Account.Click for official info ↗ applies prorated benefit amounts.
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- Before You Go 30 min
Gather every slip (they arrive Feb–March)
Employers send T4s by end of February; banks and brokers send T5s and T3s by then too. Log into CRACanada Revenue Agency — Canada's tax agency. It administers income tax, benefits like the GST/HST credit, and CRA My Account.Click for official info ↗ My Account and use Auto-fill my return — it downloads every slip the CRACanada Revenue Agency — Canada's tax agency. It administers income tax, benefits like the GST/HST credit, and CRA My Account.Click for official info ↗ already has, eliminating the most common error (missed slips). Slips you get that CRACanada Revenue Agency — Canada's tax agency. It administers income tax, benefits like the GST/HST credit, and CRA My Account.Click for official info ↗ does not have (self-employment income) you enter manually.
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- Fill / Prepare 15 min
Pick CRA-certified software
Only certified software can NETFILENETFILE — CRA's service for filing your own tax return online using certified software.Click for official info ↗. Free options for simple returns: Wealthsimple Tax (pay-what-you-want), GenuTax, StudioTax. Paid tiers (TurboTax, H&R Block) add self-employment, rental, and investment schedules. All do the math and check for errors before filing.
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- Fill / Prepare 1–2 hours
Enter income and claim deductions
Income: employment, self-employment (Form T2125), investment, rental, foreign income. Deductions reduce taxable income: RRSP contributions (until March 1 for the prior year), childcare, moving expenses, union dues. Credits reduce tax owing: basic personal amount (~$15,705), tuition (T2202), medical over 3% of net income, donations, Canada Workers Benefit.
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- Fill / Prepare 20 min
Newcomers: complete Form T4145 or answer residency questions
Your software asks your date of arrival — this prorates the basic personal amount and benefits. Report foreign income from before arrival? Generally not taxable in Canada, but world income after arrival is. Claiming the GST/HST credit and CCB requires filing even with partial-year income.
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- Submit & Pay 15 min
NETFILE and keep the confirmation
Submit electronically — you get an immediate confirmation number and typically a Notice of Assessment within 2 weeks. Refunds with direct deposit arrive in about 8 business days. Keep the confirmation and a PDF of the return for 6 years (CRACanada Revenue Agency — Canada's tax agency. It administers income tax, benefits like the GST/HST credit, and CRA My Account.Click for official info ↗ record-keeping rule).
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- Follow Up 10 min
Check your Notice of Assessment
The NOA confirms your assessment and shows your RRSP contribution room for next year — the number to plan around. If the CRACanada Revenue Agency — Canada's tax agency. It administers income tax, benefits like the GST/HST credit, and CRA My Account.Click for official info ↗ adjusts anything (common with carry-forwards), the NOA explains why. Disagree? File a Notice of Objection within 90 days.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I file late?
A 5% penalty on the balance owing plus 1% per full month late (max 12 months), and interest compounds daily on unpaid amounts. If you cannot pay, file anyway — the penalty for late filing is much worse than the interest on late payment, and payment plans are available.
Can I file without CRA My Account?
Yes — you can enter slips manually from paper copies. But My Account is worth setting up: Auto-fill my return, express NOA, online change requests, and benefit letters all live there, and registration takes one session with your SINSocial Insurance Number — Your 9-digit Canadian work and tax number. You need it to work, open accounts, and receive benefits.Click for official info ↗ and documents.
I had no income. Do I still file a T1?
Yes, if you want benefits — the GST/HST credit and Canada Child Benefit are only paid to people who file. Students should also file to bank tuition credits for future years even with no tax owing.
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