How to File Your Taxes in Canada (CRA Return)
Most residents file a T1 income tax return each spring (deadline April 30; self-employed June 15). Even with no income you should file — the GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and other payments only flow once you file. NETFILENETFILE — CRA's service for filing your own tax return online using certified software.Click for official info ↗-certified software walks you through it and sends directly to 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 ↗.
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
Know whether you must (or should) file
You MUST file if you owe tax, are self-employed, or received capital gains. You SHOULD file anyway if you had no income: benefits like the GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and climate action incentive payments require a return, and newcomers create a "staircase" of residency-part-year filings. The filing deadline is April 30 (June 15 for self-employed, but interest on balances still starts May 1).
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- Go 20 min + 1–2 week code by mail
Register for CRA My Account
My Account lets you use Auto-fill My Return — the software pulls 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 (T4s, T5s, RRSP data). Register 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 a 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 ↗-accepted ID, or wait 1–2 weeks for the mailed security code that unlocks full access. Do this in January–February so the account is ready for filing season.
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- Fill / Prepare 30 min
Collect slips and choose NETFILE software
Employers send T4s by the end of February. Pick any 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 (Wealthsimple Tax, TurboTax, H&R Block, GenuTax, StudioTax) — most have a free tier for simple returns. NETFILENETFILE — CRA's service for filing your own tax return online using certified software.Click for official info ↗ transmits your return straight to 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 ↗; you need the access code from your previous Notice of Assessment only if you did not use My Account.
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- Fill / Prepare 1–3 hours
Complete the return
Enter your slips (or Auto-fill), then claim deductions: RRSP contributions, union/professional dues, childcare, medical, donations, and home-office expenses where eligible. First-year residents file a part-year return and report world income only for the residency period — report the date you established residential ties. Watch for provincial credits (Ontario Trillium, BC climate credits) driven by your rent or property tax.
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- Submit & Pay 10 min
NETFILE the return
Transmit electronically. Keep the confirmation number. You get an immediate Notice of Assessment in My Account (usually within 2 weeks) showing your refund or balance. If you owe, pay online via My Account, online banking, or at the bank — payments after April 30 accrue interest daily.
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- Wait 2 weeks
Get your refund (if any)
Direct-deposit refunds arrive in about 2 weeks; cheques take about 8. 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 ↗ pays interest on late refunds. 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 your return or asks for receipts (a "request for information"), respond by the deadline to keep credits.
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- Follow Up —
Keep records for 6 years
Keep returns, slips, and receipts for 6 years — 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 ↗ can audit any return in that window. Your Notice of Assessment is also what you need for citizenship applications (3 years of filings), so download each year's PDF and store it with your immigration papers.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
I arrived mid-year. Do I report foreign income?
Only income received AFTER you became a tax resident (established residential ties — a home, spouse, or dependants in Canada). Earlier foreign income is excluded but still disclosed on the "world income" line for benefit calculations. Report foreign-source income after arrival even if not remitted to Canada.
I have no income. Do I still file?
Yes — filing unlocks the GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and other refundable credits. Around 40% of returns are filed for benefits rather than tax owed.
What about free clinics?
Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) clinics file simple returns free for people with modest income and a simple situation (no rental, no capital gains). Find one near you through 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 ↗ website or 211.
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