How to File Taxes in Canada: Complete Guide

Step 1: Gather Your Documents

Income Slips (You'll receive by end of February)

• T4: Employment income
• T4A: Pension, retirement, scholarships
• T4E: Employment Insurance
• T5: Investment income
• T3: Trust income (mutual funds)
• T2202: Tuition (from school)

Receipts to Collect

• RRSP contribution receipts
• Charitable donation receipts
• Medical expense receipts
• Childcare receipts
• Moving expense receipts (if applicable)
• Home office expenses (if applicable)

Other Information

• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Direct deposit information
• Previous year's Notice of Assessment
• Spouse/partner's income (for credits)

Step 2: Choose How to File

Option A: Free Tax Software (NETFILE)

Best for most people. CRA-certified free options include:

• Wealthsimple Tax: Completely free, modern interface
• TurboTax Free: For simple returns
• H&R Block Free: Basic returns
• CloudTax: Free tier available
• StudioTax: Free desktop software

Option B: Community Volunteer Tax Clinic

Free in-person help if you have:

• Simple tax situation
• Modest income
• Need assistance with filing

Option C: Professional Tax Preparer

Consider if you have:

• Self-employment income
• Rental properties
• Complex investments
• Business income

Step 3: Use Auto-Fill My Return

CRA's auto-fill feature automatically imports:

• T4, T4A, T4E slips
• T5 investment slips
• RRSP contribution limits
• Previous year information
• Home Buyers' Plan balance

Step 4: Enter Your Information

Personal Information

• Name, address, date of birth
• Marital status (as of December 31)
• Spouse's information if applicable
• Dependant information

Income

• Employment income (T4)
• Investment income (T5, T3)
• Self-employment income
• Rental income
• Other income sources

Deductions

• RRSP contributions
• Union/professional dues
• Childcare expenses
• Moving expenses
• Employment expenses (if T2200)

Credits

• Basic personal amount (automatic)
• Medical expenses
• Charitable donations
• Tuition (T2202)
• Disability amount

Step 5: Review and Submit

Before Submitting

• Review all entries for accuracy
• Check for missing slips
• Verify your refund/balance owing
• Look for optimization suggestions

Submit via NETFILE

• Electronic submission directly to CRA
• Instant confirmation
• Faster refund processing
• Available mid-February to December

Step 6: After Filing

Notice of Assessment (NOA)

• Receive within 2 weeks (NETFILE)
• Confirms CRA's review
• Shows your RRSP room for next year
• Keep for your records

Refund Timeline

• NETFILE + Direct Deposit: 8-14 days
• NETFILE + Cheque: 4-6 weeks
• Paper return: 8-12 weeks

First-Time Filers

Newcomers to Canada

• File for your first year as resident
• Report income from residency date onwards
• Apply for benefits (GST credit, CCB)

Turning 18

• File even with no income (to get credits)
• Start building RRSP contribution room
• Register for GST/HST credit

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Missing slips: Wait until March if slips are late
• Wrong SIN: Double-check your number
• Forgetting spouse income: Required for credit calculations
• Not claiming deductions: Review all eligible expenses
• Mathematical errors: Software calculates automatically

Need Help?

• CRA website: canada.ca/taxes
• CRA phone: 1-800-959-8281
• Tax clinics: Free community help
• Our AI assistant: Ask questions below