Canada's tax season has officially begun — Here's everything you need to file your return
Your ultimate guide to stress-free filing. 👇
Tax season in Canada starts today.
Tax season is officially here, Canada! As of Monday, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has flipped the switch on its NETFILE service, meaning you can finally start filing your 2024 income tax return.
If you're eager to snag that sweet refund, the sooner you file, the sooner you could see money back in your account — sometimes in as little as two weeks if you file your taxes online and set up direct deposit.
Filing your tax return might not be the most exciting thing on your to-do list, but it's essential if you want to access benefits and credits you're eligible for. Plus, if you overpaid for taxes throughout the year, you could have a nice refund waiting for you on the other side.
Whether you're a first-time filer or a seasoned taxpayer just hoping to maximize your refund, here's your guide to everything you'll need to gather and sort out before you hit submit.
Find out what's new for 2024
There are some updates this tax season, including changes to benefits, credits and tax brackets. Double-check the CRA's latest guidelines and updates to avoid any mistakes that could cost you money.
Make sure you have your tax slips
Before diving into your return, make sure you've got all your tax slips in order. The most common ones include:
- T4: Employment income
- T4A: Pension, retirement, annuity and other income
- T4E: EI and other benefit income
- T4FHSA, T4RIF, T4RSP: Income (withdrawals) from a registered savings account
- T5: Investment income
- T5007: Workers' compensation & social assistance income
- T2202: Tuition paid
Employers and financial institutions have until February 28 to issue these slips, so don't file until you're sure you've received everything. Missing one could delay your refund — or worse, land you with a bill for underreporting income.
Gather your receipts
Before you dive into filing your taxes, make sure you've rounded up all the receipts and supporting documents you'll need to claim deductions and credits. Having everything on hand will not only save you time but could also help you score a bigger refund. Here are just a few of the most common receipts to look out for:
- Employment expenses — If you're eligible to claim work-related costs (including if you work from home), ensure you have a signed T2200 form from your employer.
- Professional exam fees — Fees paid for certification and licensing exams can often be claimed.
- Teachers' school supplies — Educators can claim up to a certain amount for classroom supplies.
- Child care expenses — Receipts for eligible day care, babysitters or day camps may help reduce your taxable income.
- Medical expenses — Keep all receipts for eligible out-of-pocket medical costs, including prescription drugs, dentistry, psychotherapy, massage and more.
- RRSP & FHSA contributions — Proof of any contributions made to tax-deductible savings accounts to lower your taxable income.
- Charitable & political donations — Donations to registered charities and political parties can lead to tax credits.
- Digital news subscriptions — Some subscriptions to Canadian news outlets are eligible for a credit.
- Moving expenses — If you moved for work or school and meet certain criteria, you can claim these costs.
- Home accessibility expenses — Renovations that make your home more accessible may be eligible for a tax credit.
- Home purchase expenses — First-time homebuyers can claim the Home Buyers' Amount for eligible purchase costs.
- Tuition expenses — Post-secondary tuition fees paid to an eligible institution can be claimed.
- Student loan interest — Interest paid on government student loans is deductible.
Make any last-minute donations or RRSP contributions
One of the easiest ways to shrink what you owe or boost your refund is by making an eligible charitable donation or contributing to your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) before the deadline.
The CRA has extended the 2024 charitable donations deadline to February 28, 2025. That means you have until that date to make an eligible donation that can be claimed for a tax credit on your 2024 tax return.
You have until March 3, 2025, to make contributions that count toward your 2024 tax year. Keep in mind, though, that the CRA cautions that receipts for RRSP contributions made in the first 60 days of the tax year may not be received until May. If you haven't received your receipts yet, you should still go ahead and file — your bank will confirm your contribution amounts later.
More about charitable donations and RRSP contributions
Update your personal info
Double-check that your address and other personal details are current with the CRA. A small slip-up here could delay your refund. If your marital status changed in 2024, the CRA needs to know — it could affect your eligibility for certain benefits and credits.
Signing up for direct deposit before filing your taxes is also a great way to ensure you get your refund as quickly as possible.
You can make most of these changes on your CRA My Account or by contacting the CRA directly.
Know your deadlines
Mark your calendar for the following key dates this tax season:
- February 28, 2025: Last day for employers and banks to send out T4, T4A and T5 slips. If you're still missing these forms after this date, you'll want to follow up.
- February 28, 2025: Extended deadline to make charitable donations for the 2024 tax year. If you make an eligible donation by this date, you can claim it on your 2024 tax return for a potential tax credit.
- March 3, 2025: Deadline to contribute to your RRSP for the 2024 tax year. Making a contribution before this date could lower your taxable income for 2024 and save you some cash or get you a bigger refund.
- April 30, 2025: Deadline to file your tax return and pay any owed taxes for most Canadians.
- June 16, 2025: Special deadline if you or your spouse/common-law partner are self-employed (but keep in mind your taxes owing are still due on April 30).
Choose your filing method
Once you have all your documents and information ready, you'll need to decide how you want to file your taxes. There are several ways to file your personal income tax return in Canada, depending on what you're eligible for and what works best for you:
- NETFILE-certified tax software — The CRA recommends most Canadians file their return electronically using certified software. There are both free and paid options available.
- Through a tax preparer or accountant — If you'd rather someone else take care of your taxes for you, a professional can handle the paperwork and file your return using EFILE-certified software.
- Free community volunteer tax clinic — If you're eligible, these free tax clinics offer free help, especially for newcomers, students or low-income Canadians.
- Paper tax return — You can still go old-school and mail in your completed forms if you prefer.
- SimpleFile services — This is an automatic tax-filing service available by invitation only from the CRA.
Filing your taxes can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. You just have to stay organized, keep an eye on deadlines and consider filing sooner rather than later — especially if you're owed a refund.
Now, let's get that paperwork sorted and get you your money, Canada!
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