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Your taxes change when your life does. This page links to a guide for ten moments: a first job, school, moving to Canada, marriage, a baby, buying or selling a home, starting a business, separation, retirement and the death of a loved one. Each shows what changes, which dates matter and which calculators help.
A first job brings a form to sign and a first paycheque that’s smaller than you expected. A baby brings a child benefit to apply for and leave pay to make sense of. Moving to Canada, getting married, splitting up, starting a business or losing someone you love each come with their own to-do list and their own deadlines.
Each page is short on purpose. It names what changes, links to the guide that explains the rule, and points to a calculator so you can try your own numbers. Skim the page for your moment, jot down the dates, and come back for the rest when you need it.
Say Dani moves from Halifax to Vancouver for a new job, and a month later gets engaged. That’s two life events in one season, and both pages apply. Read them side by side and keep one list of dates. This is an information site. It doesn’t prepare or file returns, so for advice on your own case, ask a qualified preparer or the CRA.
Which pages do people open first?
- First time tax filing in Canada
Return dates, the slips to gather, the late penalty and a $20,000 Ontario example.
- Canada tax residency rules
Which ties make you a resident, and when 183 days makes you a deemed resident.
- First time home buyer tax credit
The $10,000 amount on your first home, plus the FHSA and the Home Buyers’ Plan.
- Canada Child Benefit calculator
Estimate the benefit for your family before you apply.
- Final tax return after death
Due dates, which income counts and how RRIFs and gains are taxed.
Which moment are you in?
- New to Canada
Residency, world income, your first return and the benefits to apply for.
- Students
The tuition credit, your T2202, scholarships and a summer job.
- First job
Forms to sign, what comes off your pay and why you should file.
- Marriage and common-law
When you count as a couple, and what to tell the CRA.
- Having a baby
The child benefit, leave pay and childcare costs.
- Buying or selling a home
Transfer tax, the principal residence rule and the FHSA.
- Starting a business
Registering for GST/HST, instalments and records.
- Separation and divorce
Benefits, support payments and property.
- Retiring
CPP, OAS, RRSP withdrawals and the RRIF.
- Death and estates
The final return, the estate and who files.
What if my situation isn’t listed?
Not every life event has its own page yet, and we would rather get a few right than publish many we are only half sure of. If yours isn’t listed, the guides are organised by topic too, the calculators let you test your numbers, and the tax calendar keeps the dates in one place.
What should you do first when something big happens?
Write down the date it happened, because many tax rules turn on a date. Most of these moments come with weeks or months before any deadline bites, so there is time to do it properly.
Next, gather the paper that goes with it, such as a lease, a birth record or a closing statement. Then read the page for your moment, and make a note of anything you need to tell the CRA or an employer. The checklists help when a life event means collecting documents, and the benefits and credits guide lists what you may be able to apply for.
What do you need to do after a life event?
| Event | First steps | Watch the date |
|---|---|---|
| New baby | Register the birth, then apply for the Canada Child Benefit. Open an RESP if you want to use the grants | Apply as soon as you can. Benefits can be backdated, but only so far |
| Marriage or common-law partnership | Update your marital status with the CRA | Tell the CRA by the end of the month after the change |
| Separation | Update your marital status and your benefits. Keep records of support payments | Tell the CRA by the end of the month after you have lived apart 90 days |
| Moving to another province | Update your address. Your province for the whole year is where you lived on December 31 | Update your address with the CRA and provincial programs |
| Losing a job | Ask your employer for a record of employment and apply for EI | Apply right away. Delays can cost you weeks of benefits |
| Starting a business | Choose a structure, register for GST/HST when needed and keep records | You must register once your sales pass $30,000 over four calendar quarters |
| Retiring | Plan when to start CPP and OAS, and what to do with your RRSP | Apply for CPP up to a year before you want it to start |
| Buying your first home | Look at the FHSA, the Home Buyers Plan and closing costs | Plan the FHSA or RRSP withdrawals before you sign |
| Selling a home | Report the sale on your return even if the gain is exempt | The sale goes on the return for the year it closed |
| Going back to school | Keep your tuition slip and ask about credits | The school sends the slip by the end of February |
| Coming to Canada | Get a SIN and learn what counts as residency for tax | Your first return may be a part-year return |
| A death in the family | Notify CRA and Service Canada, and get help with the final return | The final return is due April 30 for deaths from January to October, and six months after the date of death otherwise |
Pick your situation on My tax year to see only the dates that apply to you. The tax calendar lists them all.
Every page here is information only. What fits you can depend on a dozen details we can’t see from here, so if your case is complicated, ask a qualified preparer or the CRA. The guide to choosing a tax preparer explains what to ask. For official dates and rules, the CRA’s own pages are the reference.
Filing for the first time? Read how to file your first tax return.
Frequently asked questions
Why are taxes organised by life event?
Many tax changes follow something that happened to you, such as a new job, a baby or a move, rather than a form. Starting from the event shows you which dates and steps apply, which is often quicker than searching by tax rule.
Are these life event pages tax advice?
No. They are general overviews of what usually changes. Your own situation may differ, so check the CRA or ask a qualified preparer before you act on your own file.
What should I do first after a big life change?
Write down the date it happened, gather the paper that goes with it, and read the page for your moment. Then note anything you need to tell the CRA or an employer. Most events leave weeks or months before a deadline.
Do I have to tell the CRA when I get married or separate?
Update your marital status with the CRA. For a marriage or common-law partnership, tell the CRA by the end of the month after the change. After a separation, do it by the end of the month after you have lived apart 90 days.
When is the final tax return due after someone dies?
The final return is due April 30 for a death from January to October, and six months after the date of death otherwise. The final tax return after death article covers which income counts and how RRIFs and gains are taxed.