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A missing tax slip is common, and it does not stop you from filing. You still have to report the income, so the job is to find the number. Start with your CRA account, then ask the payer, and if neither works, estimate the amount from your own records and file on time with a note explaining what you did.
What should you do first?
- Check your CRA account. The tax information slips area often shows a slip before the paper copy arrives.
- Ask the payer. Employers, banks and brokers can send a copy or put it in your online account.
- Use your own records. A final pay stub, a bank statement or a broker report can give you the amounts.
When should your slips arrive?
According to the CRA, most slips, including the T4, T4A and T5, are mailed to you by the end of February. T3, NR4 and T5013 slips can take until the end of March. Slips for OAS, EI or CPP benefits come from your Service Canada account. The CRA cannot give you a copy until the payer has sent the slip to the CRA, so a slip can be missing from your account in early February even though the payer has done nothing wrong yet.
What if you still do not have it by the deadline?
File with your best figures and keep a note of what you did. The CRA says to add up your pay stubs or financial statements to estimate the income, deductions and credits. If you file on paper, attach copies of those documents and a note with the payer’s name and address, the type of income, and what you are doing to get the slip. If you file online, keep the documents in case the CRA asks. Do not leave the income out, because the CRA gets its own copy from the payer. The return is still due on April 30, or June 15 if you or your spouse or common-law partner were self-employed, and the late-filing penalty applies to an unpaid balance if you wait for the slip.
How do you fix the return when the slip turns up?
Late slips can be fixed afterwards by asking the CRA to adjust your return. Wait for your notice of assessment, then use the change my return option in your CRA account or send Form T1-ADJ by mail. The CRA says online changes are usually processed within about 2 weeks and mailed ones within about 20 weeks. Our page on fixing a mistake on a filed return has the steps.
Which slips are most often missing?
T4 from an old job, T5 from a small interest account, T3 from a fund and T4A for side income. Our tax slips decoder explains each one, and the documents checklist helps you find what is left. The before-you-file checklist is a good last pass.
Where does this information come from?
The steps follow Canada Revenue Agency guidance on getting a copy of your tax slips and on changing a return. Checked in October 2026. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. Check the official source before you rely on it. See the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if I did not receive my T4?
First check the tax slips area of your CRA account, then ask your employer for a copy. If you still do not have it by the deadline, add up your pay stubs to estimate your income and file on time with a note about what you did.
Do I still have to report income if I never got the slip?
Yes. The income is taxable whether or not a slip arrives, and the CRA gets its own copy from the payer. File with your best figures, then ask the CRA to adjust the return if the slip shows something different.
When are tax slips supposed to arrive?
The CRA says most slips, including the T4, T4A and T5, are mailed to you by the end of February. T3, NR4 and T5013 slips can take until the end of March. Check your CRA account if a slip has not come by then.
Can the CRA give me a copy of my tax slip?
Sometimes. If the payer has already sent the slip to the CRA, you can see a current or previous year's copy in your CRA account. The CRA cannot give you a slip until the payer has filed it, so ask the payer if it is not there.
How do I fix my return if the slip arrives after I filed?
Wait for your notice of assessment, then use the change my return option in your CRA account or mail Form T1-ADJ with the slip attached. The CRA says online changes take about 2 weeks and mailed requests about 20 weeks.