# How to file your tax return in Canada: steps and dates > What to gather, when your return is due and how to file in Canada, from the first slip to the notice of assessment that closes the year To file a Canadian tax return, gather your income slips and receipts, then send the return to the CRA by April 30. Self-employed people and their spouses have until June 15 to file, but any tax owing is still due April 30. Use certified software, a free service or paper. If your income is ordinary, you can finish in an afternoon once the papers sit in one place. ## What do you need before you start? Gather these first. A missing slip is the most common reason a return gets redone. - Income slips: a T4 from each employer, T5 for interest and dividends, T3 or T5008 for investments, T4A for pensions and other income - Your RRSP receipts and last year's notice of assessment - Receipts for what you plan to claim, such as donations, child care, tuition and medical costs - Your social insurance number, and your spouse's if you're married or common-law Our [guide to how income tax works](https://tax-services.ca/guides/how-canadian-taxes-work) explains what each claim does to your bill, and the [before-you-file checklist](https://tax-services.ca/checklists/before-you-file) covers the rest. Drop slips into one folder as they arrive and you won't be hunting for them on April 29. Filing for the first time? See the page on your [first tax return in Canada](https://tax-services.ca/first-time-tax-return-canada). ## When is your tax return due in Canada? For most people the return is due April 30. Self-employed people and their spouses have until June 15 to file, but any tax owing is still due April 30, so waiting means interest. The CRA's [due dates page for individuals](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/important-dates-individuals.html) confirms both dates. The [tax calendar](https://tax-services.ca/tax-calendar) and the [deadline page](https://tax-services.ca/income-tax/tax-deadline) give this year's exact dates. The [RRSP](https://tax-services.ca/rrsp) deadline is different. It falls 60 days after the year ends, so you can still lower last year's bill in early March, and the CRA's notice of assessment will tell you how much room you have. ## What are your ways to file? You can file on paper, use certified tax software, or hand the job to a preparer. The CRA's own pages list the free options and the software it has certified. Not sure a preparer is worth the fee? Read [how to choose a tax preparer](https://tax-services.ca/guides/choose-a-tax-preparer), and see the article on [free online filing](https://tax-services.ca/articles/file-my-taxes-online-for-free-canada) for the no-cost route. ## What if you missed the deadline? File as soon as you can, even though you're late. If you owe tax, the late-filing penalty is 5% of your balance owing plus 1% of it for each full month late, up to 12 months, according to the CRA's page on the [late-filing penalty](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/interest-penalties/late-filing-penalty.html). Say you owe $1,000 and file three full months late: that's $50 plus $30, so $80, with interest on top. If you can't pay it all, file on time anyway and sort out a payment plan afterwards. Filing on time avoids the penalty even when the payment isn't there. The article on what to do when you [can't pay a CRA balance owing](https://tax-services.ca/articles/cant-pay-cra-balance-owing) covers the options, and if several years are outstanding, read about what to do when you [haven't filed in years](https://tax-services.ca/articles/havent-filed-in-years-canada). ## What happens after you file? The CRA assesses the return and sends a notice of assessment. Read it. It shows what the CRA accepted, what it changed, your refund or balance owing, and next year's RRSP deduction limit. If the CRA later changes the figures, you will get a [notice of reassessment](https://tax-services.ca/articles/notice-of-reassessment-canada). Refunds usually arrive sooner when you've signed up for direct deposit. The page on [when you will get your tax refund](https://tax-services.ca/when-will-i-get-my-tax-refund) explains the wait, and the [tax refund calculator](https://tax-services.ca/calculators/income-tax/tax-refund-calculator) gives an estimate. A balance is due April 30 whatever your filing date, and the [instalments calculator](https://tax-services.ca/calculators/income-tax/tax-installments) tells you if you should pay during the year next time. ## More about filing --- Source: https://tax-services.ca/guides/file-your-taxes Last updated: 2026-10-09 Independent information site. Not affiliated with the CRA. No services, no guarantee of accuracy. See https://tax-services.ca/disclaimer