Tax season, step by step.
The dates that matter, what to bring, and how to get your papers to us safely.
Deadlines.
For the tax year that ended on December 31. When a date falls on a weekend or a public holiday, the CRA accepts it on the next working day.
Not sure which dates apply to you? Call and ask. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- End of FebruaryT4, T4A and T5 slips go to staff, shareholders and the CRA.
- 60 days into the yearLast day for RRSP contributions you can deduct for last year. Usually March 1.
- April 30Personal returns due. Any balance owing is due today for everyone, self-employed included.
- June 15Returns due for self-employed people and their spouses or common-law partners.
- 15th of Mar, Jun, Sep, DecQuarterly instalments, if the CRA has asked you to pay them.
- 6 months after year-endCorporate T2 return due. The tax itself is due two or three months after year-end, depending on the corporation.
What to bring.
If you authorize us with the CRA, we download most slips ourselves. The rest only you have.
Everyone
- Last year’s notice of assessment, if you are new to us
- Any slips that came by mail and not to the CRA
- Receipts for donations, medical costs and childcare
- Rent paid or property tax, for the Ontario Trillium Benefit
- Changes in your year: a move, a marriage, a new child
If it applies
- Self-employed: income, expenses and vehicle kilometres
- Rental: rents received, mortgage interest, repairs
- Home office: a signed T2200 from your employer
- Investments sold: the purchase cost of each one
- Moving for work or school: receipts and both addresses
Getting your papers to us.
Your slips carry your SIN and income. Ordinary email is not a safe place for them, so we don’t ask you to send them that way.
Authorize us with the CRA
Add us as your representative in CRA My Account. We then download your T4, T5 and RRSP slips straight from the CRA.
Drop off or mail
Bring an envelope to the office or post it to us. We scan what we need and hand the originals back with your return.
Sign online
Engagement letters and consent forms come by email as a private link. It works once and expires, and you get a copy after signing.
Ask before you scan
If posting or dropping off won’t work, call us first. We’ll agree a safe way to get scans to us.
A call or text from “the CRA” demanding payment? The CRA never asks for gift cards, prepaid cards or cryptocurrency. Hang up and call us or the CRA directly.
Common questions.
From March to April 30 the office stays open until 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 to 2 on Saturdays.
Do I need to come to the office?
No. Many clients never do. We can do the intro call and the review by phone or video, and you can post your papers to us.
How long does a return take?
Most personal returns are ready within ten working days of the last slip arriving. In April it can be closer to three weeks, so earlier is better.
I haven’t filed for a few years. Can you help?
Yes, and it’s often less painful than people expect. We file the missing years and, where the rules allow, ask the CRA to reduce penalties and interest.
When will I get my refund?
The CRA usually processes e-filed returns in about two weeks. Refunds go to the bank account on file in your CRA My Account.
How long should I keep my records?
Six years from the end of the tax year they relate to. We keep a copy of everything we file for at least that long.
New client this year?
Book an intro call before the end of March and we can file on time.