First Year Filing Taxes Canada Guide 2025

Filing Canadian taxes for the first time? This step-by-step guide covers everything you need — from getting your SIN to submitting your return and getting your refund.

What You Need Before You Start

• Social Insurance Number (SIN): Apply at Service Canada if you don't have one yet
• T4 slips: From every employer you worked for in 2024 (issued by end of February 2025)
• Other income slips: T5 (investments), T4A (other income), T4E (EI), T3 (trust income)
• Receipts: RRSP contributions, charitable donations, medical expenses, tuition (T2202)
• Your address and banking information: For CRA direct deposit setup

Step 1: Get Your Social Insurance Number

Your SIN is your unique identifier for the CRA. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, apply at any Service Canada office with your birth certificate or PR card. Temporary workers and international students with work permits also qualify. Processing is usually same-day in person.

Step 2: Choose Free Tax Software

For your first return, use free CRA-certified software — it guides you through every step:

• Wealthsimple Tax — Best for beginners, works on phone and computer, pay-what-you-want
• GenuTax Standard — 100% free, Windows only
• StudioTax — Free, works on Mac and Windows

Step 3: Create a CRA My Account

Register for CRA My Account at canada.ca. With My Account you can:

• Use Auto-fill my return to import your slips automatically
• Check your RRSP contribution room
• Set up direct deposit for your refund
• View your NOA (Notice of Assessment) after filing
• Track your refund status

To register, you need your SIN, date of birth, current postal code, and your 2023 tax return (or line 15000 from it). For a first-time filer without a prior return, use the phone registration option or visit a CRA office.

Step 4: Enter Your Information

Open your tax software and follow the interview questions. For a typical first-year filer with employment income:

• Enter your personal information (name, SIN, address, date of birth)
• Enter your T4 slip information (boxes 14, 16, 18, 22, 44, 46 as applicable)
• Answer questions about other income or deductions
• Review the credits automatically applied (Basic Personal Amount, CPP/EI credits)
• Enter banking information for direct deposit

Step 5: Review and Submit via NETFILE

Before submitting, review your return summary. Check that your refund or balance owing makes sense. For a first-year filer with one T4 and no complex deductions, the math is usually straightforward. Submit electronically via NETFILE — your software handles this with a single click after you agree to certify the accuracy of your return.

What Happens After You File

Within 8 business days, the CRA will process your return and issue a Notice of Assessment (NOA) — your official tax receipt. The NOA shows your assessed income, credits, RRSP room, and any refund or balance owing. Your refund will be deposited directly to your bank account (if you set up direct deposit) within the same timeframe.

Newcomers to Canada — Special Rules

If you became a Canadian resident partway through 2024, you file a return for the portion of the year you were resident. Some credits (like the GST/HST credit and Basic Personal Amount) are prorated based on your residency period. Use Form RC151 to apply for GST/HST credit as a new resident even before filing your first full tax return.