Step-by-step walkthrough: gathering slips, using NETFILE, setting up CRA My Account, and meeting the April 30 deadline.
Filing your Canadian income tax return for the 2025 tax year doesn't have to be intimidating. Each year, roughly 30 million Canadians file a return, and the CRA has made the process increasingly digital through NETFILE and CRA My Account. This guide walks you through every step from gathering your documents to hitting submit.
Your Social Insurance Number is the foundation of your tax identity in Canada. You'll need it to file your return, open investment accounts, and communicate with the CRA. Your SIN appears on your SIN card or a letter from Service Canada. Never include your SIN on anything other than official tax documents or authorized financial institutions.
If you've lost your SIN or need to confirm it, you can request a confirmation letter through Service Canada's online portal or by visiting a Service Canada centre. Processing typically takes 10–15 business days by mail.
The CRA offers several ways to file. Over 93% of Canadians now file electronically using NETFILE, which is faster, more accurate, and allows for quicker refunds.
CRA My Account is your secure online portal for all things tax-related. Before filing, set it up so you can use the Auto-fill My Return (AFR) feature, which imports your T slips, RRSP contribution room, and carryforward amounts directly into your return.
To register, visit the CRA website and choose one of these sign-in options: a provincial partner (like Service Ontario or Alberta.ca), a Sign-In Partner (bank login), or by creating a CRA user ID and password. The CRA will mail you a security code — plan ahead and set this up 10–14 days before you need it.
Once registered, Auto-fill My Return can import data from dozens of slips and reduce manual entry errors significantly. Many certified tax software programs connect directly to CRA My Account to pull your data automatically.
The CRA maintains a list of certified NETFILE software for each tax year. For the 2025 tax year (filed in 2026), popular options include:
All certified software must meet the CRA's technical standards and is tested against the NETFILE system before being approved. Look for the "CRA Certified" label on any software you choose.
Most software uses an interview-style process. You'll be asked about:
Your province of residence on December 31 determines which provincial tax rates apply, regardless of where you earned your income during the year.
Before submitting, review your return carefully. Common errors include:
Once satisfied, use your NETFILE access code (found on last year's Notice of Assessment) to transmit the return. The CRA will send a confirmation number within seconds. Keep this number — it confirms your filing.
If you owe taxes, payment is due April 30, 2026. You can pay online through your bank's bill payment system (search "CRA" as the payee), through CRA My Account, or at a Canada Post outlet. If you can't pay in full, contact the CRA immediately — interest at the prescribed rate accrues daily on unpaid balances from May 1.
If you're owed a refund, set up direct deposit in CRA My Account before filing. The CRA will deposit refunds directly into your Canadian bank account, typically within 2 weeks of filing electronically. Paper filers wait 8–12 weeks.
After NETFILE accepts your return, the CRA processes it and issues a Notice of Assessment (NOA). This document confirms your assessed income, tax payable or refund, and your updated RRSP contribution room for the following year. Review your NOA carefully and contact the CRA within 90 days if you believe the assessment is incorrect — you can file a Notice of Objection through CRA My Account.
The CRA also uses your filed return to automatically calculate GST/HST credits, Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payments, and Climate Action Incentive (CAI) payments for the upcoming year. This is one reason it's important to file even if you had little or no income — you may be entitled to credits.
If you became a resident of Canada in 2025, you file a return for the portion of the year you were resident. You'll need to determine your residency start date, which affects your eligibility for credits and deductions. Use Schedule A (Statement of World Income) if you were a non-resident for part of the year.
The legal representative must file a final T1 return for a deceased person. The deadline is April 30 of the year following death, or 6 months after the date of death — whichever is later.
Separate returns are required for the pre-bankruptcy period, the bankruptcy period, and the post-bankruptcy period. A licensed insolvency trustee typically handles these.
KOHO is a Canadian banking alternative that helps you track spending, save automatically, and earn cash back. Use code 45ET55JSYA for a sign-up bonus.
Get KOHO Free — Code 45ET55JSYA