# How to File Taxes in Canada: Step-by-Step Guide (2026) > How to file your Canadian tax return: deadlines, the slips you need, NETFILE and Auto-fill my return, free options, and what happens if you file late. Source: https://trykosh.com/learn/how-to-file-taxes-in-canada Guide - Income tax # How to file your taxes in Canada, step by step Most Canadians can file their own return in an evening once the slips are in. Here's what you need, when it's due, how to file online for free or with software, and how to avoid the penalties that catch people out. Updated October 31, 20264 min readBy the Kosh team On this page[When is the tax deadline?](#deadline)[Do I have to file a return?](#do-i-have-to)[Gather your slips and receipts](#slips)[Ways to file](#ways-to-file)[Step by step](#steps)[What if I file late or owe money?](#late)[After you file](#after)[FAQs](#faq) ## When is the tax deadline? For most people, the filing **and payment** deadline is **April 30** of the following year, so your 2026 return is due April 30, 2027. If you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed, you have until **June 15** to file, but any balance owing is still due April 30. Interest starts on unpaid balances the day after. ## Do I have to file a return? You must file if you owe tax, but you should file even with little or no income. Benefits such as the Canada child benefit and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (the former GST/HST credit) are based on your return, RRSP room is built from it, and the CRA can't send a refund you haven't claimed. ## Gather your slips and receipts - **T4**: employment income, CPP, EI and tax withheld, from each employer. - **T4A**: other income such as pensions, scholarships and some fee or contract income. - **T5 and T3**: interest, dividends and trust or fund income from banks and brokerages. - **T5008 and brokerage statements**: sales of shares and funds outside your TFSA and RRSP, which you need to work out capital gains. - **RRSP and FHSA contribution receipts**, including RRSP contributions made in the first 60 days of the new year. - **T2202**: tuition from a college or university. - **Receipts** for childcare, medical expenses, donations, moving costs, union or professional dues and, if self-employed, business expenses. If you have a CRA My Account, most slips also appear there once employers and institutions file them. ## Ways to file Option Best for Cost NETFILE-certified software (online or desktop) Most people; imports slips with Auto-fill my return Free to paid, depending on the product Free tax clinic (CVITP) Modest income and a simple situation Free; volunteers prepare the return Accountant or tax preparer Self-employment, rental income, complex investments, past problems A fee per return Paper return People who can't or prefer not to file online Free, but slower to process **Auto-fill my return** lets certified software pull your slips and other information the CRA has, such as RRSP room and carry-forward amounts, once you sign in to My Account. It saves typing, but it only fills what the CRA already knows: receipts for donations, medical expenses and childcare are still on you. Free clinics don't prepare returns with self-employment, rental income or capital gains. ## Step by step 1. Register for CRA My Account if you haven't, and set up direct deposit. 2. Wait until your slips are in so you don't have to amend later. 3. Choose certified software and use Auto-fill my return to import slips. 4. Add what the CRA doesn't know: receipts, self-employment income and expenses, capital gains from your brokerage statements, and any foreign income. 5. Check each credit and deduction you might qualify for. Our [guide to deductions and credits](/learn/tax-deductions-and-credits-canada) lists the ones people most often miss. 6. Review the summary: refund or balance owing. If you owe, pay by April 30 even if you file later. 7. Submit through NETFILE and keep the confirmation number with your receipts. ## What if I file late or owe money? If you file late **and** owe, the late-filing penalty is 5% of the balance owing plus 1% for each full month late, up to 12 months, and it's higher for repeat late filers. Interest is charged on both the balance and the penalty. If you're getting a refund there's no penalty, but your refund and benefits are delayed. If you can't pay in full, file on time anyway: the penalty is for filing late, not for being unable to pay. ## After you file Your Notice of Assessment shows what the CRA accepted, your RRSP deduction limit for next year and any carry-forward amounts. Read it: it's where your official RRSP room is stated. If you spot a mistake later, use **Change my return** in My Account rather than filing a second return. [Free tool**Income tax calculator**Work out your 2026 federal and provincial income tax, CPP and EI, and what you keep, in any province or territory. Add self-employment income, capital gains and RRSP contributions to see how each one changes the bill.](/tools/income-tax-calculator)[Free tool**RRSP tax refund calculator**Find out how much tax an RRSP contribution saves you this year, and what it really costs once the refund comes back.](/tools/rrsp-calculator)[Free tool**Take-home pay calculator**Turn a salary or hourly wage into what actually lands in your account each payday, after federal and provincial tax, CPP and EI.](/tools/take-home-pay-calculator) **Where Kosh fits** Kosh doesn't file returns. What it does is the work before filing: it reads your statements, estimates your federal and provincial tax, flags deductions you look eligible for and reminds you of RRSP, instalment and filing deadlines so April has no surprises. ## Frequently asked questions When is the deadline to file taxes in Canada? April 30 for most people. If you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed, the filing deadline is June 15, but any tax owing is still due April 30. Can I file my taxes for free in Canada? Yes. Several NETFILE-certified software products are free for some or all returns, and community volunteer tax clinics prepare simple returns for free for people with modest incomes. What is Auto-fill my return? A CRA service that lets certified tax software download your tax slips and other information the CRA has, such as RRSP room and carry-forward amounts, after you sign in to CRA My Account. What happens if I file my taxes late in Canada? If you owe tax, the penalty is 5% of the balance owing plus 1% for each full month late, up to 12 months, plus interest. If you are owed a refund there is no penalty, but your refund and benefits are delayed. Do I need to file if I had no income? You aren't required to if you owe nothing, but filing keeps benefits like the Canada child benefit and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit flowing and records your income for future RRSP room. ## Sources - [CRA: Get your taxes done at a free tax clinic](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/community-volunteer-income-tax-program/need-a-hand-complete-your-tax-return.html) - [CRA: Filing and payment due dates and the late-filing penalty](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/life-events/doing-taxes-someone-died/prepare-returns/filing-deadlines.html) - [CRA: Tax rates and income brackets for individuals](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/frequently-asked-questions-individuals/canadian-income-tax-rates-individuals-current-previous-years.html) Written by the Kosh team and checked against the rules in force on October 31, 2026. This guide is general information, not tax, legal or investment advice. Kosh is an educational financial planning tool by Primedepth Labs. It is not registered with any Canadian securities regulator as an adviser or dealer, does not recommend specific securities, and does not hold your money or execute trades. Tax figures are estimates; confirm with the CRA or a qualified professional before acting. Investing carries risk. ## Upload your statement and Kosh does this for you. Kosh reads your bank, card and investment statements, estimates your federal and provincial tax and turns guides like this one into your own numbers and next steps. [Start free](/signup?via=learn-how-to-file-taxes-in-canada)