A practical walkthrough of filing your Canadian income tax return (T1) with the CRA.
If you're registered for CRA My Account, most NETFILE-certified software can auto-populate your slips directly from CRA records — reducing errors significantly.
Common deductions include RRSP contributions and child care expenses. Common credits include the basic personal amount, medical expenses, and tuition — see our Tax Deductions Guide and Tax Credits Guide.
Most Canadians file electronically through NETFILE-certified software (many offer free versions for simple returns). Paper filing is still accepted but slower to process.
If you owe tax, payment is due by the filing deadline regardless of when you actually file. Refunds are typically issued within 2 weeks for electronic filers with direct deposit set up.
Check your key filing dates.
See Tax Deadlines →This is a general walkthrough, not a substitute for CRA instructions. For complex situations (self-employment, foreign income), consider consulting an accountant.