At tax time, some of us may be excited to file an income tax and benefit return to receive a refund or benefit and credit payments. On the other hand, some of us may feel overwhelmed by the tax-filing process. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) understands, and we’re here to help.

Here’s a list of some of the most common mistakes we see at tax time. Avoiding these can save you time and help make the tax-filing process as simple as possible.

Understanding the tax filing and payment deadlines for Canadian businesses can be tricky since different businesses have different deadlines. When you factor in GST/HST responsibilities, it can be confusing. Use this tax tip as a quick reference point for important dates as you manage your tax affairs.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has recently discovered a tax scheme that targets newcomers to Canada. This scheme tells newcomers which benefit and credit payments they may claim for periods of time before they arrived in Canada. If you or someone you know is new to Canada, it’s important to be cautious. Promoters offering tax schemes could include tax representatives, tax preparers, or consultants.

For GST/HST reporting periods that begin in 2024, all GST/HST registrants, except for charities and selected financial institutions, are required to file returns electronically.

The mandatory electronic filing threshold that was in place for GST/HST returns has been removed for reporting periods that begin on or after January 1, 2024, which means that electronic filing is now required for most businesses.

The Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) SimpleFile by Phone (formerly File My Return) is a free, easy, automated phone service. It uses the information we already have on file, and the answers you provide, to auto-file and process your tax return.

Millions of Canadians file an income tax and benefit return every year. For the 2023 tax-filing season, Canadians filed more than 32 million tax returns, and more than 92% of them were filed electronically. There were also more than 18 million refunds processed, and Canadians who had a tax refund received an average of $2,262!

If you lived in a northern or remote area for six months or more in 2023, you may qualify for the northern residents deductions. These deductions recognize the unique challenges northern residents face, such as higher living costs and limited access to services. Find out if you lived in a prescribed northern zone (Zone A) or a prescribed intermediate zone (Zone B) at canada.ca/cra-line-25500.