If you're self-employed, we understand that navigating your tax obligations may seem complicated. But don't worry! The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is focused on supporting you. To get ready for tax-filing season, we've put together helpful tips and information for self-employed individuals.

If you permanently lived in a prescribed northern zone (Zone A) or a prescribed intermediate zone (Zone B) for a continuous period of at least six consecutive months beginning or ending in the tax year, you may be eligible to claim the northern residents deductions on your income tax and benefit return. If you are eligible, these deductions will reduce the amount of income you pay tax on.

Millions of Canadians file their income tax and benefit returns every year. For the 2022 tax-filing season, Canadians filed approximately 31 million returns and 92% of them were filed electronically. Also, there were over 17 million refunds processed, resulting in a total amount of $37 billion!

We know that having the information you need on hand makes filing easier. Below, you’ll find what you need to know for this year, including what’s new.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has resumed efforts to recover taxpayers' debt. One of the tools the CRA uses to recover debt is called offsetting. Offsetting proactively applies tax refunds and benefit payments (such as the GST/HST credit) to tax debts and other government debts. To learn more about how government payments can be applied to specific debts, go to canada.ca/balance-owing.

Debt recovery is ongoing and will impact upcoming benefit and credit payments, including:

• the goods and services tax / harmonized sales tax credit (GST/HST credit) issued on April 5

• the Ontario trillium benefit issued on April 6.

What is the gig economy?

The gig economy is based on temporary and freelance work, or short-term contracts. As a gig worker, your contract services may range from a small task to a highly specialized service. If you are connecting with clients through online platforms or applications (apps) such as Clickworker, Crowdsource, Fiverr, Uber Eats or Skip the Dishes to provide them with your services, you are typically considered to be self-employed instead of an employee for tax purposes. Your work may be carried out anywhere, as online platforms can connect businesses and independent contractors from all over the world.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) understands that there are unique challenges for affected owners in the first year of the Underused Housing Tax Act (UHTA) administration.

To provide more time for affected owners to take necessary actions to comply, the Minister of National Revenue is providing transitional relief to affected owners. The application of penalties and interest under the UHTA for the 2022 calendar year will be waived for any late-filed underused housing tax (UHT) return and for any late-paid UHT payable, provided the return is filed or the UHT is paid by October 31, 2023.

It’s important to do your taxes on time to make sure you get all the benefits and credits you’re entitled to. If you have a modest income and a simple tax situation, you could be eligible for free help. Volunteers from the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program may be able to complete your income tax and benefit return for you – for free!

What is a peer-to-peer sale?

A peer-to-peer (P2P) transaction involves the selling of goods from one person or party directly to another. You may be taking part in P2P selling if you are connecting with buyers through digital platforms like websites, online marketplaces or mobile applications (such as Etsy, eBay or Amazon).

The Canada Revenue Agency would like to remind you that it resumed its activities aimed at offsetting taxpayers' debt last October. Offsetting involves proactively applying tax refunds and benefit payments (such as the GST/HST credit) to tax and other government debts.

The CRA want to help you get the benefits and credits you are entitled to. To make sure you continue getting your benefit and credit payments, you, and your spouse or common-law partner, need to file your taxes. This is true even if your income is tax exempt under section 87 of the Indian Act or you had no income at all. Here are a few tips to help you.

What is the sharing economy?

In the sharing economy, individuals and businesses share their assets with others for a price. Arrangements are generally made using online platforms through a third party, or using a website or an application (app).

The sharing economy can take a variety of forms, such as:

• Transportation: ridesharing, rentals of bikes, boats, other motor equipment

• Accommodation sharing: renting out your home, rooms, cottage and more

• Space rentals: industrial kitchens, gardens, parking spots, workspaces, or laboratories

Scammers posing as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) continue their attempts to trick you into handing over money or personal information. Know what to expect when the CRA contacts you so you can tell the difference between legitimate communications from the CRA, and scams.

How to make sure the caller is a CRA employee and not a scammer

A legitimate CRA employee will identify themself when they contact you, providing you with their name and phone number to call them back, if needed.

Did you receive subscriptions and perks like merchandise and trips or other income?

If you earned income by posting pictures, videos and more on your social media channels that involves product placement or product promotion, you may be undertaking a business activity. You can earn income from your social media activities in many ways, both monetary and non-monetary (barter transactions), including, but not limited to…

Are you new to Canada and getting ready to file your first Canadian income tax and benefit return? Don’t worry, the CRA are here to help! They’ve put together tips and information to guide you through the process and answer your questions.

You can also watch their video for newcomers. It’s available in 13 different languages: Arabic, Cantonese, English, Farsi, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Urdu.

What is cryptocurrency?

A cryptocurrency is a type of virtual asset that is protected using cryptography. It typically uses a system called a blockchain to record and keep a history of transactions. Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ether, are independent, meaning they do not rely on governments, central banks, or other central authorities for backing. You can obtain cryptocurrency in many ways, and new methods are being developed all the time. You can use cryptocurrencies for a wide range of activities, such as buying goods, paying bills, or investing. Transactions involving cryptocurrencies often have tax implications.

Every year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tracks the questions people ask us and use that information to design new services and improve our processes. We want to offer you the best service possible, so you can easily access the tax and benefit information you need.

Before calling us, use the tips below to save time this tax season! You might be able to find the information you’re searching for and avoid long wait times over the phone that come with our busy tax season.

Worried about tax-filing season? Don’t be! Our easy-to-use digital services can improve the filing process and save you time. Using our services will make it easier for you to manage your tax and benefit information. You’ll also avoid delays and long wait times over the phone during tax season.

The protection of taxpayer information is of the utmost importance for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This is why the CRA has stringent and ongoing measures to analyze, identify and mitigate potential threats to sensitive taxpayer information.

As a response to the need for added security measures, the CRA implemented the Confirm my representative service in October 2021. It is a two-step verification process that allows business owners to easily and securely control who has access and what level of access their representative has to their personal and business tax information.

Millions of Canadians file their income tax and benefit returns every year. For the 2022 tax-filing season, Canadians filed approximately 31 million returns and 92% of them were filed electronically. Also, there were over 17 million refunds processed, resulting in a total amount of $37 billion!

We know that having the information you need on hand makes filing easier. Below, you’ll find what you need to know for this year, including what’s new.

Every year, we send letters to eligible Canadians inviting them to file their income tax and benefit returns with the CRA's File my Return automated phone service.

This service is free, secure, and easy to use. If you are eligible to use this service, you should receive an invitation letter in February 2023.

About File my Return

This service allows you to file your tax return without the need to complete any calculations or forms. By filing a tax return, you will be able to receive the benefits and credits you may be eligible for. File my Return uses the information the CRA already has on file, and the answers you provide, to auto-file and process your tax return.