Tips To Help You File Your Taxes with Less Stress!

Tax season is almost here, so now is the perfect time to start preparing.  Preparing early can help make sure you file your income tax and benefit return on time.  This also means that you will avoid delays or interruptions to any refund, benefit, or credit payments you might be eligible for. The Government of Canada reports that in 2024, the Canada Revenue Agency issued more than $52 billion in benefit payments because taxpayers filed their returns.

Here are 5easy ways to help you get ready early and file your taxes with confidence.

1.      Update Your Personal Information.  Keeping your personal information up to date can help you avoid problems at tax time and make sure you are still receiving any credits you ae eligible for.  If you have moved, gotten married, or even changed your phone number, update the Canada Revenue Agency as soon as possible and BEFORE you file your tax return.  You do not have to call the CRA to make these kinds of changes if you are using My Account.  My Account is an online portal that lets you manage your personal income tax and benefit information quickly and securely.  

When registering for My Account, you can use the document verification service to verify your identity.  By doing so, you’ll have full and immediate access to My Account without having to wait for a CRA security code in the mail.  Make sure to register and update your information before the tax season rush!

2.      Know Where To Find Your Tax Slips.  You should receive most of your tax slips and receipts by the end of February, including any T4 or T4A slips.  Slips are prepared by your employer, payer, administrator, or financial institution.  If your tax slips are late or lost, there’s no need to worry, as you can view most of your tax slips online in My Account.

3.     Get Familiar with Digital Services and Online Filing.  Familiarize yourself with the CRA’s digital services so that if you need help during tax season, you can quickly find answers without having to call the CRA and wait on hold.  The CRA does have services to help you file a return, change a return, get information, make payments and more.  A new service available this year is the online chat in My Account.  You can now chat with a live agent and ask them account specific questions about personal taxes, benefits, and registered plans. This new service can help you get the information you need, without spending time on hold on the phone.  If you cannot find what you need online and do need to call, be sure to check the live wait times before hand and make sure you have the information needed to validate your identity.  Also, do not call if you are frustrated or emotionally unregulated.  Long wait times on hold often frustrate people leading to tense and sometimes angry phone calls.  Be prepared for long hold times and always treat agents with kindness and respect.

If you are preparing to file online this tax season, the CRA has a list of NETFILE-certified software options and some are even free!  Did you know that returns filed electronically are generally processed within two weeks, compared to eight weeks for paper?  When you file electronically and use direct deposit, you could receive your refund within eight business days.

4.      Key Dates to Remember:

a.     February24, 2025 – you can start filing your 2024 return online.

b.     April30, 2025 – Deadline for most individuals to file their return and pay any amount they owe.  By filing and paying on time, you’ll avoid late-filing penalties and interest.

c.      June15, 2025 – Deadline to file if you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed. Since this date falls on a Sunday, the CRA will consider your return filed on time if it is received on or before June 16, 2025.  If you owe money, you’ll still need to pay by April 30, 2025 to avoid interest.

5.     Be Aware Of Scams And Fraud.  You can protect yourself from scams and fraud by knowing how the CRA might contact you.  You can take a moment to visit the scams and fraud page on the CRA’s website. There they provide information to help you recognize the signs of a scam and learn about how the CRA will contact you, whether it’s by phone, email, or mail.  The CRA scam alerts page can also help you stay up to date and avoid the latest scams that may target you.

When you register for My Account with the CRA, you will need to provide an email address, if you don’t already have one on file with the CRA.  This allows the CRA to notify you when important changes are made to your account and to protect you from fraudulent activity.  If you are already registered but don’t have an email address on file, you will need to provide one when you sign in.

Need Extra Help? If you have additional questions, try asking Charlie the Chatbot.  Charlie is on the CRA homepage and many other webpages on Canada.ca.  If you are new to tax filing, the CRA even has a free online tool that teaches you about taxes, where your money goes, and how to file a tax return on your own. The link can be found here:  

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/educational-programs.html

For more information, please visit the Government of Canada and the CRA at:  https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/newsroom/tax-tips/tax-tips-2025.html

Looking for volunteer supports to get your taxes filed properly?  Check out the organizations listed below for free support with filing your taxes:

Miywasin Friendship Centre:  By appointment only, each month on the 3^rd starting on 03.03.2025 from10:00am to 3:00pm, closed during lunch. Primary Contact:  Marlene Cadotte,403-952-8100, 403-526-0756.  Email: marlenejcadotte@gmail.com, mcadotte44@gmail.com.  Clientele served:  Indigenous, Housing insecure, Resides within local community, Seniors, Social Assistance Recipients and Students.  

Visit this link to find local organizations offering free tax clinics.  Participating organizations are added as they register with the CRA. https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/oecv/external/prot/cli_srch_01_ld.action

‍