When Are Canadian Taxes Due? Key Deadlines to Know

Canada’s tax system, overseen by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), sets specific dates for filing income tax returns and making payments. Being aware of these deadlines helps individuals avoid penalties and ensure compliance.

General Individual Filing Deadlines

For most Canadian individuals, the standard income tax return filing deadline is April 30 of each year. This deadline applies to employed individuals who receive income primarily through wages and salaries. If April 30 falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline is automatically extended to the next business day. For the 2024 tax year, the filing deadline is April 30, 2025.

Individuals typically file their returns electronically using CRA-certified tax software through NETFILE. This method allows for direct submission of tax returns to the CRA. Another option is EFILE, used by authorized tax preparers to submit returns on behalf of their clients. Alternatively, taxpayers can also choose to file a paper return by mailing it to the CRA, ensuring it is postmarked by the deadline.

Self-Employed and Spousal Filing Deadlines

Self-employed individuals and their spouses or common-law partners have an extended income tax return filing deadline of June 15. This extension provides additional time to organize the more complex financial records often associated with business income. For the 2024 tax year, this extended filing deadline is June 16, 2025, because June 15 falls on a Sunday.

While the filing deadline for self-employed individuals is extended, their payment deadline remains April 30. Any taxes owed must be paid by April 30 to avoid interest charges. This distinction between filing and payment due dates is important for effective tax planning.

Payment Deadlines and Late Filing Consequences

The universal payment deadline for all individuals is April 30. Any balance of tax owing for the previous tax year must be paid by this date. If April 30 falls on a weekend, the payment deadline shifts to the next business day.

Missing the payment deadline results in interest charges applied by the CRA on the overdue balance. This interest is compounded daily and the rate can change quarterly, based on prescribed rates set by the government. For instance, the CRA charged an 8% interest rate on late payments in the first and second quarters of 2025.

In addition to interest, late-filing penalties apply if a balance is owing and the return is filed past the due date. The initial penalty is 5% of the balance owing, plus 1% for each full month late, up to 12 months. If a taxpayer has incurred late-filing penalties in any of the three preceding tax years, penalties increase to 10% of the balance owing, plus 2% for each full month late, up to 20 months. These penalties can significantly increase the amount owed, especially for repeat offenders.

Other Important Tax Dates

Beyond the primary filing and payment deadlines, other significant tax dates exist for individuals. A key date is the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contribution deadline. This is typically the first 60 days of the following calendar year. For the 2024 tax year, the RRSP contribution deadline is March 3, 2025.

Another important date involves the issuance of tax slips by employers and other payers. Employers are generally required to issue T4 (Statement of Remuneration Paid) slips to employees by the last day of February for the previous tax year. T4A (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) and T5 (Statement of Investment Income) slips are also typically issued by the end of February. These slips provide essential information needed to complete an income tax return accurately.