What you need to know for the 2026 tax-filing season

January 27, 2026

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada Revenue Agency

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is ready for the 2026 tax season, are you? Our focus is making your tax-filing experience easier, faster, and more straightforward from start to finish.

The CRA is prepared to deliver reliable and timely service during tax season. We know your expectations of us are high, as they should be – that's why we’re continuing to strengthen security, reduce wait times, and expand digital services to offer faster, more responsive support.

We want you to get the refunds, benefits, or credit payments you may be eligible for. Here’s everything you need to know to file your taxes quickly and accurately:

Important dates and deadlines

February 23, 2026 – This is the date you can start filing your 2025 income tax and benefit return online. For the early tax filers out there, take a moment to make sure you have all your tax slips before you file:

• Most tax slips are issued by employers or financial institutions by the end of February. If you have a CRA account, you can also get copies of your tax slips there, once the CRA processes them.

• If you have not received your tax slips by the end of March, contact the issuers directly to get a copy.

Once you have all the necessary tax slips and documents, we recommend to file as early as possible to avoid the end-of-season rush (and the busiest time for the CRA). For more information, visit the Tax slips web page.

April 30, 2026 – This is the deadline for most individuals to file their 2025 income tax and benefit return and pay any taxes owed. By filing and paying on time, you will avoid late-filing penalties and interest.

June 15, 2026 – This is the deadline for self-employed individuals to file their 2025 income tax and benefit return. If you are not self-employed, but your spouse or common-law partner is, you have the same deadline. If you owe money, you will still need to pay by April 30, 2026, to avoid paying interest.