Filing your taxes

Filing your taxes is an important step to getting many income benefits. As well, when you file your taxes you may be able to get a refund. Both things put money directly in your pocket. Read more to learn about the benefits of filing taxes and free options for tax filing in your community.

Introduction

Nine in 10 Canadians file their taxes. However, those who don’t miss out on over $1.7 billion in government benefits that they could get if they filed their taxes. 1 The following benefits can help increase your income:

  • The Canada Child Benefit, which can give you up to $6,833.00 tax-free, each year for each child in your care
  • The GST/HST Credit, which could give you up to $456 if you are single, up to $598 per year if you are married or have a common-law partner, and up to $157 for each child under 19 years old
  • The Canada Workers Benefit, which could give you up to $1,381 per year for individuals, or up to $2,379 for families, if you are employed.

1 Robson, Jennifer and Saul Schwartz (2020). “Who doesn’t file a tax return? A portrait of non-filers”. Canadian Public Policy, vol. 46 no. 3, pp. 323-339.

Get free help with filing your taxes

If you’re nervous or unsure about filing your taxes, there are people who can help! The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and community non-profits give free tax-filing help to people who are living on low incomes.

You can get tax filing help through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) or Income Tax Assistance - Volunteer Program (ITAVP) in Québec if you have a simple tax situation and you are living on a modest income.

A simple tax situation generally means that you are not self-employed, and that you either have no income, or your income comes from sources such as: employment, pension, benefits, support payments, scholarships, or interest under $1,000.

What a modest income means depends on how big your household is, and ranges from $35,000 per year if you are single, to over $52,500 if you have more than 5 people in your household.

Learn more on the Canada Revenue Agency website.

You can get this help in many ways: through an in-person appointment, through dropping off your tax information, by telephone, or in a virtual appointment. Some community organizations may even be able to teach you how to file your own taxes online.

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit is a convenient, reliable and secure way to get your Government of Canada payments. Learn about the different ways you can sign up by visiting directdeposit.gc.ca.