Filing your Canadian taxes is easier than you think. And it's free.
No accountant needed for most people. No expensive software required. Just a few clicks and you're done. This guide covers everything.
Do I even need to file a tax return?
Short answer: almost certainly yes. Even if you earned little or no income, filing a return is how the government determines your eligibility for benefit payments. Skipping it could mean missing out on hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Filing unlocks benefits
The GST/HST Credit, Canada Child Benefit, and Canada Carbon Rebate are all calculated from your tax return. No return means no payments. This applies to students, part-time workers, and anyone with modest income.
What is CRA My Account?
CRA My Account is your personal online portal with the Canada Revenue Agency. It's where you can view your tax slips, check your refund status, see your RRSP and TFSA contribution room, update your direct deposit, and access your Notice of Assessment.
New for 2026: The CRA now requires a backup multi-factor authentication option on your account (such as a passcode grid or authenticator app). Your Notice of Assessment is also now digital-only, with no more paper copies in the mail.
Set up your account now
Don't wait until April. Create your CRA My Account at canada.ca. You can register using a sign-in partner (your bank) or create a CRA user ID. If you already have an account, log in now to confirm your MFA backup is set up.
What is NETFILE?
NETFILE is the CRA's electronic filing service. When you prepare your return using any CRA-certified tax software, NETFILE is the secure connection that transmits it directly to the CRA over the internet. No printing, no envelopes, no postage.
Electronic filing through NETFILE is significantly faster than paper. With direct deposit set up, most refunds arrive within 8 business days. Paper returns take 8 weeks or more.
NETFILE opens February 23, 2026 and remains open until January 29, 2027. You can file your 2025 return as well as catch-up returns going back to 2018.
Auto-fill My Return
If you have a CRA My Account, most certified tax software can automatically import your T4s, T5s, RRSP contributions, tuition slips, and more directly from the CRA. Less typing, fewer mistakes. Available starting February 9, 2026.
How to file your taxes, step by step
Most people can complete this entire process in under an hour.
Gather your documents
Collect your T4 (employment income), T5 (investment income), RRSP contribution receipts, and any other relevant slips. Most are available in CRA My Account by early March.
Choose free, CRA-certified tax software
Pick any of the free options listed in the section below. They all connect to NETFILE and most support Auto-fill My Return.
Enter your information
Link your CRA My Account to auto-import your tax slips. Then add anything that's missing: medical expenses, charitable donations, childcare costs, etc.
Review and submit via NETFILE
Double-check your numbers. The software will flag obvious errors. When you're satisfied, submit your return and you'll get a confirmation number instantly.
Get your refund
With direct deposit, most refunds arrive within 2 weeks. You can check your return status in CRA My Account within 48 hours of filing.
Free tax software options
All of the following are NETFILE-certified by the CRA. They handle the vast majority of Canadian tax situations and are free to use. Not "free trial" free, but actually free.
Do you need to pay for tax software?
For the vast majority of Canadians, no. Paid tax software companies invest heavily in marketing to make taxes seem more complicated than they are, creating the impression that you need a premium product to file correctly. For most standard tax situations, free CRA-certified software produces the exact same result.
The marketing pitch
"Upgrade to unlock medical expenses, investment income, and expert review. Only $59.99!"
The reality
Multiple free CRA-certified options give you access to every form with no paywalls. Same deductions. Same NETFILE. Same CRA. $0.
When you might actually need help
If you have a corporate return (T2), a complex estate, multiple businesses, or rental properties with depreciation, you likely need an actual accountant, not a software upgrade. Paid tiers target the middle ground between "simple enough for free tools" and "complex enough for a professional." In practice, free tools cover almost everything, and when they don't, a real person is what you need.
2026 Federal Tax Brackets
Canada uses a progressive tax system. You're only taxed at each rate for income that falls within that bracket. Earning $60,000 doesn't mean all of it gets taxed at 20.5%, only the portion above $58,523.
| Taxable Income | Federal Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $58,523 | 14% | Reduced from 15% |
| $58,524 to $117,045 | 20.5% | |
| $117,046 to $181,440 | 26% | |
| $181,441 to $258,482 | 29% | |
| Over $258,482 | 33% |
These are federal rates only. Your province or territory adds its own brackets on top. The basic personal amount for 2026 is $16,452, meaning you pay no federal tax on that first portion of income.
2026 Provincial & Territorial Tax Rates
Each province and territory sets its own income tax rates on top of the federal rates. Select your province below to see the brackets that apply to you. These are provincial rates only and are added to the federal rates above.
Alberta
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $61,200 | 8% |
| $61,201 to $154,259 | 10% |
| $154,260 to $185,111 | 12% |
| $185,112 to $246,813 | 13% |
| $246,814 to $370,220 | 14% |
| Over $370,220 | 15% |
Alberta's new 8% lowest bracket (reduced from 10%) took effect in 2025.
British Columbia
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $50,363 | 5.06% |
| $50,364 to $100,728 | 7.70% |
| $100,729 to $115,648 | 10.50% |
| $115,649 to $140,430 | 12.29% |
| $140,431 to $190,405 | 14.70% |
| $190,406 to $265,545 | 16.80% |
| Over $265,545 | 20.50% |
BC residents with taxable income up to $24,580 generally pay no provincial tax due to a low-income tax reduction.
Manitoba
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $47,000 | 10.80% |
| $47,001 to $100,000 | 12.75% |
| Over $100,000 | 17.40% |
New Brunswick
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $52,333 | 9.40% |
| $52,334 to $104,666 | 14.00% |
| $104,667 to $193,861 | 16.00% |
| Over $193,861 | 19.50% |
Newfoundland & Labrador
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $44,678 | 8.70% |
| $44,679 to $89,354 | 14.50% |
| $89,355 to $159,528 | 15.80% |
| $159,529 to $223,340 | 17.80% |
| $223,341 to $285,319 | 19.80% |
| $285,320 to $570,638 | 20.80% |
| $570,639 to $1,141,275 | 21.30% |
| Over $1,141,275 | 21.80% |
Nova Scotia
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,995 | 8.79% |
| $30,996 to $61,991 | 14.95% |
| $61,992 to $97,417 | 16.67% |
| $97,418 to $157,124 | 17.50% |
| Over $157,124 | 21.00% |
Nova Scotia began indexing its brackets in 2026. A low-income tax reduction may apply.
Ontario
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $53,891 | 5.05% |
| $53,892 to $107,785 | 9.15% |
| $107,786 to $150,000 | 11.16% |
| $150,001 to $220,000 | 12.16% |
| Over $220,000 | 13.16% |
Ontario also applies surtaxes that may increase provincial tax for higher-income earners.
Prince Edward Island
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $32,656 | 9.65% |
| $32,657 to $64,313 | 13.63% |
| $64,314 to $105,000 | 16.65% |
| $105,001 to $140,000 | 18.00% |
| Over $140,000 | 18.75% |
PEI does not index its tax brackets for inflation.
Quebec
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $54,345 | 14.00% |
| $54,346 to $108,680 | 19.00% |
| $108,681 to $132,245 | 24.00% |
| Over $132,245 | 25.75% |
Quebec residents file a separate provincial return with Revenu Quebec in addition to their federal return.
Saskatchewan
| Taxable Income | Provincial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $53,463 | 10.50% |
| $53,464 to $152,750 | 12.50% |
| Over $152,750 | 14.50% |
Northwest Territories
| Taxable Income | Territorial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $50,997 | 5.90% |
| $50,998 to $101,993 | 8.60% |
| $101,994 to $165,726 | 12.20% |
| Over $165,726 | 14.05% |
Nunavut
| Taxable Income | Territorial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $54,707 | 4.00% |
| $54,708 to $109,413 | 7.00% |
| $109,414 to $177,882 | 9.00% |
| Over $177,882 | 11.50% |
Yukon
| Taxable Income | Territorial Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $58,523 | 6.40% |
| $58,524 to $117,045 | 9.00% |
| $117,046 to $181,440 | 10.90% |
| $181,441 to $500,000 | 12.80% |
| Over $500,000 | 15.00% |
Provincial rates shown are for the 2026 tax year. Some provinces apply additional surtaxes or low-income reductions not reflected here. For full details, visit canada.ca/tax-rates.
Deductions and credits people commonly miss
Before you submit, make sure you're not leaving money behind.