Tax Deadline Canada 2027: Key Dates and Information

The next main tax deadline in Canada is April 30, 2027. For most individuals, that is the last day to both file your 2026 income tax and benefit return and pay any tax you owe to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The deadline for the 2025 tax year was April 30, 2026, and it has passed. If you have not filed your 2025 return yet, file it as soon as you can. This guide lists the dates for the 2026 tax year and what happens if you miss them. Dates are as published by the CRA in October 2026; check canada.ca for updates.

Key Dates for the 2026 Tax Year (Filing in 2027)

• End of February 2027: employers and payers must send most tax slips (T4, T4A and others) for 2026. Wait for your slips before you file.
• February 2027: the CRA normally opens NETFILE and the "auto-fill my return" service around this time. The exact date has not been announced yet.
• March 1, 2027: RRSP contribution deadline for the 2026 tax year (the first 60 days of the year).
• April 30, 2027: deadline to file your 2026 return and to pay any balance owing, for most individuals.
• June 15, 2027: filing deadline if you or your spouse or common-law partner carried on a business in 2026. Any balance owing is still due April 30, 2027.

When Can You Start Filing Your 2026 Taxes?

The CRA has not yet announced the 2027 opening date for online filing. In recent years NETFILE has opened in February, so plan to file after you receive your slips, usually in late February or March.

Deadline for Individual Tax Returns

For most people, the 2026 return and any balance owing are due on April 30, 2027. This date applies whether you file online or on paper, and your payment must be received by that day to avoid interest. If a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the CRA moves it to the next business day. If you are due a refund and file late, there is no late-filing penalty, but you will receive your refund later and may miss benefits that depend on your return.

Deadline for Self-Employed Individuals

If you or your spouse or common-law partner carried on a business in 2026, the filing deadline is June 15, 2027. The payment deadline for any balance owing is still April 30, 2027, and interest starts on May 1, 2027 on any unpaid amount. There is an exception: if the business expenses were mainly the cost of tax shelter investments, the filing deadline stays April 30, 2027.

Other Important CRA Dates and Deadlines

Besides the main filing dates, there are other deadlines that may apply to you.

Business Tax Deadlines

Sole proprietors and partners who report business income on their personal return use the June 15 filing date and the April 30 payment date above. Corporations file their T2 return within six months of their tax year-end. For GST/HST registrants, see our guide to GST/HST filing deadlines.

Final Tax Return Deadlines

If you are the legal representative of a person who died, you must file their final return. The deadline depends on the date of death:

• If the person died between January 1 and October 31, 2026, the final return is due April 30, 2027 (or June 15, 2027 if the person or their spouse or common-law partner was self-employed, with payment still due April 30, 2027).
• If the person died between November 1 and December 31, 2026, the final return is due six months after the date of death.

Installment Payment Due Dates

If you pay installments throughout the year, the CRA lists four payment dates for 2027, for both employed and self-employed individuals:

• March 15, 2027
• June 15, 2027
• September 15, 2027
• December 15, 2027

Penalties for Late Filing

Failing to file on time can lead to penalties and interest if you owe tax.

Penalties for Individuals

If you file late and have a balance owing, the CRA charges a late-filing penalty of 5% of the balance owing, plus 1% for each full month the return is late, up to a maximum of 12 months. If you were charged a late-filing penalty in any of the previous three years, the penalty can rise to 10% plus 2% per full month, up to 20 months. If you are owed a refund or owe nothing, there is no late-filing penalty.

Interest on Unpaid Amounts

The CRA charges compound daily interest on unpaid tax from the day after the deadline. The prescribed interest rate on overdue taxes is 7% for the fourth quarter of 2026 (October to December), and the CRA updates it every quarter.

Conclusion

Mark April 30, 2027 on your calendar for filing and paying your 2026 taxes, and June 15, 2027 if you or your spouse are self-employed (payment is still due April 30). The RRSP deadline for the 2026 tax year is March 1, 2027. If you missed the 2025 deadline, file as soon as possible, because penalties and interest grow every month. Always confirm dates on canada.ca before you file.

Related guides

• How to Amend Your Tax Return in Canada
• Line 10100 On Your Tax Return: A Guide to Employment Income in Canada
• Notice of Assessment Canada
• CRA Taxpayer Relief in Canada
• federal income tax brackets

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