Tax season has arrived. Whether you run a professional practice, manage a growing business, or simply want to stay on top of your personal filing obligations, knowing when things are due can save you real money. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) does not offer much flexibility on deadlines, and the penalties for missing them are steep.
At Cassar CPA, we spend a good part of our year helping clients across the GTA organize their records and file on time. After fifteen years working alongside small business owners, healthcare professionals, and consultants, our team knows how easy it is for a deadline to creep up. That is why we put this guide together: a single reference for every key personal and corporate tax date in 2026, along with the contribution limits and penalty details you need to plan ahead.
At a Glance: Key 2026 Tax Dates
The table below captures the dates that apply to the majority of Canadian taxpayers. More detailed breakdowns follow in the sections below.
🔖 Bookmark this page. We will update it if the CRA makes any changes throughout the year.
| Date | What Is Due | Who It Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| February 23 | NETFILE opens for online filing | All individuals |
| March 2 | RRSP contribution deadline for 2025 tax year | All RRSP holders |
| March 2 | T4, T5 and T4A information returns due | Employers, issuers & payers |
| March 31 | T3 trust returns due (calendar year-end trusts) | Trustees |
| March 31 | Partnership returns due (all-individual partners) | Partnerships |
| April 30 | Personal income tax return filing deadline | Most individuals |
| April 30 | Balance owing payment deadline (all individuals) | All taxpayers who owe |
| June 15 | Filing deadline for self-employed individuals | Self-employed & spouses |
| June 30 | T2 corporate return due (Dec. 31 year-end) | Corporations |
| June 30 | Charity information return (T3010) due (Dec. 31 year-end) | Registered charities |
Personal Income Tax Deadlines
Most Individuals
If you earn employment income, pension income, investment income, or rental income and you are not self-employed, April 30, 2026 is the date to remember. That is both the filing deadline for your 2025 personal income tax return and the deadline to pay any balance owing to the CRA. This year, April 30 falls on a Thursday, so there is no weekend extension.
One practical tip from our team: even if you are expecting a refund, filing early gives the CRA more time to process your return and get your money back to you sooner. For 2025 returns, online filing through NETFILE opens on February 23, 2026.
Self-Employed Individuals and Their Spouses
If you or your spouse or common-law partner earned self-employment income in 2025, you have until June 15, 2026 to file your return. This is a critical distinction, though: while the filing deadline is extended, any taxes you owe are still due by April 30, 2026. Interest begins accruing on unpaid balances after that date regardless of your filing extension.
In our experience working with consultants, freelancers, and professional services firms, this two-part rule catches people off guard every year. Our founder, Matt Cassar, often reminds clients to estimate their tax liability early and pay by April 30 even if they are still pulling together documentation for the June 15 filing.
Deceased Persons
The filing deadline for a deceased individual may differ from the standard dates. The specific deadline depends on the date of death. The CRA provides detailed guidance on final returns for deceased persons on its website, and we recommend consulting with a qualified professional to determine the applicable deadline.
Corporate Income Tax Deadlines
A corporation’s income tax return (T2) is due no later than six months after the end of its fiscal year. While corporations can choose any fiscal year-end, the most common is December 31. For businesses with a December 31, 2025 year-end, this means the T2 is due June 30, 2026.
If a filing deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or CRA-recognized public holiday, the deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.
Corporate tax payments, on the other hand, are due two or three months after the year-end depending on the corporation’s taxable income and eligibility for the small business deduction. This is one area where proper planning throughout the year makes a meaningful difference, and something we work on with our Premier and Elite plan clients as part of their regular strategy sessions.
Information Returns: T4s, T5s, and T4As
Employers and businesses that paid wages, salaries, investment income, or contractor fees in 2025 have information return obligations early in the calendar year.
T4 Slips (Employment Income)
The deadline to file T4 information returns for the 2025 calendar year is March 2, 2026. The last day of February falls on a Saturday this year, so the CRA extends the deadline to the following Monday.
T5 Slips (Investment Income)
T5 information returns for the 2025 tax year are also due by March 2, 2026. The standard deadline is the last day of February, but since February 28, 2026 falls on a Saturday, the CRA extends the deadline to the next business day. T5 slips are used to report interest, dividends, and certain other investment income paid to Canadian residents.
T4A Slips
Used to report pension income, contractor fees, commissions, and other income types, T4A slips for the 2025 calendar year are due by March 2, 2026.
Late or inaccurate information returns can trigger CRA penalties, so this is an area where staying organized well before year-end pays dividends.
Partnership Returns
The filing deadline for a partnership information return depends on the type of partners involved.
If all partners are individuals throughout the fiscal period (the CRA considers a trust to be an individual for this purpose), the return is due March 31, 2026. If all partners are corporations, the return is due five months after the partnership’s fiscal period ends. In all other cases, the return is due on the earlier of March 31, 2026 or five months after the fiscal period ends. As always, if the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the CRA moves the deadline to the next business day.
Trust Returns
A T3 trust return, along with related slips and summaries, must be filed no later than 90 days after the trust’s tax year-end. Any balance owing is also due within that 90-day window. For trusts with a December 31, 2025 year-end, the filing and payment deadline is March 31, 2026.
Bare Trusts: A Continuing Story
The enhanced trust reporting rules have been a source of confusion since their initial introduction for the 2023 tax year. Consistent with the administrative relief provided for the 2023 and 2024 tax years, the CRA has indicated, as part of its trust-reporting updates and based on proposed legislation in Bill C-15, that it does not expect bare trusts to file a T3 return or Schedule 15 for taxation years ending in 2025, unless the CRA makes a direct request. The CRA has also noted it will extend this administrative filing waiver if legislative changes are not enacted well in advance of the filing deadline.
Looking ahead, Bill C-15 proposes updated rules that would require certain bare trusts to file for taxation years ending on or after December 31, 2026, with returns due in early 2027. This legislation had not yet received Royal Assent at the time of writing, and the proposed rules include several exceptions that may narrow the scope of affected arrangements. We will update this guide as the situation evolves.
Registered Charities
A registered charity must file Form T3010, the Registered Charity Information Return, within six months of the end of its fiscal period. For charities with a December 31, 2025 year-end, the filing deadline is June 30, 2026. If that date falls on a weekend, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Not-for-Profit Organizations
Not-for-profit organizations are required to file a T2 corporate income tax return annually. Depending on the circumstances, they may also need to file a T1044 Non-Profit Organization Information Return. For federally incorporated not-for-profits under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (CNCA), financial statement review or audit requirements depend on whether the corporation is classified as soliciting or non-soliciting, its gross annual revenues (with a key threshold at $250,000), and member elections. These requirements should be confirmed based on your specific corporate status, governing statute, and bylaws.
Registered Account Contribution Limits and Deadlines
RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan)
The deadline to make an RRSP contribution that counts toward your 2025 tax year deduction is March 2, 2026. The standard 60-day deadline (March 1) falls on a Sunday this year, so the CRA extends it to the following Monday.
The maximum RRSP contribution limit for the 2025 tax year is $32,490, or 18% of your previous year’s earned income, whichever is less. Any unused RRSP contribution room from previous years carries forward indefinitely and can be added to your current year’s limit. You can find your exact deduction limit on your most recent Notice of Assessment or by logging in to your CRA My Account.
For the 2026 tax year, the annual maximum increases to $33,810.
December 31 of the year you turn 71 is the final day you can contribute to your own RRSP. After that, the plan must be converted to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), an annuity, or cashed out.
A note for incorporated professionals: only salary income creates RRSP contribution room. If your corporation pays you primarily through dividends, you may not be generating new room each year. This is a common planning consideration we discuss with healthcare professionals and consultants as part of their overall compensation strategy.
TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account)
The annual TFSA contribution limit for both 2025 and 2026 is $7,000. Unlike RRSPs, there is no specific contribution deadline tied to tax filing. TFSA contributions are made on a calendar-year basis, and unused room carries forward indefinitely.
If you have been eligible since the TFSA was introduced in 2009 and have never contributed, your cumulative lifetime contribution room is $102,000 through 2025 and $109,000 through 2026. Remember that any withdrawals made during a year are added back to your contribution room on January 1 of the following year, not immediately.
FHSA (First Home Savings Account)
The FHSA allows eligible first-time homebuyers to contribute up to $8,000 per year, with a lifetime maximum of $40,000. Unlike RRSP contributions, FHSA contributions follow a strict calendar-year deadline of December 31. There is no 60-day grace period.
Unused annual contribution room can be carried forward to the following year, up to a maximum carry-forward of $8,000. Contributions are tax-deductible, similar to RRSPs, and qualifying withdrawals for a first home purchase are tax-free, similar to TFSAs.
Quarterly Instalment Payments
If your net tax owing exceeded $3,000 (or $1,800 if you reside in Quebec) in the current year and in either of the two prior years, the CRA may require you to make quarterly instalment payments. The due dates for 2026 instalments are:
March 15, 2026 (first quarterly instalment), June 15, 2026 (second quarterly instalment), September 15, 2026 (third quarterly instalment), and December 15, 2026 (fourth quarterly instalment).
This is particularly common for self-employed individuals, business owners, and anyone with significant investment or rental income where taxes are not withheld at source. Paying insufficient or late instalments can result in instalment interest charges.
CRA Penalties and Interest for Late Filing or Late Payment
The CRA does not take missed deadlines lightly. Understanding the potential costs is one of the best motivations to file and pay on time.
Late-Filing Penalties
If you file your tax return late and owe a balance, the CRA charges a penalty of 5% of the amount owing, plus 1% for each full month the return is late, up to a maximum of 12 months. That means a maximum additional penalty of 17%.
For repeat offenders, the stakes are even higher. If you were charged a late-filing penalty for any of the three preceding tax years and the CRA formally requested that you file a return, the penalty increases to 10% of the balance owing plus 2% per month, up to a maximum of 20 months. That is a potential 50% penalty on top of the taxes you already owe.
Interest on Unpaid Balances
On top of any penalties, the CRA charges compound daily interest on unpaid tax balances. The interest rate is set quarterly based on the prescribed rate. For the first quarter of 2026 (January through March), the CRA’s interest rate on overdue taxes stands at 7%.
Interest is also charged on any penalties you incur, compounding the cost further. In most cases, interest charged by the CRA on personal tax arrears is not deductible for tax purposes, though circumstances can vary. Confirm with your accountant.
A Practical Example
Consider an individual who owes $5,000 in taxes and files 12 months late for the first time. The late-filing penalty alone would be $850 (5% initial penalty plus 1% per month for 12 months = 17% of $5,000). Add compound daily interest at the prescribed rate and the total cost climbs well beyond the original balance. For a repeat late filer who is 20 months behind, the penalty portion alone could reach $2,500 (50% of $5,000), with interest accumulating on top of that. The exact total depends on the prescribed rates in effect during the period, but the message is clear: late filing is expensive.
The takeaway is simple: even if you cannot pay the full amount by the deadline, file your return on time. Filing eliminates the late-filing penalty, and you can then arrange a payment plan with the CRA for the balance owing.
What’s New for the 2025 Tax Year
Lowest Federal Tax Rate Reduced
Starting July 1, 2025, the lowest marginal federal income tax rate was reduced from 15% to 14%. Since this change took effect partway through the year, the effective lowest rate for the full 2025 tax year is 14.5%. For 2026, the full-year rate of 14% will apply.
New Top-Up Tax Credit
A new non-refundable tax credit was introduced to maintain a 15% rate for certain non-refundable tax credits claimed on amounts exceeding the first income tax bracket threshold of $57,375 for 2025. This top-up credit will remain in place through the 2030 tax year.
CRA Digital Services Updates
The CRA has rolled out several new self-service options for the 2026 filing season, including the ability to reset locked CRA account credentials online and mandatory multi-factor authentication for CRA accounts starting in February 2026. The CRA also continues to expand online mail delivery for some Canadians, meaning more notices and correspondence may arrive through CRA My Account rather than by postal mail, depending on your settings and eligibility.
How Cassar CPA Can Help
Keeping track of deadlines is just the starting point. At Cassar CPA, we work with small businesses, professional services firms, healthcare providers, and entrepreneurs across the Greater Toronto Area to ensure their tax compliance is handled proactively, not reactively. From our offices in Toronto and Oakville, we provide year-round accounting, tax planning, and advisory services designed to help you keep more of what you earn.
If any of the deadlines or rules on this page raised a question specific to your situation, we would be happy to discuss it. Book a complimentary 30-minute discovery meeting with our team to learn how we can help.
This information is general in nature and not specific tax advice. Tax laws and CRA requirements change frequently, consult a qualified CPA to discuss your situation.