📅 Deadlines & Filing Basics 

1. When is the tax filing deadline for 2026? 

For most individuals, the deadline to file your 2025 income tax return is April 30, 2026. If you or your spouse are self-employed, you have until June 15, 2026, though any taxes owed must still be paid by April 30 to avoid interest. 

2. What is the earliest date I can file my taxes online?

The CRA opened the NETFILE and EFILE services on February 23, 2026. You can submit your return electronically as soon as you have all your T-slips. 

3. What happens if I file my taxes late?

If you owe a balance, the CRA charges a late-filing penalty of 5% of your 2025 balance owing, plus an additional 1% for each full month your return is late (to a maximum of 12 months). Even if you can't pay, filing on time prevents this penalty. ice to retrieve them for you directly from the CRA. 

4. I can't find my T4 slips. What should I do? 

You can access most of your tax slips (T4, T5, T4A) through your CRA My Account. Alternatively, if you use a representative with EZ Income Tax, we can use the "Auto-fill my return" service to retrieve them for you directly from the CRA.

📈 Tax Rates & Benefits 

5 . What are the federal tax brackets for 2026? 

The lowest federal tax rate for 2026 is 14% on the first $58,523 of taxable income. 

6. I heard about a "Middle-Class Tax Cut." How does it affect me? 

Starting in 2025/2026, the lowest marginal tax rate was reduced from 15% to 14%. This change is aimed at providing relief for low-to-middle income earners, potentially saving individuals up to several hundred dollars annually. 

7. What is the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit? 

This benefit replaces and enhances the old GST/HST credit. A one-time top-up payment is expected in Spring 2026, with a permanent 25% increase to the credit starting in July 2026 for eligible low-to-modest income families. 

8. What is the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)?

 Launched in mid-2025, the CDB is a monthly tax-exempt payment for low-income Canadians with disabilities aged 18 to 64. To receive it, you must be eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and have filed your tax return. 

💰 Savings & Investments 

9. What is the TFSA contribution limit for 2026?

 The annual Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) limit for 2026 is $7,000. If you have never contributed and have been eligible since 2009, your total cumulative room could be as high as $109,000. 

10. When is the RRSP contribution deadline for the 2025 tax year? 

The deadline was March 2, 2026. Any contributions made by this date can be used to reduce your 2025 taxable income. 

11. Can I still use the First Home Savings Account (FHSA)? 

Yes! You can contribute up to $8,000 annually (to a lifetime limit of $40,000) to an FHSA. Contributions are tax-deductible, and withdrawals to buy your first home are tax-free. 

🏠 Work & Home Credits

12. Can I still claim home office expenses? 

The "temporary flat rate method" (the $2/day rule) has ended. To claim home office expenses now, you must use the detailed method, which requires your employer to sign a Form T2200.

13. What is the Home Accessibility Tax Credit?

 If you performed renovations to make your home safer or more accessible for a senior or a person with a disability, you may be able to claim a non-refundable tax credit on up to $20,000 of eligible expenses.

14. Is the "Canada Carbon Rebate" still active?

While the federal fuel charge program has seen significant changes recently, you can still claim rebates for prior years (2021–2024) if you haven't filed yet. The "Farmers Tax Credit" for fuel charges officially ended in early 2025.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family & Seniors

15. How much is the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for 2026? 

For the 2025-2026 benefit year, you can receive up to $7,997 per child under 6 and up to $6,748 per child aged 6 to 17, depending on your adjusted family net income.

16. Can I split my pension income with my spouse? 

Yes. If you receive eligible pension income, you may be able to allocate up to 50% of it to your spouse or common-law partner to reduce your overall family tax bill.

17. What medical expenses can I claim? 

You can claim a wide range of expenses, from prescriptions and dental work to travel for medical care, provided they exceed the lesser of 3% of your net income or a set threshold ($2,759 for 2025).

🛠️ Audit & Security

18. Why does the CRA keep asking for "Multi-Factor Authentication" (MFA)?

As of February 2026, the CRA requires a backup MFA option (like a passcode grid or an authenticator app) to keep your "My Account" secure from identity theft.

19. What should I do if I am audited? 

Don't panic. An audit is often just a request for more information. Keep all your receipts and records for six years. If you receive a letter, contact a professional like Kelly Phan immediately to help manage the correspondence.

20. Why should I use a tax professional instead of free software?

While software is great for simple returns, a professional like EZ Income Tax looks for high-level strategies—like loss carry-forwards, optimized credit sharing between spouses, and long-term planning—that software often misses.