On this page

• Income tax package content and delivery
• SimpleFile by phone
• Benefits of filing online
• Free tax clinics
• If you need help or have questions

Income tax package content and delivery

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will mail the 2024 income tax package to certain vulnerable individuals who filed a paper return last year. The mailed package should arrive by February 24, 2025.

The package you should receive includes:

• a letter from the Commissioner of Revenue
• two copies of the income tax and benefit return
• forms you may need to complete your income tax and benefit return, including Form 428 for provincial or territorial tax (except for the province of Quebec)
• inserts or forms, depending on eligibility
• a return envelope

If you don’t receive your package by February 24, 2025, you can get one online at Forms and publications - CRA. You can also order a package by calling the CRA at 1-855-330-3305 (non-residents can call 1-613-940-8495). Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) will be required.

It can take up to 10 business days for publications and forms to arrive by mail. Orders placed before February 11, 2025, will be mailed as soon as the 2024 publications are printed and ready to ship.

SimpleFile by phone

In previous years, you may have received an invitation in your tax package to use the CRA’s automated phone service, SimpleFile by phone (formerly File My Return). This year, if you are eligible, the CRA will automatically send you an invitation in the mail or notify you by email.

Through this service, you’ll be asked to verify some personal information and answer a series of short questions. You do not need to speak to an agent to use the SimpleFile by phone service. Answers to the questions are provided using your phone's keypad.

SimpleFile uses the information in the CRA’s systems at the time of the call and the answers you provide, to auto-file your income tax and benefit return over the phone. It is free, secure, and easy to use. There are no forms to fill out or calculations to do. The invitation letter you receive provides the information you need to use the service.

Benefits of filing online

Even if you filed on paper last year, consider filing your 2024 tax return online. There are many advantages:

You get your refund faster

Electronic returns are generally processed within two weeks. However, for paper returns, our service standard is to process them within eight weeks of receipt. Paper returns are processed in the order they are received. If you file electronically and are signed up for direct deposit, you may get your refund within eight business days. You can file electronically starting on February 24, 2025.

You get immediate confirmation

Immediately after you submit your tax return electronically, you will receive confirmation that the CRA received it. The notice of assessment (NOA) or notice of reassessment is available in NETFILE certified tax preparation software and in your CRA Account, right after the return has been received and processed by the CRA. To view it, you must be registered for a CRA account.

You don’t have to send receipts with your return

If the CRA selects your return for review, you may have to provide receipts at that time. The CRA’s process for selecting returns for review is the same whether the return is filed on paper or online.

It’s secure

The CRA uses a high level of online protection, which includes the same technologies used by banks and other financial institutions. Plus, your tax return goes directly from your computer to our servers in an encrypted format.

If you’re registered for a CRA account, you can also use Auto-fill my return to automatically fill in parts of your return with information the CRA has on file at the time of the request. You can also use a CRA account to easily change your address, phone number, or other personal information that the CRA has on file.

If you choose to file your return electronically, you can use NETFILE-certified tax preparation software products, some of which are free. You can also file though the services of an electronic filer who is certified to use our EFILE service. Before filing, you’ll be asked to enter your eight-character alphanumeric access code. You can find this unique code on your last NOA. It’s located on the first page of the notice, on the right-hand side beneath the Notice details box. For more information on filing online, go to File your taxes online: Understand NETFILE.

You may be able to make online changes to your return by using the ReFILE service in your certified tax preparation software. You can also use our Change my return service available in your CRA account.

Free tax clinics

If you have a modest income and a simple tax situation, volunteers at a free tax clinic may be able to complete your tax return. These clinics are available in-person or virtually. Find out about the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (or the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program in the province of Quebec) by going to Free tax clinics.

For Indigenous Peoples, we invite you to visit the Resources for supporting communities page. In the list of audiences, choose Indigenous Peoples and you’ll find information and forms that may be specific to your situation. Additionally, you can view our factsheet for Indigenous Peoples, which is available in 11 Indigenous languages. You can also visit the What to consider for Indigenous Peoples page.

If you need help or have questions

Go to Get ready to do your taxes for a list of what you need to know before you file your taxes. For answers to frequently asked questions about filing a return, go to Questions and answers about filing your taxes. The CRA will update these pages in late January 2025.