Filing your return

Getting started

Gather all the documents needed to complete your return. This includes your information slips (such as T3, T4, T4A, and T5 slips) and receipts for any deductions or credits you plan to claim. You can file a paper return, or use EFILE or NETFILE. No matter how you file your return, see "What do you include with your return and what records do you keep?" later on this page.

Your EFILE service provider can prepare your return for you, or you can prepare your return yourself for an EFILE service provider who accepts client-prepared returns.

If you complete your return using computer software, this fast, secure system lets you file it over the Internet. For more information, go to the www.netfile.gc.ca Web site.

As you prepare your return, when you come to a line that applies to you, you can look it up in this guide, or see the back of your information slips for more instructions.

If you are filing a paper return, mail or deliver it in the envelope included in the forms book. Use your mail-in label if you have one, and make note of the address for future reference. If you are preparing other people's returns, mail or deliver each person's return in a separate envelope.

Note
If you have a farming business and you are participating in the net income stabilization account (NISA) program, use the envelope contained in the guide called Farming Income and NISA.

What date is your return for 2000 due?

Generally, your return for 2000 has to be filed on or before April 30, 2001.

Note
If you file your return after April 30, 2001, your goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, Canada Child Tax Benefit, and Old Age Security benefit payments may be delayed.

Self-employed persons - If you or your spouse (see page ) carried on a business in 2000 (other than a business whose expenditures are primarily in connection with a tax shelter) your return for 2000 has to be filed on or before June 15, 2001. However, if you have a balance owing for 2000, you still have to pay it on or before April 30, 2001. For details of how to make your payment, see line 485.

Deceased persons - If you are the legal representative (executor or administrator) of the estate of an individual who died in 2000, you may have to file a return for 2000 for that individual. Get the guide called Preparing Returns for Deceased Persons for details about your filing requirements and options.

Note
If you received income in 2000 for a person who died in 1999 or earlier, do not file a return for 2000 for that income on behalf of that person. However, you may have to file a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return for the estate.

What penalties and interest do we charge?

Penalties

If you owe tax for 2000, and do not file your return for 2000 within the dates we specify under "What date is your return for 2000 due?" on this page, we will charge you a late-filing penalty. The penalty is 5% of your balance owing for 2000, plus 1% of your balance owing for each full month that your return is late, to a maximum of 12 months. Your late-filing penalty may be higher if we charged you a late-filing penalty on a return for any of the three previous years.

Tax Tip
Even if you cannot pay the full amount you owe on or before April 30, 2001, you can avoid the late-filing penalty by filing your return on time.

We may waive this penalty (as well as any interest that may apply, as discussed in the next section) if you file your return late because of circumstances beyond your control. If this happens, include a letter with your return (or send one to us separately) giving the reasons why you filed your return late. For details, get Information Circular 92-2, Guidelines for the Cancellation and Waiver of Interest and Penalties.

If you fail to report an amount on your return for 2000, you may have to pay a penalty. If you also failed to report an amount on any of your returns for 1997, 1998, or 1999, you may have to pay another penalty.

Interest

If you have a balance owing for 2000, we charge compound daily interest starting May 1, 2001, on any unpaid amounts owing for 2000. This includes any balance owing if we reassess your return. In addition, we will charge you interest on any penalty you have to pay, starting the day after your return is due.

What do you include with your return and what records do you keep?

If you are filing a paper return, include one copy of each of your information slips. Your return, the guide explanations, the forms, or the schedules will tell you when to attach other supporting documents, such as certificates, forms, schedules, or official receipts. If you are using EFILE, take your label sheet and all of your supporting documents to your EFILE service provider.

If you make a claim without the required receipt, certificate, schedule, or form, we may disallow your claim. It could also delay the processing of your return.

Even if you do not have to attach certain supporting documents to your return, or if you are filing your return electronically (see "Getting started") keep them in case we select your return for review. Generally, you should keep your supporting documents for six years.

You should also keep a copy of your return for 2000, the related Notice of Assessment, and any Notice of Reassessment. These can help you complete your return for 2001. For example, your noticefor 2000 will tell you:

• your RRSP deduction limit for 2001;
• your unused RRSP contributions for 2001;
• your non-capital loss carry-forward balance; and
• tuition and education amounts carry-forward balance. For details, see line 323.

What if you are missing information?

If you have to file a return for 2000, as explained on page 7, be sure to file it on time (see page 9) even if some slips or receipts are missing. If you know that you will not be able to get a slip by the due date, attach to your paper return a note stating the payer's name and address, the type of income involved, and what you are doing to get the slip. To calculate the income to report, and any related deductions and credits you can claim, use any stubs you may have and attach them to your paper return.