Due date

The RRSP contribution receipt returns are due by May 1 of the year in which the contribution year ends (contribution year ends on the 60th day of the following calendar year). Returns filed after this date are subject to penalties and interest.

Penalties and interest

The minimum penalty for late filing the RRSP contribution receipt information return is $100 and the maximum penalty is $7,500.

Cancel or waive penalties and interest

The CRA administers legislation, commonly called taxpayer relief provisions, that allows the CRA discretion to cancel or waive penalties and interest when taxpayers cannot meet their tax obligations due to circumstances beyond their control.

The CRA’s discretion to grant relief is limited to any period that ends within 10 calendar years before the year in which a relief request is made.

For penalties, the CRA will consider your request only if it relates to a tax year or fiscal period ending in any of the 10 calendar years before the year in which you make your request. For example, your request made in 2023 must relate to a penalty for a tax year or fiscal period ending in 2013 or later.

For interest on a balance owing for any tax year or fiscal period, the CRA will consider only the amounts that accrued during the 10 calendar years before the year in which you make your request. For example, your request made in 2023 must relate to interest that accrued in 2013 or later.

Taxpayer relief requests can be made online using the CRA’s My Account, My Business Account (MyBA), or Represent a Client digital services:

• My Account: After signing in, select "Accounts and payments," then "Request relief of penalties and interest."
• MyBA or Represent a Client: After signing in, on the MyBA overview page, select the appropriate program from the navigation menu, then select the correct account. Finally, select "Request relief of penalties and interest" under the "Request" heading.

You can also fill out Form RC4288, Request for Taxpayer Relief - Cancel or Waive Penalties and Interest, and send it with one of the following ways:

• online with My Account: select "Submit documents" under the "Correspondence" section
• online with MyBA or Represent a Client: select "Submit documents" from the banner at the top of the page
• by mail to the designated office, as shown on the last page of the form, based on your place of residence

For information on the "Submit Documents online" service, go to Submit documents online.

For more details on the required supporting documents, relief from penalties and interest, and other related forms and publications, go to Cancel or waive penalties and interest at the CRA.

Related links

• Due dates and payment dates