Individual income tax return statistics for the 2017 tax-filing season
Disclaimer
We do not guarantee the accuracy of this copy of the CRA website.
Scraped Page Content
Individual income tax return statistics for the 2017 tax-filing season
The following graphs and tables provide statistics on the number of T1 tax returns received and processed at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) during the 2017 tax-filing season (February 2017 to January 2018); the total number, amount, and average refund by cheque or by direct deposit; the total number, amount, and average of the debit returns; and the total number of nil returns.
Returns received by filing method
| Filing method | Number of returns | Percentage of total |
|---|---|---|
| EFILE | 16,602,996 | 56% |
| NETFILE | 8,443,343 | 29% |
| Total - electronic | 25,046,339 | 85% |
| Paper | 4,270,716 | 15% |
| Total - all methods | 29,317,055 | 100% |
Electronic filing methods
EFILE is a service that lets authorized service providers send tax return information to us over the Internet. For more information, see EFILE for individuals.
NETFILE allows you to file your tax return directly to the CRA over the Internet. For more information, see NETFILE. There are even free certified software products available to file your income tax return online.
Returns processed by results
| Number of returns | Total dollar value | Average amount per return |
Percentage of refunds |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refund - cheque |
5,456,995 |
$9,794,554,890 |
$1,795 | 32% |
| Refund - direct deposit | 11,409,841 | $19,969,753,747 | $1,750 | 68% |
| Refunds - total | 16,866,836 |
$29,764,308,637 |
$1,765 | |
| Balance owing | 6,573,201 |
$36,873,996,341 |
$5,610 | |
| Nil return | 5,840,368 | n/a | n/a |
Direct deposit
For information about setting up direct deposit, see How to start direct deposit or change your information. If you are registered for My Account, you can apply online.
Previous-year statistics
| Year | EFILE | % | NETFILE | % | TELEFILE | % | Paper | % | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 16,246,107 | 56% | 8,071,902 | 28% | - | - | 4,728,642 | 16% | 29,046,651 |
| 2015 | 15,720,437 | 55% | 7,662,876 | 26% | - | - | 5,397,643 | 19% | 28,780,956 |
| 2014 | 14,937,178 | 53% | 7,197,415 | 25% | - | - | 6,162,087 | 22% | 28,296,680 |
| 2013 | 13,954,472 | 50% | 6,807,901 | 25% | - | - | 7,074,741 | 25% | 27,837,114 |
| 2012 | 11,757,467 | 43% | 5,568,847 | 20% | 321,033 | 1% | 9,767,536 | 36% | 27,414,883 |
Privacy statement
The information you provide through this survey is collected under the authority of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act (DESDA) for the purpose of measuring the performance of Canada.ca and continually improving the website. Your participation is voluntary.
Please do not include sensitive personal information in the message box, such as your name, address, Social Insurance Number, personal finances, medical or work history or any other information by which you or anyone else can be identified by your comments or views.
Any personal information collected will be administered in accordance with the Department of Employment and Social Development Act, the Privacy Act and other applicable privacy laws governing the protection of personal information under the control of the Department of Employment and Social Development. Survey responses will not be attributed to individuals.
If you wish to obtain information related to this survey, you may submit a request to the Department of Employment and Social Development pursuant to the Access to Information Act. Instructions for making a request are provided in the publication InfoSource, copies of which are located in local Service Canada Centres.
You have the right to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada regarding the institution’s handling of your personal information at: How to file a complaint.
When making a request, please refer to the name of this survey: Report a Problem or Mistake on This Page.
- Date modified:
- 2018-01-31