ARCHIVED - Refund or balance owing
Disclaimer
We do not guarantee the accuracy of this copy of the CRA website.
Scraped Page Content
ARCHIVED - Refund or balance owing
We have archived this page and will not be updating it.
You can use it for research or reference.
We have archived this page and will not be updating it.
You can use it for research or reference.
On this page…
- Line 421 - CPP contributions payable on self-employment and other earnings
- Line 430 - Employment Insurance premiums payable on self employment and other eligible earnings
- Line 422 - Social benefits repayment
- Line 428 - Provincial or territorial tax
- Line 437 - Total income tax deducted
- Line 438 - Tax transfer for residents of Quebec
- Line 440 - Refundable Quebec abatement
- Line 448 - CPP overpayment
- Line 450 - Employment Insurance overpayment
- Line 452 - Refundable medical expense supplement
- Line 453 - Working income tax benefit (WITB)
- Line 454 - Refund of investment tax credit
- Line 456 - Part XII.2 trust tax credit
- Line 457 - Employee and partner GST/HST rebate
- Line 476 - Tax paid by instalments
- Line 484 - Refund
- Line 485 - Balance owing
- How to file your return
- After you file
- What happens to your return after we receive it?
- When can you expect your refund?
- Our service complaint process
- What should you do if you disagree?
- How do you change a return?
- Can you file a return to claim a refund for a previous year?
- What is a voluntary disclosure?
- What should you do if you move?
- Should you be paying your taxes by instalments?
- For more information
⬤Line 421 - CPP contributions payable on self-employment and other earnings
Enter from line 10 of the Schedule 8 for CPP contributions the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions you have to pay.
If you have to complete a return for the Province of Quebec, this line does not apply to you. Enter the Quebec Pension Plan contributions you have to pay on your provincial income tax return for Quebec.
⬤▮▲ Line 430 - Employment Insurance premiums payable on self employment and other eligible earnings
Complete Schedule 13 to calculate the amount of your Employment Insurance (EI) premiums.
Enter the amount from line 10 of your Schedule 13 on line 430. This is the amount of your EI premiums you have to pay for 2010.
⬤▲Line 422 - Social benefits repayment
Enter the amount of social benefits you have to repay, from line 235 of your return.
Non-residents electing under section 217 - Enter only the amount of your Employment Insurance benefits repayment as calculated on the chart on the back of your information slips. Do not enter the amount of your Old Age Security pension or net federal supplements repayment.
⬤▲Line 428 - Provincial or territorial tax
Deemed residents - This line applies to you only if you had a business with a permanent establishment in a province or territory in Canada in 2010. If this is your situation, use Form T2203, Provincial and Territorial Taxes for 2010 - Multiple Jurisdictions, to calculate your tax for provinces and territories other than Quebec. Attach a copy to your return.
Non-residents electing under section 217 - This line applies to you only if you had income from employment in Canada in 2010, or from a business with a permanent establishment in a province or territory in Canada in 2010. If this is your situation, use Form T2203, Provincial and Territorial Taxes for 2010 - Multiple Jurisdictions, to calculate your tax for provinces and territories other than Quebec. Attach a copy to your return.
Note
To calculate your tax for Quebec, you will have to file a Quebec provincial return.
⬤▮▲Line 437 - Total income tax deducted
Enter the total of all the amounts shown in the "Income tax deducted" box from all of your Canadian information slips. However, if you are subject to Quebec tax, do not include on this return any of your Quebec provincial income tax deducted.
If you are not subject to Quebec tax, but you had Quebec provincial income tax withheld from your income, include those amounts on this line and attach your provincial information slips to your return.
If you and your spouse or common-law partner elected to split pension income, follow the instructions at Step 5 on Form T1032, Joint Election to Split Pension Income, to calculate the amount to enter on line 437 of your and your spouse's or common-law partner's returns.
Notes
If you paid tax by instalments in 2010, claim it on line 476.
If you paid foreign taxes, do not claim these amounts on this line. However, you may be able to claim a foreign tax credit. For more information, see Form T2209, Federal Foreign Tax Credits.
Deemed residents - If tax was withheld from your Old Age Security (OAS) monthly benefits in 2010 (as shown in box 22 of your T4A (OAS) slip), make sure you claim it on this line.
Non-residents electing under section 217 - If you received Old Age Security benefits in 2010, include the amount of non-resident tax shown in box 17 of your NR4-OAS slip. Do not include the amount shown in box 27 of the slip.
⬤Line 438 - Tax transfer for residents of Quebec
If you have to file a return for the Province of Quebec, you may have earned income, such as employment income, outside Quebec during 2010. In that case, tax may have been deducted for a province or territory other than Quebec.
You can transfer, to the Province of Quebec, up to 45% of the income tax shown on information slips issued to you by payers outside Quebec.
Note
If you or your spouse or common-law partner elected to split pension income, and you are the pension transferee, include in the calculation of the transfer only the part of the income tax added on line 437 that relates to the split-pension amount. If you are the pensioner, do not include the part of the income tax subtracted on line 437 that relates to the split-pension amount.
Enter on line 438 of your federal return and on line 454 of your provincial income tax return for Quebec the amount you want to transfer (up to the maximum). If the taxable income on your provincial income tax return for Quebec is zero, no transfer is necessary.
⬤▮▲Line 440 - Refundable Quebec abatement
The Quebec abatement is provided under the federal-provincial fiscal arrangement, in place of direct cost-sharing by the federal government. It reduces your balance owing and may even give you a refund.
If you have to file a return for the Province of Quebec, and you did not have a business with a permanent establishment outside Quebec, your refundable Quebec abatement is 16.5% of the basic federal tax on line 48 of Schedule 1.
If you have to file a return for the Province of Quebec, and you had a business with a permanent establishment in Quebec, use Form T2203, Provincial and Territorial Taxes for 2010 - Multiple Jurisdictions, to calculate your abatement.
⬤▲Line 448 - CPP overpayment
If you do not have to file a return for the Province of Quebec, and you contributed more to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) than you had to (see line 308), enter the difference on this line. We will refund the excess contributions to you or use them to reduce your balance owing.
If you have to file a return for the Province of Quebec, this line does not apply to you. Claim the excess amount on your provincial income tax return for Quebec.
⬤▲Line 450 - Employment Insurance overpayment
If you were not considered a resident of Quebec on December 31, 2010, and you contributed more than you had to (see line 312), enter the difference on line 450. We will refund the excess amount to you or use it to reduce your balance owing. If the difference is $1 or less, you will not receive a refund.
Note
If you repaid some of the Employment Insurance benefits you received, do not claim the repayment on this line. You may be able to claim a deduction on line 232 for the benefits you repaid.
Under proposed changes, if you were considered a resident of Quebec on December 31, 2010, and contributed more than you had to (see line 312), enter the difference on line 450. If you completed Schedule 10, enter, in dollars and cents, the amount from line 21 on line 450.
The excess amount on line 450 is reduced by the provincial parental insurance plan (PPIP) premiums that you have to pay (line 376 on Schedule 1) to the PPIP. The part of the excess amount used will be transferred directly to Revenu Québec. We will refund the unused excess amount to you or use it to reduce your balance owing. If the difference is $1 or less, you will not receive a refund.
Note
If you repaid some of the Employment Insurance benefits you received, do not claim the repayment on this line. You may be able to claim a deduction on line 232 for the benefits you repaid.
⬤Line 452 - Refundable medical expense supplement
You may be able to claim a credit of up to $1,074 if all of the following apply:
- you have an amount on line 215 of your return or on line 332 of Schedule 1;
- you were resident in Canada throughout 2010; and
- you were 18 years of age or older at the end of 2010.
In addition, the total of the following two amounts has to be $3,135 or more:
- your employment income on lines 101 and 104 (other than amounts received from a wage-loss replacement plan) minus the amounts on lines 207, 212, 229, and 231 (but if the result is negative, use "0"); and
- your net self-employment income (not including losses) from lines 135 to 143.
You cannot claim this credit if the total of your net income (line 236) and your spouse’s or common-law partner’s net income (line 236 of his or her return, or the amount that it would be if he or she filed a return), minus any amount reported by you or your spouse or common-law partner on lines 117 and 125, is $45,255 or more. In addition, if you or your spouse or common-law partner deducted an amount on line 213, and/or an amount for a repayment of registered disability savings plan income included on line 232, we will add these amounts to your or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s net income when calculating this credit.
Note
If you were separated because of a breakdown in your relationship for a period of 90 days or more that included December 31, 2010, you do not have to include your spouse's or common-law partner's income when calculating this credit.
In the Identification area on page 1 of your return, enter your marital status and, if it applies, the information concerning your spouse or common-law partner. This includes his or her net world income, even if it is zero and, if applicable, the amount on line 117 included in his or her net world income and / or the amount on line 213 of his or her return.
Complete the chart for line 452 on the federal worksheet to calculate your claim. You can claim this credit for the same medical expenses that you claimed on line 215 of your return and line 332 on Schedule 1.
⬤Line 453 - Working income tax benefit (WITB)
The WITB is for low-income individuals and families who have earned income from employment or business. To find out if you can claim the WITB, see Schedule 6.
The WITB consists of a basic amount and a disability supplement. Complete Schedule 6 to calculate the basic WITB and, if applicable, the WITB disability supplement to which you may be entitled.
Enter on line 453 the amount calculated on Schedule 6 and attach a copy of this schedule to your return.
If you had an eligible spouse, only one of you can claim the basic WITB.
Note
The person who receives the WITB advance payment is the person who must claim the basic WITB for the year.
If you had an eligible dependant, you and another person cannot both claim the basic WITB for that same eligible dependant.
If you had an eligible spouse, and one of you qualifies for the disability amount, that person should claim both the basic WITB and the WITB disability supplement.
If you had an eligible spouse and both of you qualify for the disability amount, only one of you can claim the basic WITB. However, each of you must claim the WITB disability supplement on a separate schedule 6.
Eligible spouse - For the purpose of the WITB, an eligible spouse is a person who meets all of the following conditions. He or she:
- was your spouse or common-law partner on December 31, 2010;
- was a resident of Canada throughout 2010;
- was not enrolled as a full-time student at a designated educational institution for a total of more than 13 weeks in the year, unless he or she had an eligible dependant at the end of the year; and
- was not confined to a prison or similar institution for a period of 90 days or more during the year.
Eligible dependant - For the purpose of the WITB, an eligible dependant is a person who meets all of the following conditions. He or she:
- was your or your spouse's or common-law partner's child;
- was under 19 years of age and lived with you on December 31, 2010; and
- was not eligible for the WITB for 2010.
Notes
For the purpose of calculating working income on lines 385 and 386 of Schedule 6, you must include the tax-exempt part of employment income, other employment income, business income (excluding losses), and scholarship income, earned on a reserve. Also include on these lines the tax-exempt part of allowances received as an emergency volunteer.
For the purpose of calculating adjusted family net income, on lines 388 and 389 of Schedule 6, you must include the tax-exempt part of all income earned/received on a reserve. For example, if you were a status Indian and you received Employment Insurance benefits shown in box 18 of a T4E, you must include this amount on line 388. Also include on these lines the tax exempt part of allowances received as an emergency volunteer.
For more information, visit our Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) page, or see Pamphlet RC4227, Working Income Tax Benefit, or contact the International Tax Services Office.
⬤▲Line 454 - Refund of investment tax credit
If you are eligible for an investment tax credit (line 412 on Schedule 1) based on expenditures made in 2010, you may be able to claim a refund of your unused investment tax credit. This refund will reduce the amount of credit available to you for other years.
Calculate the refundable part of your investment tax credit on Form T2038(IND), Investment Tax Credit (Individuals). Attach a completed copy of the form to your return.
⬤Line 456 - Part XII.2 trust tax credit
Enter the total of amounts shown in box 38 of all your T3 slips.
⬤▲Line 457 - Employee and partner GST/HST rebate
If you deducted expenses from your income as an employee (line 212 or 229) or as a partner (lines 135 to 143), you may be eligible for a rebate of the GST/HST you paid on those expenses. Generally, you can claim this rebate if either of the following applies:
- your employer is a GST/HST registrant, other than a listed financial institution; or
- you are a member of a GST/HST-registered partnership, and you have reported on your return your share of the income from that partnership.
To claim this rebate, if you incurred the expenses as an employee, use Guide T4044, Employment Expenses. If you incurred the expenses as a member of a partnership, use Guide RC4091, GST/HST Rebate for Partners. These guides list the expenses that qualify. They also include Form GST370, Employee and Partner GST/HST Rebate Application, which you need to make your claim. Attach a completed copy of this form to your return, and enter on line 457 the rebate you are claiming.
Notes
Generally, you have to include in income any GST/HST rebate you receive on the return for the year in which you receive it. For example, you may claim a rebate on your return for 2010. If we allow your claim and assess that return in 2011, you must report the rebate on your return for 2011.
You may have received a GST/HST rebate in 2010. If you did, and you were an employee, see line 104. If you are a partner, contact our Business enquiries service by calling 1-800-959-5525 (calls within Canada and the United States). If you are outside Canada and the United States, call the International Tax Services Office.
⬤▮▲Line 476 - Tax paid by instalments
Enter the total instalment payments you made for your taxes for 2010.
In February 2011, we will issue you Form INNS1, Instalment Reminder, or Form INNS2, Instalment Payment Summary, which shows your total instalment payments for 2010 that we have on record. To view your instalment account, go to our My Account page.
If you made an instalment payment for your taxes for 2010 that does not appear on this reminder or summary, also include that amount on line 476.
Note
If tax was withheld from your income, claim on line 437 the amounts shown on your information slips.
Non-residents and non-residents electing under section 217 - If you disposed of taxable Canadian property in 2010, enter the tax payment you made to us, as shown on your certificate of compliance (Form T2064, Certificate - Proposed Disposition of Property by a Non-Resident of Canada , or Form T2068, Certificate - The Disposition of Property by a Non-Resident of Canada). Attach copy 2 of your certificate of compliance to your return.
⬤▮▲Line 484 - Refund
If your total payable (line 435) is less than your total credits (line 482), enter the difference on line 484. This amount is your refund. Generally, if the difference is $2 or less for 2010, you will not receive a refund.
Note
One person's refund cannot be transferred to pay another person's balance owing.
Although you may be entitled to a refund for 2010, we may keep some or all of it to:
- apply against any amount you owe us or are about to owe us;
- satisfy a garnishment order under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act; or
- apply against certain other outstanding federal, provincial, or territorial government debts, such as student loans, Employment Insurance and social assistance benefit overpayments, immigration loans, and training allowance overpayments.
If you pay your taxes by instalments, you can attach a note to your return to ask us to transfer your refund to your instalment account for 2011. We will transfer your full refund and consider such a payment to have been received on the date that we assess your return.
To find out about your 2010 refund, go to our My Account page, or use Telerefund, one of our TIPS services.
Direct deposit
You can have your income tax refund, as well as your goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) payments, Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) payments, and Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) advance payments, and any other deemed overpayment of tax to which you are entitled or to which you may become entitled deposited directly into your account at a financial institution in Canada.
To start direct deposit or to change information you already gave us, complete the "Direct deposit - Start or change" section on page 4 of your return. You do not have to complete this area if you already have direct deposit service and the information you already gave us has not changed. Your direct deposit request will stay in effect until you change the information or cancel the service.
You can also go to our My Account page to start, update, or stop your direct deposit information.
If you want your CCTB and/or UCCB payments deposited into a different account, you will have to send us, either with your return or separately, a completed Form T1-DD(1), Direct Deposit Request - Individuals.
If you are changing the account into which we deposit a payment, do not close the old account before we deposit the payment into the new account. If your financial institution advises us that you have a new account, we may deposit your payments into the new account.
If, for any reason, we cannot deposit a payment into your account, we will mail a cheque to you at the address we have on file.
If you need help to complete the direct deposit information, or to cancel the service for one or more of these payments, contact the International Tax Services Office.
⬤▮▲Line 485 - Balance owing
If your total payable (line 435) is more than your total credits (line 482), enter the difference on line 485. This amount is your balance owing. Your balance is due no later than April 30, 2011. Generally, if the difference is $2 or less for 2010, you do not have to make a payment.
Note
When a due date falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, or a holiday recognized by the CRA, we consider your return to be filed on time or your payment to be made on time if we receive it or it is postmarked on the next business day.
If you or your representative has a bank account at a financial institution in Canada through which you can make a payment, you or your representative can make your payment in several different ways:
- My Payment is a payment option that allows individuals and businesses to make payments online, using the CRA’s Web site, from an account at a participating Canadian financial institution. For more information on this self-service option, go to our My Payment page.
- You may be able to pay electronically using your financial institution's Internet or telephone banking services. Most financial institutions allow you to schedule future-dated payments. For more information, go to our Electronic payments page or contact your financial institution.
- You can make your payment free of charge at your financial institution in Canada. To do so, you have to use the remittance form in your personalized tax package (if you received one) or Form T7DR(A), which you can get by contacting the International Tax Services Office.
- You can attach to the front of your return a cheque or money order made out to the Receiver General. Enter your payment amount on line 486.
- You can send us a cheque or money order with the remittance form in your personalized tax package (if you received one) or with Form T7DR(A), which you can get from us. Mail the form and your cheque or money order to:
Canada Revenue Agency
875 Heron Road
Ottawa ON K1A 1B1
CANADA
If you or your representative do not have a bank account at a financial institution in Canada, you or your representative can make your payment using:
- an international money order drawn in Canadian dollars;
- a bank draft in Canadian funds drawn on a Canadian bank (available at most foreign financial institutions); or
- a cheque drawn in the currency of the country in which the financial institution is located. We will use the exchange rate in effect at the time we cash your cheque.
We cannot immediately negotiate a cheque drawn in Canadian funds on a financial institution outside Canada, as it may take several weeks to collect the funds from the foreign financial institution. Therefore, you should remit your payment early to avoid or reduce any interest charges. Once we receive the funds from the foreign financial institution, we will update the account accordingly. Please note that due to the limits set by the banking community, we cannot accept cheques drawn in Canadian funds on a financial institution outside Canada for less than $400 Canadian.
Note
If you are making a payment by cheque or money order, write your social insurance number, individual tax number, or temporary tax number on the back to help us process your payment correctly. For more information, see Social insurance number (SIN).
Do not mail us cash or include it with your return.
You can file your return early and make a post-dated payment as late as April 30, 2011. In that case, if we process your return before the date of the payment, your payment will appear on your notice of assessment, but it will not reduce your balance owing. We will credit your account on the date of the payment and then send you a revised statement of your account.
If you make a payment with a cheque that your financial institution does not honour (including a cheque on which you put a "stop payment"), we will charge you a fee.
To view your information on your account balance and payment on filing, go to our My Account page.
Making a payment arrangement - If you cannot pay your balance owing on or before April 30, 2011, we will accept a payment arrangement only after you have reasonably tried to obtain the necessary funds by borrowing or rearranging your financial affairs. If you cannot pay the balance in full, you should contact your tax services office to discuss a mutually acceptable payment arrangement based on your ability to pay. If you do not know your tax services office, call the International Tax Services Office.
You may be able to make a preauthorized debit payment arrangement by going to our My Account page.
We will still charge daily compound interest on any outstanding balance starting May 1, 2011, until you pay it in full.
Your failure to proceed with timely action to resolve your tax arrears can lead to serious measures by the CRA including legal action such as garnishing your income or your bank account, or initiating other legal action such as seizing and selling your assets.
Tax Tip
Even if you cannot pay your balance owing right away, you should file your return on time. Then you will not have to pay a penalty for filing your return after the due date. For more information, see What penalties and interest do we charge?
How to file your return
Regardless of which tax package you use, send your return to the International Tax Services Office. Mail or deliver your return in the envelope contained in the centre of this guide. 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. However, if you are filing returns for more than one year for the same person, put them all in one envelope.
If you provide services in the film and television industry, send your income tax return to the Film Services Unit that serves the province or territory where the services were rendered. You will find the address of the offices on our Film Advisory Services page.
Note
If you have a farming business and you are participating in the AgriStability and AgriInvest Programs, do not use the envelope contained in the forms book. For more information, see lines 135 to 143.
What do you include with your return and what records do you keep?
Include one copy of each of your information slips with your return. Attach to your return your Schedule 1. The explanations in the guide and the return, schedules, or forms will tell you when to attach other supporting documents, such as certificates, forms, schedules, or official receipts.
If a tax professional will be preparing or sending us your return, show him or her your label sheet and all of your supporting documents, such as your information slips, receipts, notice of assessment from last year, and instalment payments summary (on Form INNS1 or Form INNS2).
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, keep them in case we select your return for review. You should keep your supporting documents for six years.
You should also keep a copy of your return for 2010, the related notice of assessment, and any notice of reassessment. These can help you complete your return for 2011. For example, your notice for 2010 will tell you:
- your RRSP deduction limit for 2011;
- your unused RRSP contributions for 2011;
- your capital and non-capital loss balances; and
- your tuition, education, and textbook amounts carry-forward balance (see line 323).
Non-residents and non-residents electing under section 217 - You need to include a completed Schedule A, Statement of World Income and Schedule B, Allowable Amount of Non-Refundable Tax Credits. If you are filing under section 217, you also need to include Schedule C, Electing under Section 217 of the Income Tax Act.
After you file
What happens to your return after we receive it?
Each year we conduct a number of review activities that promote awareness of and compliance with the laws we administer. These reviews are an important part of the compliance activities we undertake to maintain the integrity of, and Canadians’ confidence in, the Canadian tax system.
Our various examination programs take place at different periods during the year. Therefore, if you move, it is very important to make your change of address with us as soon as possible to allow us to communicate with you. If you plan to be away for an extended period of time, you should complete Form T1013, Authorizing or Cancelling a Representative, to authorize a representative to act on your behalf.
When we receive your return, we usually review it based on the information you provided and send you a notice of assessment based on that review. However, we may select your return for a more detailed review before we assess it. If so, and we ask you to give us documents to verify the deductions or credits you claimed, your assessment may be delayed. We can also carry out a more detailed review after your return has been assessed to verify the income reported and the deductions or credits claimed.
When can you expect your refund?
We usually process returns in four to six weeks. However, we start to process returns in mid-February, so do not call before mid-March, even if you filed your return in January. If you filed your return on or before April 15, wait four weeks before you call. If you filed your return after April 15, wait six weeks before you call.
To find out about your 2010 refund, go to our My Account page or use Telerefund, one of our TIPS services.
What should you do if you disagree?
If you disagree with your assessment or reassessment, contact the International Tax Services Office for more information. If you still disagree, you can make a formal objection by going to our My Account page, or by sending a completed Form T400A, Objection - Income Tax Act, or a signed letter to the:
Chief of Appeals
Sudbury Tax Centre
1050 Notre Dame Avenue
Sudbury ON P3A 5C1
CANADA
on or before whichever of the following two dates is later:
- one year after the due date for the return; or
- 90 days after the date of the notice of assessment or notice of reassessment.
For more information, see Pamphlet P148, Resolving Your Dispute: Objections and Appeals Rights under the Income Tax Act.
How do you change a return?
If you need to make a change to any return you have sent us, do not file another return for that year. You should wait until you receive your notice of assessment before requesting any change to a return that has not been processed. Make your request by sending the following to the International Tax Services Office:
- a completed Form T1-ADJ, T1 Adjustment Request, or a signed letter providing the details of your request (including the years of the returns you want us to change), your social insurance number, temporary tax number, or your individual tax number, your address, and a telephone number where we can reach you during the day; and
- supporting documents for the changes you want to make and, if you have not sent them to us before, supporting documents for your original claim.
Note
Send your Form T1-ADJ or letter separately from your return for 2010.
Only requests relating to tax years ending in any of the 10 calendar years before the year you make the request will be considered. For example, a request made in 2011 must relate to the 2001 or a later tax year to be considered.
It usually takes eight weeks before we complete the adjustment and mail you a notice of reassessment.
Can you file a return to claim a refund for a previous year?
We will only consider a request relating to a refund for a previous tax year return that you are filing late (other than to make an election under sections 217 and 216.1) if the return is for a tax year ending in any of the 10 calendar years before the year you make the request. For example, a request made in 2011 must relate to the 2001 or a later tax year to be considered. If you are filing a return for a year before 2010, attach receipts for all the deductions or credits you are claiming.
What is a voluntary disclosure?
Maybe you should have filed a return for a previous year (see Do you have to file a return?) but did not, or you sent us an incorrect return. If so, you can voluntarily file or correct that return under the Voluntary Disclosures Program, and pay only the taxes owing (plus interest) without penalty.
Note
This program does not apply to any return for which we have started a review.
For more information, and to see if your disclosure qualifies for this program, see Information Circular IC00-1, Voluntary Disclosures Program, or call the Voluntary Disclosures Program officer in the Enforcement and Disclosures Division of your tax services office or the International Tax Services Office. If you wish, you can discuss your situation first on a no-name basis.
Indicate clearly, on any disclosure you make, that you are submitting information under the Voluntary Disclosures Program.
What should you do if you move?
If you move, let us know your new address as soon as possible. If you use direct deposit, you also have to advise us if you change your account at your financial institution.
Keeping us informed will ensure that you keep getting any GST/HST credit, Universal Child Care Benefit, Canada Child Tax Benefit payments, and Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) advance payments to which you may be entitled. Otherwise, your payments may stop, whether you receive them by cheque or by direct deposit. We also need to know your new address to mail you your tax package for next year.
If you have registered with the My Account service, you can change your address by going to our My Account page. If not, you have to tell us your new address by phone or in writing.
If you are writing, send your letter to the International Tax Services Office. Make sure you sign it, and include your social insurance number, temporary tax number, or your individual tax number, your new address, and the date of your move. If you are writing for other people, including your spouse or common-law partner, include their social insurance number, temporary tax number, or individual tax number, and have each of them sign the letter authorizing the change to their records.
Note
Because an individual’s personal information is confidential, generally we will not provide a change of address to other government departments or Crown corporations such as Canada Post. Similarly, they do not provide such information to us.
Should you be paying your taxes by instalments?
The instalment threshold for individuals is $3,000 ($1,800 if you have to file a return for the Province of Quebec).
You may have to pay your taxes by instalments if not enough income tax is withheld from your income. To find out if you have to pay your taxes for 2011 by instalments, estimate your taxes and credits for 2011 using your return for 2010. Enter those amounts in the chart on the federal worksheet. The chart contains the most common factors to consider.
If our records show that you may have to pay your taxes by instalments, we will send you an Instalment Reminder in advance, showing the amount we suggest you pay and the date the payment is due.
For more information about instalment payments or instalment interest charges, go to our Paying your income tax by instalments page, or see Pamphlet P110, Paying Your Income Tax by Instalments.
For more information
What if you need help?
If you need help after reading this publication, visit our All about your tax return page, or contact the International Tax Services Office.
Forms and publications
To get any forms or publications, go to our Forms and publications page, or contact the International Tax Services Office.
You can also get the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide for Non-Residents and Deemed Residents of Canada from any Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate.
Getting personal tax information
The personal information that you provide on your income tax forms is collected under the authority of the federal, provincial, and territorial income tax acts and will be used to administer and enforce these acts and their regulations. For more information, refer to Personal Information Bank Number CRA PPU 005 at Info Source or in the Info Source book, or contact the International Tax Services Office.
Your personal information is confidential. However, you can authorize someone (such as your spouse or common-law partner) to represent you to discuss your file (see the next section). In certain cases, we give some of your information to other government bodies to administer the law. In all cases, we follow strict procedures before giving your information to anyone.
If you call us and ask for personal tax information, we will ask you to identify yourself and give information about the contents of your return to protect this information. If you call before May 1, 2011, use your return for 2009. After April 30, 2011, use your return for 2010.
Tax Tip
For more information about how to protect your personal tax information, go to our Security page.
Representatives
You can authorize a representative (such as your spouse or common-law partner, tax preparer, or accountant) to get information on your tax matters and submit or provide information on your behalf. We will accept information from and/or provide information to your representative only after we are satisfied that you have authorized us to do so either through our My Account page or in writing using Form T1013, Authorizing or Cancelling a Representative. Your authorization will stay in effect until you cancel it, it reaches the expiry date you choose, or we receive notification of your death.
If you were the legal representative of a deceased person, see Guide T4011, Preparing Returns for Deceased Persons, to know what documents are required.
For more information, go to our My Account page or see Form T1013, Authorizing or Cancelling a Representative.
My Account
My Account is a secure, convenient, and time-saving way to access and manage your tax and benefit information online, seven days a week! If you are not registered with My Account but need information right away, use Quick Access to get fast, easy, and secure access to some of your information now. For more information, go to our My Account page or see Pamphlet RC4059, My Account for Individuals.
My Payment
My Payment is a payment option that allows individuals and businesses to make payments online, using the CRA’s Web site, from an account at a participating Canadian financial institution. For more information on this self-service option, go to our My Payment page.
My Business Account
My Business Account is a secure and convenient way to manage your business accounts online. For more information, go to our My Business Account page.
TIPS (Tax Information Phone Service)
For personal and general tax information by telephone, use our automated service, TIPS, by calling 1-800-267-6999 , this service is available for callers within Canada and the United States. For more information about this service, see TIPS (Tax Information Phone Service).
Contacting us
Service is available in the official language (English or French) of your choice. The address, telephone numbers, and fax number of the International Tax Services Office are listed on our Tax services offices and tax centres page.
Our goal is to respond to your call within two minutes in the official language of your choice. However, you may have difficulty reaching us during peak periods.
In-person appointments - If we cannot resolve your enquiry by telephone, you can meet with an agent in person at a tax services office. Call us, and an agent can make an appointment for you.
By fax - You can send us correspondence by fax. However, because of the nature of fax services, we are not responsible for misdirected, incomplete, or illegible documents.
Our service complaint process
If you are not satisfied with the service you have received, contact the CRA employee you have been dealing with (or call the phone number you have been given). If you still disagree with the way your concerns are being addressed, ask to discuss the matter with the employee’s supervisor.
If the matter is still not resolved, you have the right to file a service complaint by completing Form RC193, Service-Related Complaint. If you are still not satisfied with the way the CRA has handled your complaint, you can contact the Taxpayers' Ombudsman.
For more information, go to our CRA - Service Complaints page, or see Booklet RC4420, Information on CRA-Service Complaints.
Most popular addresses on our Web site
Page details
- Date modified:
- 2011-01-05