The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) encourages you to use its quick, easy, and secure electronic services to file your income tax and benefit return on time and pay any amount owing by the deadline. You have until midnight on April 30, 2013, to file your 2012 income tax and benefit return and to pay any balance owing.
If you, your spouse, or common-law partner is self-employed, your deadline to file your 2012 return has been extended until midnight on June 17, 2013, as June 15 falls on a Saturday. However, you still have to pay any balance owing by April 30, 2013.
The CRA invites you to join the growing number of Canadians who are filing electronically. NETFILE is one of the CRA’s electronic tax-filing options. It allows you to file your individual income tax return over the Internet quickly and easily, which means a faster refund. For a list of software and Web service options, including some that are completely free of charge, go to www.netfile.gc.ca/software.
If you have a balance owing, you can make your payment using your financial institution's telephone or Internet banking service. For more information about online payments, go to www.cra.gc.ca/payments or contact your financial institution. You can also make a payment using the CRA’s My Payment service. My Payment lets you make one or more payments in one simple online transaction. You can use this service if you have access to online banking at a participating financial institution.
For tips that will help you get ready to file your 2012 tax return, go to www.cra.gc.ca/getready.
Are you worried you can’t pay your full tax bill by April 30?
Even if you cannot pay all of your balance owing right away, you should still file your return by April 30 to avoid a late-filing penalty. If you can't pay the full amount of tax you owe, you may be able to make a payment arrangement. If the CRA agrees that you are not able to make a full payment, we can work with you to develop a plan to help you pay your taxes. For more information, go to www.cra.gc.ca/paymentarrangements or contact us at 1-888-863-8657. Our agents are available Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Eastern time.
If you need help at tax time, the Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS) is an automated telephone service that provides personal and general tax information to individuals. You can call TIPS at 1‑800‑267‑6999. The CRA is also offering extended evening and weekend hours on the individual income tax enquiries telephone lines until April 30, 2013. This service is available at 1‑800‑959‑8281.
For more information on our telephone service extended hours, go to www.cra.gc.ca/extendedhours.
