Individual income tax return statistics for the 2023 tax-filing season
Returns received by filing method
| Filing method | Number of returns | Percentage of total |
|---|---|---|
| EFILE | 3,549,603 | 51.1% |
| NETFILE | 2,997,875 | 43.2% |
| File my Return (FMR) | 24,113 | 0.4% |
| Total - electronic | 6,571,591 | 94.7% |
| Paper | 365,361 | 5.3% |
| Total - all methods | 6,936,952 | 100% |
Electronic filing methods
EFILE is a service that lets authorized service providers and discounters send individual income tax return information to the CRA directly from the software used to prepare the tax return. For more information, see EFILE for individuals.
NETFILE allows you to file your tax return directly to the CRA using the Internet and a NETFILE-certified software product. For more information, see NETFILE. There are even free certified software products available to file your income tax return online.
File my Return (FMR) is an automated phone service that allows eligible individuals to file their returns over the phone. For more information, see File my Return.
Returns processed by results
| Number of returns | Total dollar value | Average amount per return | Percentage of refunds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refund by cheque | 323,393 | $536,209,041 | $1,658 | 13% |
| Refund by direct deposit | 2,181,212 |
$4,902,586,448 | $2,248 | 87% |
| Total refunds | 2,504,605 |
$5,438,795,489 | $2,172 | 100% |
| Balance owing | 517,338 |
$2,452,191,243 | $4,470 | n/a |
| Nil return | 754,370 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances updates to this information are not available at this time.
Direct deposit
For information about setting up direct deposit, see Direct deposit. If you are registered for My Account, you can apply online.
Processing statistics
| Tax-filing season | EFILE | % | NETFILE | % | FMR | % | Paper | % | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 18,435,282 | 59% | 10,165,119 | 32% | 52,713 | 0% | 2,628,160 | 8% | 31,281,274 |
| 2021 | 17,966,537 | 58% | 10,052,648 | 33% | 61,465 | 0% | 2,841,858 | 9% | 30,922,508 |
| 2020 | 17,574,311 | 57% | 10,063,127 | 33% | 69,634 | 0% | 3,125,003 | 10% | 30,832,075 |
| 2019 | 17,520,996 | 58% | 9,103,302 | 30% | 66,543 | 0% | 3,656,091 | 12% | 30,346,932 |
| 2018 | 17,064,452 | 57% | 8,749,150 | 30% | 47,195 | 0% | 3,962,691 | 13% | 29,823,488 |
*Includes the returns for all tax years that were processed in each filing season
| Tax-filing season | EFILE | % | NETFILE | % | FMR | % | Paper | % | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 17,495,718 | 59% | 9,813,951 | 33% | 52,712 | 0% | 2,126,378 | 7% | 29,488,759 |
| 2021 | 17,036,887 | 59% | 9,700,628 | 33% | 61,464 | 0% | 2,265,197 | 8% | 29,064,176 |
| 2020 | 16,706,414 | 58% | 9,647,130 | 33% | 69,634 | 0% | 2,530,392 | 9% | 28,953,570 |
| 2019 | 16,685,114 | 59% | 8,804,645 | 31% | 66,543 | 0% | 2,905,171 | 10% | 28,461,473 |
| 2018 | 16,276,753 | 58% | 8,485,520 | 31% | 47,195 | 0% | 3,133,947 | 11% | 27,943.415 |
*Current year returns are those filed during the year of their due date. For example, during the 2022 tax-filing season, returns for the 2021 tax year are current.
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