Individual income tax return statistics for the 2023 tax-filing season

Returns received by filing method

Returns received from February 6, 2023 to March 20, 2023
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 

Returns processed from February 9, 2023 to March 13, 2023
  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 

Total number of returns processed*
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

Total number of current year returns processed*
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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