ARCHIVED - After you file

When can you expect your refund?

We can usually process your return in four to six weeks. 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 refund, call T.I.P.S. (Telerefund), one of our automated T.I.P.S. services. Telerefund will tell you the status of your 1995 refund.

See the telephone listings for "Revenue Canada" in the Government of Canada section of your telephone book for the numbers.

What happens to your return after you mail it?

When we receive your return, we usually do a limited review based on the information provided on your return, and send you a Notice of Assessment based on that review. However, in some cases, we may select your return for a more detailed review before we assess it. Therefore, we may contact you to provide documentation to verify the deductions or credits you have claimed. In other cases, after we have assessed your return, we may select your return to verify the income you have reported, or the deductions or credits you have claimed.

You would like to change your return - what should you do?

If you have already sent in your return and you need to make a change to it, send any supporting documents and one of the following to your tax centre:

• a completed Form T1-ADJ, T1 Adjustment Request, which you can get from us; or
• a letter providing all the details, including your social insurance number, address, a telephone number where we can reach you during the day, and the taxation years you want us to adjust.

Do not file another return for the taxation year you want adjusted. You can ask for a refund for taxation years as far back as 1985. It usually takes eight weeks before we mail you a Notice of Reassessment.

Note

If you did not provide supporting documentation for your original claim, you have to submit this documentation for both your original claim and the changes you want to make.

Do you have to pay your 1996 taxes by instalments?

If your tax payable (line 435 of your return) exceeds the total of your income tax deducted at source and your refundable tax credits by more than $2,000 ($1,200 if you resided in Quebec) for 1996 and for either of 1995 or 1994, you may have to pay your 1996 tax by instalments. If our records show that you should pay your taxes by instalments, we will send you an advance Instalment Reminder suggesting the amount you should pay and telling you the date the payment is due.

If you need more information about instalment payments, or instalment interest charges, get the pamphlet called Paying Your Income Tax by Instalments. If you would like to calculate your instalment payments, get Form T1033-WS, Instalment Payment Calculation Worksheet. You can get the pamphlet and worksheet from us.

You moved - what should you do?

If you move, let us know your change of address as soon as possible. We can then send any GST credit or Child Tax Benefit payment to which you are entitled to your new address. If you use direct deposit and your move has resulted in a change to your bank account, be sure to advise us of your new account. We also need to know your new address to mail you your tax return for next year.

You can change your address by calling, writing, or visiting us. If you are writing, send your letter to your tax centre. Be sure to sign it and include your social insurance number. If you are writing for other persons, make sure you include their social insurance numbers and have each of them sign the letter authorizing the change to their records.

Can you file a return and claim a refund for a previous year?

You can file a return to claim a refund for the 1985 taxation year or any year after that. If you are filing a return for a year before 1995, make sure you attach receipts for all the deductions or credits you are claiming.

What is a voluntary disclosure?

If you have never filed an income tax return, stopped filing a return for two or more years, or if you have sent us a return that was incomplete, we encourage you to voluntarily file or correct your return. We will assess or reassess your return without applying a penalty. You will then only have to pay the tax owing, and the interest due, on the income you report. For more information, get Information Circular 85-1, Voluntary Disclosures, from us.