Common Tax Questions for the CRA

If you're scrambling for answers during tax season, you're not alone. Each year, the same questions resurface—like “Where is my tax refund?” or “What happens if I owe and can't pay?” Tax confusion is understandable, especially if you're also navigating life changes like buying a house or getting married. Plus, each year brings new tax credits and rules to learn about.

Below, we answer some of the most common tax questions Canadians ask the CRA.

1. Do I still need to file taxes if I have low or no income?

If you didn't earn much money this tax year, you might wonder if filing taxes with low income is worthwhile. The short answer is yes.

If you don't file a return, you may miss out on valuable benefits and tax credits. For example, a college student with a part-time job can become eligible for the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit), which could be worth up to $950, depending on your income and family structure. A parent who didn't work and is eligible for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) must file a tax return annually to receive payments.

2. Does the way I file change once I get married?

The CRA needs to know about certain life changes, including marriage, to determine benefit and credit payments. It's important to update your marital status through the CRA website by the end of the first full month after you get hitched. This rule also applies to common-law couples (those who live together for 12 straight months or have a child together).

When it comes to taxes, you and your spouse will file separately, but you'll need to include each other's net income and Social Insurance Number (SIN) on your return. The CRA uses that information to calculate income-tested benefits such as the CCB and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.

3. What credits and deductions can I claim if I have kids?

If you're a new parent, congrats! While having a kid can be expensive, you may be eligible for tax credits and deductions. Here are some of them:

• Child-care expenses: If you pay someone to watch your child while you work, you can claim that expense. For example, you can claim daycare fees, including before-school and after-school programs you pay out of pocket, even if the program is subsidized. Day camps that focus primarily on child care also qualify—including all-day sports camps if the primary goal is to care for your kids (and give them an outlet to burn off their energy).
• Adoption expenses: If you've adopted a child, you can claim certain costs, such as agency fees and travel costs. For the 2025 tax year, for example, you can claim up to $19,580 per child at the federal level. Some provinces and territories also allow parents to claim adoption expenses.
• Medical expenses: If you have a dependent under 18, you can claim certain medical expenses such as baby breathing monitors, hospital services, and vaccines.
• Canada caregiver amount: If your child is under 18 and has a physical or mental infirmity, you may be able to claim this amount (for 2025, it is $2,687).

4. What happens if I move or buy a house?

Many Canadians have tax questions about moving. Here are a few common ones.

How can I change my address with CRA?

If you move, update your address with the CRA as soon as possible to avoid missing any correspondence and to prevent delays in receiving your tax refund payment and benefits. The easiest way to update your address is through your CRA online account. You can also call 1-800-959-8281 or fill out and mail Form RC325.

What should I do after selling my house?

When you sell your home, you must report the sale on your tax return and designate the property as your principal residence. Thanks to the principal residence exemption, you won't have to pay tax on any capital gain from the sale, if the home was your primary residence for the entire time you owned it. One exception: if the home was your principal residence under a year at the time you sold it, the profit could be taxed. There are exceptions for certain life events, like if you sold because of a divorce, you had to move for work, or you had a child.

What if you used part or all of your home for rental or business income? You must report a capital gain, calculated based on the amount of space used. Learn more about property use on the CRA website.

Can closing costs and legal fees be deducted?

You can't deduct closing costs like land transfer tax or legal fees when you buy or sell a principal residence. However, you may be able to deduct some moving costs like storage fees and movers in certain circumstances, like if you moved closer to work or to enroll in university full-time. (You must deduct these from your income—either from the earnings at your new job location or, if you're a full-time student, from scholarships, bursaries, research grants, and other income sources you're required to report.)

Non-refundable credits such as the Home Buyers' Amount, also known as the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit (HBTC), alleviate some costs for first-time buyers. If eligible, you can claim up to $10,000, for a maximum tax reduction of $1,500 (based on the 15% non-refundable tax rate).

For investment properties, you can recoup some closing costs, which are typically treated as capital expenses.

5. Where is my tax refund?

How quickly you'll get your refund depends on how you file: within two weeks if you file online and use direct deposit, or within eight weeks if you file a paper return. If you live outside of Canada, it may take up to 16 weeks. If you don't set up direct deposit, the CRA will mail you a cheque.

You can check your online CRA account for status updates, account balances, and notices. The CRA recommends waiting 12 weeks for residents and 16 weeks for non-residents before inquiring about a delay.

6. If I owe money, when do I have to pay?

If you owe this year, the deadline to file and pay is April 30. If you or your spouse is self-employed, you have until June 15 to file, but any tax you owe is still due April 30.

If you don't pay your taxes on time, the CRA charges compound daily interest (interest on the principal amount, plus on the accumulated interest) starting the day after the due date.

If you file late and owe tax, the CRA will charge interest and apply a late-filing penalty of 5% of your balance owing for the tax year, plus 1% for each full month your return is late, up to a maximum of 12 months. Filing late can also delay benefit and credit payments.

If you can't pay right away, you can still file your tax return on time to avoid the late-filing fee. You can ask the CRA to cancel or waive penalties or interest if circumstances beyond your control prevented you from paying on time. You can also set up payments in your CRA account or contact the CRA to set up a payment arrangement with agreed-upon dates, to avoid having your wages garnished or bank accounts frozen.

7. How can I access my CRA documents?

If you need to access CRA documents like a notice of assessment (the statement summarizing details of your return after you file), the easiest way is online through your CRA “My Account.” If your preferences are set to letter mail, or you haven't given the CRA your email address, you'll receive your notice of assessment in the mail.

Your online CRA account also has information about your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) and Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contribution room. It's important to note that TFSA information in your CRA account is updated only once per year (TFSA records from 2025 will be processed by April 2026). So, keeping track yourself is the most reliable way to know how much room you have. Similarly, RRSP contributions aren't immediately reflected in your CRA account.

8. Where can I ask more tax questions?

You can contact the CRA by phone or online—check the hours and wait times. You can also contact the agency via your online account on weekdays or use the CRA's 24-hour chatbot.

For help outside the CRA, look for free tax clinics in your community, where volunteers prepare tax returns for modest income-earners who have a simple tax situation. TurboTax experts can also help answer tax questions from individuals and businesses.

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