OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 16, 2026 /CNW/ - On February 23, 2026, you will be able to file your 2025 income tax and benefit return online! Last tax-filing season, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) received more than 33 million tax returns and 93% were filed online.

We're dedicated to serving Canadians well, helping you file your taxes, and connecting you to benefit and credit payments that improve your financial well-being. Last year, Canadians received:

• More than $56.1 billion in benefit payments
• More than 19 million refunds, for an average amount of $2,000 (79% were issued by direct deposit)

Let's make sure you're ready for tax-filing season, so you can receive all the payments you're eligible for.

How to get started

Visit our improved Personal income tax web page. We've simplified this page and added information to help you before, during, and after the tax-filing process.

If you are registered for a CRA account, visit our tax tip on keeping your account up to date. By ensuring your personal information is accurate and that you can access your CRA account when you need it, you will save time during tax-filing season.

When you sign in to your CRA account, you may be prompted to add a backup multi-factor authentication (MFA) option. You will have the option to skip this step.

If you have forgotten your CRA account sign-in information or the answers to your security questions, you may be able to regain access by completing the online registration process again. More than 64,000 individuals have already done so.

Before you file, you can also sign up for direct deposit. By doing so, you will receive your tax refund and benefit payments faster and securely, deposited directly into your account at a Canadian bank or credit union. Last year, more than 1.1 million individuals signed up for direct deposit and there are more than 28 million individuals signed up in total.

Key dates and deadlines

By filing and paying any taxes you owe on time, you will avoid late-filing penalties and interest. Mark these dates in your calendar so you don't miss any deadlines:

• February 23, 2026 – You can start filing your 2025 tax return online. Make sure you have all your tax slips before you file.
• April 30, 2026 – Deadline for most individuals to file their tax return and pay any taxes owed.
• June 15, 2026 – Deadline to file your tax return if you, or your spouse or common-law partner, are self-employed. If you owe money, you will still need to pay by April 30, 2026, to avoid interest.

CRA services and resources to help you this tax season

If you need tax-filing assistance, there are services and resources to help you:

• Free tax clinics – You could get your taxes done by a volunteer at a free tax clinic. In 2025, 1.069 million returns were filed through free tax clinics.
• SimpleFile services – If you have a lower income and a simple tax situation, you may be able to use SimpleFile services (digital or by phone) to file your taxes. If you didn't receive an invitation, you may still be able to access SimpleFile Digital. Check out our new eligibility questionnaire. The SimpleFile services will open on March 9, 2026.
• GenAI chatbot beta – The chatbot can now answer a wider range of questions, including more complex ones for businesses, such as eligibility for tax credits and compliance information.
• Taxology podcast – Get the tax information you need by listening to the CRA's podcast.

We also have additional tax tips that may be helpful for your tax-filing situation:

• The level of service you can expect from the CRA this tax season
• What you need to know for the 2026 tax-filing season
• Did you experience one of these milestone life events? Learn about impactful tax implications
• Important changes to the 2025 income tax package: What you need to know

Quick tax facts about your province or territory of residence

Choose your province or territory:

Alberta
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 3.2 million Alberta residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 96% of filers.
• More than 110,700 Alberta residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Alberta residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $8,678 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $472 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

British Columbia
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 3.9 million British Columbia residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 95% of filers.
• More than 126,100 British Columbia residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible British Columbia residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $8,239 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $629 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Manitoba
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 977,000 Manitoba residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 95% of filers.
• More than 49,600 Manitoba residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Manitoba residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $9,296 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $479 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

New Brunswick
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 614,000 New Brunswick residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 95% of filers.
• More than 35,000 New Brunswick residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible New Brunswick residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $7,918 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $733 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Newfoundland and Labrador
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 393,000 Newfoundland and Labrador residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 93% of filers.
• More than 16,600 Newfoundland and Labrador residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Newfoundland and Labrador residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $7,884 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $1,114 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Northwest Territories
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 28,000 Northwest Territories residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 97% of filers.
• More than 1,600 Northwest Territories residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Northwest Territories residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $8,083 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $629 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Nova Scotia
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 757,000 Nova Scotia residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 95% of filers.
• More than 40,700 Nova Scotia residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Nova Scotia residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $8,400 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $608 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Nunavut
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 20,000 Nunavut residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 98% of filers.
• More than 750 Nunavut residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Nunavut residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $12,139 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $481 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Ontario
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 11.1 million Ontario residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 96% of filers.
• More than 279,100 Ontario residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Ontario residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $8,624 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $467 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Prince Edward Island
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 123,000 Prince Edward Island residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 95% of filers.
• More than 7,200 Prince Edward Island residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Prince Edward Island residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $7,865 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $549 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Quebec
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 6.3 million Quebec residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 92% of filers.
• More than 210,200 Quebec residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program. In total, 570 Quebec organizations hosted tax return preparation sessions in person or virtually.
• Eligible Quebec residents received an average of:
• $6,940 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $456 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Saskatchewan
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 816,000 Saskatchewan residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 95% of filers.
• More than 34,800 Saskatchewan residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Saskatchewan residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $8,768 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $862 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Yukon
Below are key statistics related to last tax year:

• More than 29,000 Yukon residents filed a 2024 tax return online, which was 96% of filers.
• More than 1,700 Yukon residents were helped by free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Eligible Yukon residents received an average of (including any related provincial programs):
• $6,331 in Canada child benefit (CCB) payments
• $503 in goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit payments

Contacts

Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
613-948-8366
cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca

Stay connected 

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•  Watch our tax-related videos on YouTube
•  Listen to our Taxology podcast

SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency