Stay Ahead of the CRA
Key Tax Deadlines for the 2026 Filing Season
Missing a deadline costs money. Here are the dates Canadian business owners and individuals need to know for 2025 returns and slips filed during 2026, along with the penalties for filing late.
T4 and T5 Information Returns
Employers and investment-income payers must file 2025 T4 slips and T5 slips. February 28, 2026 falls on a Saturday, so the next-business-day deadline is March 2, 2026.
Penalty: Late filing penalty: $25 per day for each day the return is late, with a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $2,500.
RRSP Contribution Deadline
Last day to make RRSP contributions that can be deducted on your 2025 personal tax return.
Penalty: No penalty for missing this date, but you lose the 2025 deduction. Contributions made after this date apply to the 2026 tax year.
T1 Personal Tax Return
Filing and payment deadline for most Canadian individuals. Any balance owing is due on this date regardless of your filing deadline.
Penalty: Late filing penalty: 5% of the balance owing, plus 1% for each full month the return is late (up to 12 months). Interest compounds daily on unpaid amounts.
T1 Self-Employed Filing Deadline
Extended filing deadline for self-employed individuals and their spouses. Note: any balance owing is still due by April 30, 2026.
Penalty: Filing after June 15 triggers the same late filing penalty as above. Interest on unpaid tax begins accruing after April 30, even though the filing deadline is later.
T2 Corporate Tax Return
Corporations must file their T2 return within six months of the end of their fiscal year. For a December 31 year-end, this means June 30, 2026. Tax owing is due two or three months after year-end, depending on corporation size.
Penalty: Late filing penalty: 5% of unpaid tax at the filing deadline, plus 1% per complete month (up to 12 months). Repeated late filings double the penalty rate.
GST/HST Annual Return
Annual GST/HST filers who are individuals with business income and a December 31 fiscal year-end generally have until June 15, 2026 to file, but any net tax owing is due April 30, 2026.
Penalty: Late filing penalty: 1% of the amount owing, plus 0.25% for each complete month the return is late (up to 12 months). Interest accrues on outstanding balances.
GST/HST Quarterly Returns
Quarterly GST/HST filers must file and remit within one month of each quarter-end. For example, the Q1 (January to March) return is due April 30, 2026.
Penalty: Same penalty structure as annual GST/HST returns. Consistent late filing may result in the CRA requiring more frequent reporting periods.
A Reminder
Set Your Reminders Early
We recommend setting calendar reminders at least two weeks before each deadline. If you work with Versatile CPA, we track these dates on your behalf and reach out well in advance to collect the information we need. Prevention is always less expensive than penalties.
Not Sure Which Deadlines Apply to You?
Request a consultation and we will review your filing obligations, set up a calendar for your business, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.