Feb 1, 2026
2026 Personal Tax Deadlines: Important Dates for Canadian Taxpayers
Whether you're filing a straightforward return or reporting self-employment income on a T2125, there are key dates in 2026 you need to know. Miss one, and the CRA will make sure you find out.
This is your guide to the personal tax deadlines that matter most this year - what they are, who they apply to, and how to stay on top of them.
A Quick Note on Weekend and Holiday Rules
If a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a CRA-recognized public holiday, it moves to the next business day. A few 2026 dates are affected by this, and we've noted them where relevant.
Key Filing and Payment Deadlines
February 23 - NETFILE Opens
This is the earliest you can file your 2025 personal tax return online. If you're an early filer, make sure you have all your tax slips before you hit submit. Most T4s and T5s are issued by the end of February - if yours haven't shown up by early March, follow up with your employer or financial institution.
Tip: Filing early means less competition for processing and any refund you're owed gets to you faster.
April 30 - Filing and Payment Deadline (Most Taxpayers)
This is the main deadline. For most individuals, April 30 is both the last day to file your 2025 return and the last day to pay any taxes you owe. If you owe money and don't pay by this date, interest starts the very next day.
Tip: Even if you don't owe anything, file on time. Late filing can delay benefits like the GST/HST credit and Canada Child Benefit.
June 15 - Extended Filing Deadline (Self-Employed)
If you or your spouse or common-law partner have self-employment income, you get an extended filing deadline.
Here's the important catch - this extension only applies to filing your return. If you owe money, payment was still due April 30. Wait until June to sort out what you owe, and you'll already have over a month of interest charges piling up.
Tip: Use the extra time to get your records organized, but estimate what you owe and pay it by April 30 to avoid interest.
Self-Employment
If you earn income from self-employment - whether it's a side gig, freelance work, consulting, or running your own sole proprietorship - you'll need to file a T2125 (Statement of Business or Professional Activities) along with your personal T1 return.
What a T2125 Covers
A T2125 is where you report your gross business or professional income, then deduct your eligible business expenses to arrive at your net income. That net amount gets added to your total taxable income on your T1.
Common deductible expenses include advertising, office costs, professional fees, vehicle expenses, meals and entertainment (at 50%), and home office expenses if you work from home. If you have more than one business or profession, you need a separate T2125 for each one.
The Deadline Trap
This is where a lot of self-employed people get caught out. The filing deadline is June 15 - but the payment deadline is still April 30. If you owe tax and don't pay until June, the CRA has been charging you interest since May 1.
Tip: Keep track of your income and expenses throughout the year. When April rolls around, you should have a pretty good idea of what you owe — even if you haven't finished your return yet. Pay your estimate by April 30 and square up the rest by June 15.
Registered Accounts: RRSP, TFSA, and FHSA
If you're contributing to registered accounts to reduce your tax bill or grow your savings tax-free, there are a few deadlines and limits worth knowing for 2026.
RRSP - Deadline: March 2, 2026
This is the last day to make RRSP contributions that count as a deduction on your 2025 tax return. The usual deadline is the last day of February, but since February 28 falls on a Saturday in 2026, it moves to Monday, March 2.
For the 2025 tax year, the RRSP contribution limit is the lesser of $32,490 or 18% of your earned income from 2024, plus any unused contribution room carried forward. You can check your exact limit on your most recent Notice of Assessment or through CRA My Account.
Tip: Don't wait until the last day. Banks get busy in late February, and processing times can add a day or two. If you're making a large contribution, give yourself some buffer.
TFSA - Deadline: December 31, 2025
The TFSA contribution limit for 2025 is $7,000, plus any unused room carried forward from previous years plus any amounts you withdrew in 2025. The total cumulative limit for someone who has been eligible since 2009 and never contributed is $102,000.
Unlike an RRSP, TFSA contributions are not tax-deductible - but the money grows tax-free and can be withdrawn at any time without tax. There's no rush to contribute by a specific date within the year, but only contributions must be made before December 31, 2025 to count for the 2025 tax year.
Tip: Check your contribution room through CRA My Account before you contribute. Over-contributing triggers a 1% monthly penalty on the excess amount, and it adds up quickly.
FHSA - Deadline: December 31, 2025
If you're a first-time home buyer, the First Home Savings Account is worth paying attention to. The annual contribution limit is $8,000, with a lifetime maximum of $40,000. If you didn't contribute the full $8,000 in a previous year, you can carry forward up to one year's worth of unused room - meaning you could contribute up to $16,000 in 2026.
Here's an important difference from the RRSP: the FHSA follows a strict calendar-year deadline. There is no 60-day grace period into the following year. Contributions made after December 31 count toward the next year, not the current one.
FHSA contributions are tax-deductible (like an RRSP), and if the money is used toward a qualifying first home purchase, withdrawals are completely tax-free (like a TFSA).
Tip: If you're not already a homeowner and you meet the eligibility criteria, open an FHSA as early as possible. Contribution room only starts accumulating after you open the account - so the sooner you do, the more flexibility you have.
What Happens If You Miss a Deadline?
Missing a personal tax deadline isn't just an inconvenience - it has real consequences. If you file late and owe money, the CRA charges a penalty of 5% of the balance owing, plus 1% for each full month you're late (up to 12 months). Interest is compounded daily on any unpaid balance starting the day after the due date.
If you've been late before, the penalties get steeper - 10% of the balance owing plus 2% per month for up to 20 months.
The simplest way to avoid all of this is to know your deadlines, file on time, and pay what you owe when it's due.
Need Help Getting It Right?
If keeping track of all of this feels like a lot on top of everything else - especially if you're dealing with self-employment income and a T2125 - we're here to help. Whether you need guidance on filing, support with your registered accounts, or just want someone to make sure nothing slips through the cracks, book a free consultation and we'll figure out the best way to support you.
Reach out through our website or call (236) 867-7525