Although the deadline for filing tax returns is approaching in less than two weeks, many Canadian taxpayers are still unable to access their tax slips through the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) online platforms.
Every year, employers and financial institutions are required to submit copies of tax documents—such as T4 slips, which detail employment income, and T5 slips, which report investment income—to the CRA by a specified deadline. The CRA subsequently makes these slips available through its online portals, including taxpayers’ CRA My Account. This system allows tax software like TurboTax and tax professionals such as accountants to retrieve essential tax information electronically.
Courtesy CBC NEWS
This year’s complications arise from a new validation process implemented by the CRA for these slips in January 2025. This process aims to verify the accuracy of the data received from employers and financial institutions, according to the CRA.
A spokesperson for the CRA stated via email, “The CRA is actively working to resolve any outstanding issues, including consultations with issuers, to ensure that tax slips are accessible on the portal.”
Earlier this month, the revenue agency informed the Globe and Mail that they anticipated resolving the issue by mid-April. However, the CRA did not respond to the CBC’s inquiry regarding any progress made toward that objective in their email reply.
Kim G C Moody, founder of Moodys Tax and a tax law expert, noted that while some slips are beginning to appear, many remain unavailable digitally for several professionals in his firm. He also mentioned that duplicate slips have recently emerged in certain cases, creating additional challenges.
According to him, the absence of specific documents appears to be random, rather than linked to particular types of slips or those issued by specific financial institutions or employers.
Despite these challenges, the CRA has not extended the filing deadline.
What implications does this have for my taxes?
Even with incomplete information from the CRA, you are still required to file your taxes by April 30, especially if you have a tax liability. However, the process may not be as swift or straightforward.
When employers and financial institutions submit your tax information to the CRA, they also provide you with a copy. This means you can access the necessary information to complete your tax return, although it may not be easily accessible through your CRA My Account. You may need to download various tax slips from your bank’s website or an online employee portal, or you might have to wait for some documents to arrive by mail.
If you are preparing your taxes online using platforms like Intuit or TurboTax, you may find that the autofill feature is unavailable due to the missing slips. Consequently, you will need to enter each piece of information manually.
Both Wealthsimple and TurboTax have acknowledged the situation. TurboTax confirmed in an email that the absence of certain slips is affecting their autofill capability and stated that they are in direct communication with senior CRA officials to emphasize the necessity for accountability and prompt action to address these challenges for their clients and all Canadians.
For individuals who hire professionals to handle their tax filings, it will be essential to provide your accountant or bookkeeper with some or all of your tax slips to ensure they have the required information to finalize your return.
Those preparing their own taxes who overlook missing income information may inadvertently file inaccurately, potentially resulting in missed savings or a higher tax obligation than initially anticipated. It is advisable to reach out to investment advisors and financial institutions to confirm that you possess all necessary tax slips.
Although the extended process may prolong the timeline, Hiltz emphasizes the importance of filing by April 30, particularly if you anticipate owing taxes, as failure to do so may incur penalties from the CRA.