Tax Tip - You can still file your 2019 income tax and benefit return

OTTAWA, ON, June 25, 2020 /CNW/ - This year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) extended the tax-filing deadline from April 30 to June 1, 2020, to help Canadians meet their tax-filing needs during the COVID-19 crisis.

Many Canadians took advantage of having more time to file their income tax and benefit return, but if you haven't had a chance to do so, you still can!

The CRA doesn't want you to miss out on the important benefits and credits you're entitled to, and filing your return ensures you get the correct payment amounts.

To make sure your benefit payments continue and any refund comes quickly, you're strongly encouraged to file as soon as possible.

Payment deadlines
The CRA extended the deadline to pay amounts owing to September 1, 2020. Penalties and interest will not be charged if you make your payment by September 1, 2020. This includes the late-filing penalty.

For more information on the filing and payment deadline changes, go to Income tax filing and payment deadlines: CRA and COVID-19.

Why file now if no payment is due until September 1?
The sooner you file your return, the less likely it is that your benefit and credit payments will be affected. 

You will continue to receive important payments to help you through the COVID-19 crisis. But if the CRA has not assessed your 2019 return, information from your 2018 return will be used to calculate the benefit and credit payments sent to you until September 2020.

If this information is used, you may not receive the right amounts. To help avoid this, file your 2019 return as soon as possible. Also, if the CRA owes you a refund, the earlier you file, the earlier your refund will be in your pocket.

Direct deposit is fast, convenient and secure. 75% of Canadians received their refund faster through direct deposit.

Register to make sure you get your payments on time if an emergency or unforeseen circumstances happen! You may be able to register quickly for direct deposit through your financial institution.

The CRA has resources to help you file:

• Get ready to do your taxes ? Get helpful information to start the return filing process
• Doing Your Taxes ? Check out our step-by-step guide on completing your return and sending payment to the CRA
• NETFILE-certified tax software ? Find certified tax software you can use to file online, some of which are free
• Virtual tax clinics ? Community organizations are hosting free virtual tax clinics where a volunteer over the phone or by video conference can help you file your return

Help the CRA assess your return faster! If you filed a 2019 paper return that the CRA has not processed, you can resend your return using NETFILE-certified tax software. However, some types of returns are excluded from electronic filing and must be sent on paper.

If you need to change your return, send your request electronically using Change My Return in My Account or ReFILE with the same certified tax software you used to file your original return. This will allow the CRA to do your reassessment much faster. You may be able to send your request electronically, even if you already sent one on paper.

Take advantage of the CRA's digital services
The CRA's digital services make it easier to manage your tax and benefit affairs from home. Its online tools can help you through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

Register for My Account to:

• easily view and update your personal and direct-deposit information
• view the status of your return or refund
• view your benefit and credit information

From February to April 2020, over 3.5 million people registered for My Account to make it easier to get payments like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Emergency Student Benefit.

After you are registered for My Account, you can register for email notifications to receive most of your CRA mail electronically. As a result, you'll know when you receive mail from the CRA as soon as possible. During this tax-filing season, over 2.1 million people signed up for email notifications so that they could receive mail quickly. This mail included notices of assessment or reassessment, benefit notices, and instalment payment reminders. For added security, you will also receive mail whenever your information, such as your address, banking details, or marital status, changes.

For more information on all the changes to taxes and benefits because of COVID-19, go to canada.ca/cra-coronavirus.

Stay connected

• Follow the CRA on Facebook
• Follow the CRA on Twitter ? @CanRevAgency
• Follow the CRA on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to a CRA electronic mailing list
• Add CRA RSS feeds to your feed reader
• You can also watch CRA tax-related videos on YouTube

SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency