If you’re preparing to file your 2025 personal income tax return, there are several important updates from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) you should be aware of.
From changes to federal tax rates and credits to updated digital services and key filing deadlines, here’s a complete breakdown of what’s new, and what you need to mark on your calendar.
Staying on top of deadlines is one of the simplest ways to avoid penalties and interest.
February 23, 2026 - Tax Filing Season Opens
The CRA’s NETFILE service opens, allowing individuals to begin filing their 2025 tax returns online.
March 2, 2026 - RRSP Contribution Deadline
RRSP contributions made on or before this date can be deducted on your 2025 return.
April 30, 2026 - Filing & Payment Deadline for Most Individuals
If you owe taxes and miss this deadline, interest begins accruing on May 1, 2026, plus potential late-filing penalties.
June 15, 2026 - Self-Employed Filing Deadline
If you or your spouse/common-law partner were self-employed in 2025, you have until June 15 to file.
Important: Any taxes owing are still due by April 30, 2026.
The CRA’s “What’s New” updates outline several changes that could impact your return.
Effective July 1, 2025, the lowest federal marginal tax rate decreases from 15% to 14%.
Because this change happened mid-year, the effective lowest federal rate for 2025 is 14.5%.
What this means:
To offset the impact of the lower tax rate on non-refundable credits, the government introduced a new non-refundable top-up tax credit.
This ensures that certain credits continue to provide value comparable to the previous 15% calculation.
Taxpayers with significant non-refundable credits may see an adjustment because of this change.
The CRA has expanded the list of eligible expenses under the Disability Supports Deduction, allowing more qualifying taxpayers to deduct eligible support expenses that enable them to work, attend school, or conduct research.
If you claim disability-related expenses, review the updated eligible expense list carefully for 2025.
There are updates affecting:
These changes may be especially relevant for business owners or individuals selling qualifying small business shares.
These credits primarily affect investors in flow-through share agreements.
The federal fuel charge ended on April 1, 2025.
The Return of Fuel Charge Proceeds to Farmers Tax Credit for the 2024–25 fuel charge year will be the final credit available under this program.
Beyond tax law changes, the CRA has improved how taxpayers interact with its systems.
Taxpayers who are locked out of their CRA accounts can now use expanded online self-service tools to regain access without calling the CRA.
Tax professionals can no longer use EFILE to request authorization. Instead, authorization must be completed through your CRA account.
The previous five-day processing delay for certain authorizations has been removed.
The CRA continues to enhance digital services, including:
Online filing remains the fastest way to receive your refund, often within eight business days when combined with direct deposit.
The CRA no longer automatically mails paper tax packages to most Canadians. If filing by paper, you may need to download forms online.
Most tax slips must be issued by the end of February 2026. Make sure you’ve received all slips before filing to avoid reassessments.
Filing and paying on time helps you:
Even if you cannot pay your balance in full, it’s still important to file on time to minimize penalties.
The 2025 tax year introduces meaningful changes including a lower federal tax rate, new credit adjustments, expanded deductions, and service improvements from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Mark your key deadlines:
Planning ahead and understanding these updates can help you maximize deductions, reduce stress, and avoid costly penalties.
If you’re unsure how these changes affect your specific situation, speaking with a qualified tax professional can ensure your 2025 return is accurate and optimized.
