What is the difference between the T1 and a T4?

The T4 is a slip your employer prepares to report what you were paid and what was deducted. The T1 is the return you file, using the numbers from your T4 and other slips.

The general deadline is April 30 of the year after the tax year. Self-employed individuals and their spouses usually have until June 15 to file, but a balance owing is still generally due by April 30. Check the CRA website for the current year's exact dates.

What if I made a mistake on a T1 I already filed?

Do not file a second return. Wait for your notice of assessment, then request a change using CRA My Account, ReFILE through certified software, or Form T1-ADJ by mail.

Can I file a paper T1 return?

Yes. You can complete the return as a PDF, print it, attach the required documents, and mail it to the tax centre for your region. Paper returns generally take longer to process than electronic ones.

Should I get help with my return?

If your situation involves self-employment, foreign income, or major life changes, consider speaking with a tax professional. For simple situations, the official guide that accompanies the return walks through each line.

Tax

Fill Out CRA Form T1 General Online

Income Tax and Benefit Return

Canada Revenue Agency

The main personal income tax return Canadians file each year to report income and claim deductions and credits.

Reviewed July 2026

How it works

1
Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
2
Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
3
Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.

The T1 Income Tax and Benefit Return, often called the T1 General, is the return individuals in Canada use to report their income for the year, claim deductions and credits, and calculate whether they owe tax or are due a refund. It is also how the Canada Revenue Agency determines eligibility for benefit programs such as the GST/HST credit and the Canada Child Benefit, which is why many people file even when they earn little or no income.

You can open the T1 return in the Universal PDF editor, type your figures directly into the fields, review each section on screen, and download a completed PDF. That gives you a clean, legible return to mail to the CRA or to keep as a record of what you filed.

What is the T1 General used for

The T1 pulls together everything about your tax year: employment income from T4 slips, pension and other income from T4A slips, investment income from T5 slips, self-employment results, deductions such as RRSP contributions, and non-refundable credits such as the basic personal amount. The return then calculates federal and provincial or territorial tax and compares it with what was already withheld at source.

The CRA also uses the information on your T1 to calculate benefit and credit payments for the following benefit year. Filing on time keeps those payments flowing without interruption.

Who files the T1 General

Most residents of Canada file a T1 for any year they owe tax or want to claim a refund of tax that was withheld. Filing is also how you build RRSP contribution room, receive benefit and credit payments, and keep your records with the CRA current. Newcomers, students, and people with modest incomes often benefit from filing even when they are not required to.

Each province and territory has its own version of the return package because provincial tax and credits differ. Make sure you use the package for the province or territory where you resided on December 31 of the tax year, as explained in the official instructions.

How to fill out the T1 General

The return follows the same broad structure every year. Working through it in order helps avoid missed lines:

Identification: your name, address, social insurance number, marital status, and information about your spouse or common-law partner if you have one.
Total income: employment income, pensions, benefits, investment income, and self-employment income, drawn from your slips and supporting schedules such as the T2125.
Net income: deductions such as RRSP contributions, child care expenses, and support payments that reduce your total income.
Taxable income: additional deductions applied to net income, such as certain losses carried forward.
Federal tax and credits: non-refundable credits, then the federal tax calculation, with additional schedules where they apply.
Provincial or territorial tax: the form for your province or territory, calculated from your taxable income.
Refund or balance owing: compare total payable with tax already deducted at source and instalments paid, then sign and date the return.

Where to send it

Most Canadians file electronically through CRA-certified software using NETFILE, and the CRA encourages electronic filing. If you file on paper, mail the return to the tax centre that serves your region; the current mailing addresses are listed on the official CRA website. The general filing deadline is April 30, and self-employed filers usually have until June 15 to file, although any balance owing is still generally due April 30. Confirm the current dates on the CRA website, since deadlines that fall on a weekend or holiday shift to the next business day.

Frequently asked questions

You may not be required to, but filing is usually worthwhile. Benefit and credit payments such as the GST/HST credit are calculated from your return, so skipping a year can interrupt payments you would otherwise receive.

Universal PDF is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Forms are provided from official government sources; always confirm you have the current version before filing.

This form is reproduced from official Canadian government sources. Universal PDF is not affiliated with or endorsed by any Canadian federal or provincial government body; always confirm you have the current version on the official site.