Can I file the T2 on paper?

Only in limited cases. Most corporations must file electronically using CRA-certified software, and paper filing where electronic filing is mandatory can attract a penalty. Check the current mandatory filing rules before choosing paper.

Six months after the corporation's tax year end. A corporation with a year ending March 31, for example, files by September 30. Note that any tax owing is generally due before the return itself.

The General Index of Financial Information is the standardized coding system corporations use to report their financial statement items on T2 schedules, allowing the CRA to process balance sheets and income statements consistently.

Do provinces require a separate corporate return?

For most provinces and territories, provincial corporate tax is calculated and collected through the T2. Alberta and Quebec administer their own corporate taxes and require their own separate returns in addition to the federal T2.

What happens if a corporation files late?

Late filing brings a penalty calculated on unpaid tax, plus interest on outstanding balances, and repeated late filing increases the penalty. Corporations expecting a nil balance still risk losing access to certain elections and credits by filing late.

Business

Fill Out CRA Form T2 Online

Corporation Income Tax Return

Canada Revenue Agency

The income tax return every resident corporation in Canada must file each tax year.

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 T2 Corporation Income Tax Return is the return that corporations resident in Canada must file with the Canada Revenue Agency for every tax year, even years with no activity or no tax payable. It reports the corporation's income, deductions, and tax calculations, supported by a set of schedules that varies with the corporation's situation.

You can open the T2 in the Universal PDF editor to review the return, fill in fields, and download a completed copy for your records. Keep in mind that most corporations are required to file the T2 electronically using CRA-certified tax software, so the paper form is mainly a fallback for corporations that are exempt from mandatory internet filing or need a reference copy.

What is the T2 return used for

The T2 establishes the corporation's taxable income and federal tax for the year, and for most provinces and territories it also handles provincial or territorial corporate tax through the same filing. The core return collects identification, income, and tax summary information, while schedules carry the detail, such as the financial statement information filed under the General Index of Financial Information, capital cost allowance, and calculations specific to small business or investment income.

Filing is required regardless of whether tax is owed. Corporations with losses, dormant corporations, and non-profit corporations that are not registered charities all still file a T2 for each tax year.

Who files the T2

Every corporation resident in Canada files a T2 each tax year, including Canadian-controlled private corporations, public corporations, and inactive corporations. Registered charities are the main exception, since they file their own information return instead.

Non-resident corporations must file a T2 in certain situations, such as carrying on business in Canada or disposing of taxable Canadian property. A corporation's tax year is its fiscal period, which does not have to match the calendar year.

How to fill out the T2

Preparing a T2 is a bigger undertaking than most personal forms, and the return leans heavily on its schedules:

Complete the identification area with the corporation's legal name, business number, tax year start and end, and head office information.
Answer the attachment questions that determine which schedules apply, such as those for related corporations, dividends, and reserves.
Report financial statement information through the applicable GIFI schedules.
Work through the income and taxable income calculations, applying deductions such as losses carried forward.
Calculate federal tax, any applicable credits and refundable amounts, and the balance owing or refund, then have an authorized officer sign the certification.

Filing deadlines and method

The T2 is due no later than six months after the end of the corporation's tax year, while any balance of tax is generally due earlier, within two or three months of year end depending on the corporation's circumstances. Most corporations are required to file electronically through CRA-certified software, and penalties can apply for filing on paper when electronic filing is mandatory. The printable T2 remains available for the limited situations where paper filing is accepted, and it is also useful for reviewing what the software will transmit.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Every corporation resident in Canada must file a T2 for each tax year, even with no activity and no tax payable. Dormant corporations often have simple returns, but the filing obligation remains.

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.