Tax Return FQA

Q: Why should I file my tax return every year?
A: Filing your tax return is your right and obligation as a Canadian resident. By filing it, you can get your tax refund, benefit and accumulate your tuition credit, if applicable.

Q：Who can file tax return？I am only an secondary or ESL student, can I file？
A: As long as you are over 18 years old in the end of tax year can you file tax return, no matter you are a student in high school or ESL or college/university, no matter you are single or married, no matter you have income or not. 

Q: I landed in Canada on 2015/12/31, can I file 2015 tax return? 
A: No matter when you landed in Canada, you can file your tax return because the benefit is same from July to next June.

Q: Generally when can I file the tax？
A: You can file current year's tax return in this March, usually tax season is March and April every year.  However, even tax season passes, you can still file your tax, and for students, usually it will not affect your tax if you file after tax season.

Q: I never file tax return after I landed in Canada, can I file for previous years?
A: Sure, we can help you file your tax return for previous 10 years.

Q: When can I get the tax refund and benefit?
A: You can get tax refund, landing benefit and benefit for previous years once your application has been processed. Tax refund takes 0.5-2 months, previous years benefit and landing benefit may take more time. For current year, you can get benefit from this July until next June.

Q: How many benefit can I get?
A: For single student in Ontario, usually the annual benefit is at least $555/year+residence benefit.

Q：What is the tuition credit for?
A: When you file your tax return, the tuition credit will be accumulated under your account. You can claim it back when you work and get high pay.

Q: If I do not have rent receipt, can I claim for it?
A: If you do not have receipt, please do not claim for it unless you can approve the rent by cheque slips. If you lost receipt, make sure you can get a new one.

Q：What is Landing Benefit? Who can apply for it? How much is it?
A: Landing Benefit is the benefit from CRA from your landing date to next July of your landing year.
If you were more than 19 years old when you landed in Canada, you can apply for this Landing Benefit.
If you never apply for it, we can help you.
If you do not apply for it, you will not get it.
How much benefit you can get? It depends, normally some hundred for a single student.