3 changes to know about tax filing this year

(NC) With tax time fast approaching, Canadians are getting organized and ready to file. But before you open your tax software, here are some changes you should know about for this year:

Tax filing is becoming more digital. Starting this year, the usual paper income tax package won’t be sent proactively by mail for those who choose to file on paper. Over 93 per cent of Canadians already file their taxes online, and their tax returns are generally processed much quicker than paper ones. If you still choose to file by paper, you can get the tax package and schedules by ordering online or over the phone, or by downloading and printing it on your own.

Online tax tools and portals are getting easier to use. There are a few improvements to the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) digital services this year, including:

• A new way for users who’ve forgotten their sign-in information or lost access to their account to get back in without having to call.
• The addition of a mandatory backup multi-factor authentication (MFA) option on file to prevent potential lockouts during the MFA process.
• Optimized web pages in key areas, including clear answers about Tax-Free Savings Accounts, the Canada child benefit, registering a business and registering for an account.

Grant representatives permission to access your account. Someone using EFile to file your taxes on your behalf now must request access to your account through the represent a client online portal. This lets you decide and control who has access to your tax information. If you have a representative doing your tax filing, you can authorize them instantly through your online account portal once they submit a request.

By keeping on top of tax changes and available digital services, Canadians can have an easier time filing and getting the information they need. You can find a full list of the changes at canada.ca/taxes-whats-new.