What to Bring
Tax season goes faster when everything arrives at once. Work through the sections that apply to you (most people only need two or three) and skip the rest. If a slip hasn't arrived yet, tell us; we can usually see what the CRA has on file once you've authorized us.
Got everything together? The next step is our intake form, which you can fill in and download without any of it leaving your device.
Everyone
Every Return Starts Here
- Your most recent notice of assessment It carries your RRSP room, carryforwards, and instalment history
- SIN and date of birth for you, your spouse, and any dependants First year only: we keep it on file after that
- Last year's tax return New clients only: it tells us what carries forward
- Any letters the CRA sent you during the year
- Changes since last year: address, marital status, dependants, first home
- Void cheque or direct deposit details If your banking changed or you're new to us
- Instalment payments made during the year, with dates and amounts
Employment
If You're Employed
- T4 from every employer you worked for during the year
- T4E if you collected employment insurance
- T5007 if you received WSIB or social assistance payments
- Union or professional dues receipts Only if they're not already on your T4
- Form T2200 and an expense summary Only if your employer requires you to pay for supplies, a vehicle, or a home office
Self-Employment
If You Work for Yourself
- Income records: invoices, platform statements, or a yearly summary
- Expense records grouped by category Supplies, advertising, insurance, phone, subcontractors: a spreadsheet is perfect
- Vehicle log: business kilometres and total kilometres Plus fuel, insurance, repairs, and lease or loan costs
- Home office details: workspace and home square footage, utilities, internet, rent or mortgage interest, property tax
- Equipment or asset purchases over a few hundred dollars These are claimed over time as capital cost allowance
- HST returns filed during the year, if you're registered
Investments
If You Invest
- T5 slips: interest and dividends from banks and brokerages
- T3 slips: mutual fund and ETF distributions These arrive late, often the end of March
- T5008 or your broker's realized gain/loss report for anything sold
- Purchase records for what you sold The adjusted cost base decides the gain, especially for older holdings
- RRSP contribution receipts: March to December, plus the first 60 days of this year
- T4FHSA if you contributed to or withdrew from a first home savings account
- Crypto transaction history, if you traded Dispositions are taxable even crypto-to-crypto
- Interest paid on money borrowed to invest
- Details of foreign property if the total cost passed $100,000 CAD The T1135 has its own stiff late-filing penalty
Rental Property
If You're a Landlord
- Rent collected for the year, by property
- Operating expenses: property tax, insurance, utilities, condo fees, repairs, advertising, property management
- Mortgage statement showing the year's interest Interest is deductible; principal isn't
- Receipts for renovations or improvements Capital work is claimed over time, not all at once, and we'll sort which is which
- Closing documents if you bought or sold a property this year
Home & Family
Life at Home
- Childcare receipts showing the provider's name and SIN or business number
- Medical and dental receipts, including premiums for private health plans Worth gathering once they pass roughly 3% of the lower-income spouse's income
- Charitable donation receipts
- Tuition certificate (T2202): yours, or a transfer from your child
- Student loan interest statements
- Closing documents if you bought your first home The home buyers' amount is worth up to $1,500
- Support payments made or received, with the agreement
- Moving expenses, if you moved 40 km closer to work or school
- Details if you sold your home A principal residence sale is tax-free but must still be reported: year bought and sale proceeds
Retirement
If You're Retired
- T4A(OAS) and T4A(P): old age security and CPP
- T4A slips for company or other pensions
- T4RSP or T4RIF for RRSP and RRIF withdrawals
- Foreign pension statements US social security and many others get special treatment
- Medical expenses, often the biggest missed claim in retirement
- Your spouse's income details Pension income splitting is decided at filing time and can save real money