Get Ready to File a Tax Return — Montreal CPA Firm Near You: Step-by-Step Preparation for Your 2024 Filing

To receive every benefit and credit you are entitled to, you must file an income tax return each year—even if your income is low, tax-exempt, or non-taxable. Preparing early ensures smoother filing, fewer errors, faster refunds, and uninterrupted benefits. Whether you file electronically, use a tax preparer, or submit a paper return, the process begins with gathering documents, understanding your obligations, updating your CRA information, and planning for key deadlines.

This guide outlines the full checklist to get ready for your 2024 taxes, including who must file, what’s new for 2024, key dates, how to get tax slips, how to update your CRA profile, and how to choose the right filing method. It is written to help individuals, families, students, newcomers, self-employed professionals, and seniors prepare confidently.

Find Out Who Should File a Tax Return

Before preparing your return, determine whether you need to file. You must file a 2024 return if you:

• Received a CRA request to file

• Owe tax or want a refund

• Want to continue receiving benefits such as CCB, GST/HST credit, CCR or GIS

• Want to claim the Canada workers benefit

• Disposed of capital property or realized capital gains

• Need to repay OAS or EI

• Have CPP contributions owing

• Want to build RRSP or FHSA room

• Want to carry losses forward or transfer tuition

• Are filing on behalf of a deceased person

Filing is also required to ensure eligibility for provincial credits, especially in Québec.

Learn What’s New for 2024

Every year, tax rules change. For 2024, updates may include:

• New benefit amounts

• Changes to credits

• Updated expense thresholds

• Modifications to the income tax package

• New forms or filing requirements

• Updated CPP/QPP contribution limits

• FHSA participation updates

Being aware of these changes helps ensure you don’t miss deductions or credits.

Be Aware of Key Dates for 2024 Taxes

To avoid penalties and interest, track the following 2024 tax deadlines:

Filing Dates

• February 24, 2025 — Earliest day to file online

• April 30, 2025 — Standard filing deadline

• June 15, 2025 (June 16 since June 15 is Sunday) — Deadline if you or your spouse/common-law partner is self-employed

Payment Due Date

• April 30, 2025 — Deadline to pay taxes owing for 2024

Self-employed individuals still must pay by April 30, even if they file by June 15.

Mark these dates to prevent interest charges or interruptions in benefits.

Get Your Tax Slips

Your return begins with your tax slips. Common examples include:

• T4 (employment income)

• T4A (pensions, commissions, scholarships)

• T5 (investment income)

• T3 (trust allocations)

• T5018 (construction subcontractor income)

• RRSP contributions slips

• Tuition slips (T2202)

• Rental statements

• Foreign income documents

• Crypto trading reports

Slip issuers must send them to you by:

• February 28 (most slips)

• March 31 (T3/T5013 slips)

If you do not receive a slip, you must still report the income. You can also retrieve many slips through CRA’s “Auto-fill my return” service.

Keep Your CRA Information Up to Date

The CRA must have accurate contact details to:

• Calculate benefits

• Issue refunds

• Send notices

• Deliver instalment reminders

• Communicate about your account

You can update:

• Mailing address

• Home address

• Phone number

• Email

• Marital status

• Direct deposit information

• Language preferences

• CRA mail preferences

Updates can be made through:

• My Account

• By phone

• By mail

Keeping information current prevents delays and ensures benefits flow correctly.

Choose How to File Your Tax Return

You can file your return in several ways:

1. Tax Software

Most Canadians use CRA-certified software. It lets you:

• File online using NETFILE

• Auto-fill tax slips

• Calculate benefits and credits

• Validate return accuracy

2. Paper Tax Return

You can still file by paper by mailing your completed return to your tax centre. Paper returns take longer to process.

3. SimpleFile

Some Canadians receive a SimpleFile invitation, allowing them to file a return directly through CRA’s phone or online service.

4. Have Someone Else File for You

You may choose:

• A professional CPA or tax preparer

• A volunteer at a free tax clinic (for eligible individuals)

• A family member authorized through a CRA access form

Using a professional is ideal when you have complex income (self-employment, investments, rental property, foreign reporting, business expenses, etc.)

Get Your NETFILE Access Code

If you plan to file electronically using tax software, you may be asked for your:

• NETFILE Access Code

• An 8-character code made of numbers and letters

Where to find it:

• On the right side of your previous year’s Notice of Assessment (NOA)

Notes:

• New filers do not have an access code

• The access code is not mandatory

• If you don’t enter it, you can still NETFILE your return

Using the access code helps validate your identity and improve security.

Additional Steps Before Filing

To ensure smooth filing:

• Collect receipts for expenses (medical, investment fees, business expenses, childcare)

• Gather all RRSP contributions made up to March 2025

• Download statements for investment trades

• Ensure T777s or employment expense forms are completed if eligible

• Review instalment payments made in 2024

• Prepare documents for capital gains or sales of real estate

• Verify tuition carryovers

• Review HBP or LLP repayment schedules

• Confirm foreign asset reporting if applicable (T1135)

• Reconcile FHSA contributions and withdrawals

Being organized reduces errors and delays.

Why Mackisen

With more than 35 years of combined CPA experience, Mackisen CPA Montreal helps individuals and businesses prepare their taxes accurately, on time, and with full access to every credit and deduction available.

Whether you are:

• Filing for the first time

• Renewing benefits and credits

• Reporting complex income

• Managing self-employment taxes

• Handling capital gains

• Filing as a newcomer

• Filing for a deceased person

• Preparing corporate or GST/QST returns

our expert team ensures compliance, maximizes refunds, and protects you from audit risk.

If you want stress-free filing for your 2024 taxes, Mackisen can gather your slips, prepare your return, determine your credits, and submit everything to CRA—accurately and on time.