Tax Deadline 2024: All Tax Filing Due Dates

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When Do I Need to File My Taxes?

A Complete Guide to 2024 Tax Deadlines

The tax due dates always seem to be just around the corner, but don’t let them sneak up and catch you off guard. Keeping track of these deadlines allows for a smooth filing process and helps you avoid costly penalties and interest charges. Preparing for your tax filing can require lots of paperwork and documentation, so set yourself or your business up for success by planning early and ensuring you are fully prepared to file any and all taxes that pertain to you. To help you prepare, we’ll run through the common Canada Revenue Agency deadlines in 2024, so make sure you have your calendars ready!

Here are the most common Canada Revenue Agency deadlines to be aware of to file your 2024 taxes on time.

Different Types of Tax Filing Due Dates

Tax Deadline for Personal/Individual Taxes

Filing and Payment Due Dates

The following deadlines are applicable for 2023 taxes for individuals:
  • February 29, 2024: Deadline to contribute to an RRSP, PRSP, or an SPP
  • April 30, 2024: Deadline to file tax returns and pay taxes

This coming March 1st will be the RRSP deadline. Any retirement contributions you intend to make must be done by the deadline in order to lower your 2022 taxes

To be considered filed on time, individuals mailing their returns must postmark them by April 30, 2024, while those filing electronically have until midnight that day.

 

Penalties

Those who are late filing their tax return will incur the following penalties:
  • Late filing penalty: 5% of your 2023 balance plus an additional 1% for each month the return is not filed after the April 30th due date
  • Late payment: daily compounding interest on the balance due starts accruing on May 1, 2024

If you don’t have a balance due on your return, you will not incur any penalties or interest, but waiting to file only delays getting your refund!

 

Installment Payments

Individuals owing over $3,000 in taxes in 2024 or 2023 must make installment payments according to the following payment schedule:
  • March 15, 2024
  • June 15, 2024
  • September 15, 2024
  • December 15, 2024
For due dates landing on a weekend or public holiday, the payment is on time if paid by the next business day. Installment payments made late or for less than the required amount are assessed penalties if your installment interest charges are more than $1,000.

Tax Deadline for Self Employed Taxes

The following deadlines apply to individuals who are self-employed or have a spouse or common-law partner who is self-employed in 2023:
  • April 30, 2024: Deadline to pay your balance due for 2023
  • April 30, 2024: Filing and payment due date if business expenditures relate mostly to tax shelter investment
  • June 17, 2024: Filing due date for all other self-employed individuals

Penalties and interest charges will also accrue for self-employed individuals who miss filing and payment due dates. In addition to the deadlines above, self-employed individuals must be aware of payroll and GST/HST due dates, which we will cover below.

 

Tax Deadline for Corporate Taxes

While individual income filing tax due dates are based on the calendar year, due dates for corporations are based on the entity’s tax year-end. Corporation tax returns are due six months following the end of their fiscal year. The following are examples of filing due dates for corporate tax returns:
  • June 30, 2024: filing deadline for corporations with calendar year-end
  • September 30, 2024: filing deadline for corporations whose fiscal year ends March 31, 2024

Payment Due Dates

Corporations with a balance due must pay the balance two months after the year-end date. The following are examples of payment due dates:
  • February 29, 2024: payment due for corporations with calendar year-end
  • May 15, 2024: payment due date for corporations with March 15, 2024 fiscal year-end
Corporations who meet the following conditions qualify to pay their balance due in three months instead of two following the end of the tax year:
  • The corporation is a Canadian Controlled Private Corporation throughout the year
  • Corporation claimed a small business deduction for either the current or previous tax year
  • Either:
    • The corporation’s taxable income for the previous tax year does not exceed its business limit for the tax year
    • The total taxable incomes of all the associated corporations for their last tax year ending in the previous calendar year does not exceed the total of their business limits for those tax years

Installment Payments

Corporations must make monthly installments if the corporation’s tax payable is more than $3,000. Corporations can make quarterly installment payments instead of monthly payments if all of the following criteria are met:
  • The corporation is a Canadian Controlled Private Corporation
  • The corporation has a perfect compliance history
  • The corporation and any associated corporations both have:
    • Taxable income of $500,000 or less
    • Taxable capital employed in Canada of $10 million or less

Tax Deadline for Trust Taxes

Like corporate tax returns, the filing deadline for trust tax returns depends on the trust’s tax year-end date. Generally, all trusts must file T3 and related T3 slips, NR4 slips, and T3 and NR4 summaries within 90 days of the trust’s year-end. The following are examples of filing due dates for trusts:

  • April 2, 2024: trust filing deadline for calendar year-end
  • July 2, 2024: trust filing deadline for a trust whose year-end is March 31, 2024

Tax Deadlines for GST/HST Returns

The GST/HST filing deadline differs depending on your filing period-monthly, quarterly or annually.

Monthly and Quarterly

The filing deadline for monthly and quarterly filing periods is one month following the end of the reporting period. For example:
  • July 31, 2024: filing and payment due date for the reporting period ending June 30, 2024

Annually

The filing deadline for annual filers depends on whether you have a December 31 fiscal year-end. Filers who don’t have a December 31 fiscal year-end have three months after the close of their year-end to pay and file. For example:
  • December 2, 2024: filing and payment due date for those with an August 31, 2024, year-end
Filers with a December 31 year-end have the following due dates:
  • April 30, 2024: deadline to pay GST/HST
  • June 17, 2024: deadline to file GST/HST return

Tax Deadlines for Information Slips

T4 Returns, T4A Returns, T4A-NR Returns, T4A-RCA Returns

The T4 returns report salary, wages, tips, bonuses, vacation pay, commissions, fringe benefits, and retirement allowances employees earn annually. The filing deadline is:
  • February 29, 2024

T5018 returns

The T5018 slip reports the contract payments made to a contractor during the year. The filing deadline is:
  • Six months after the end of the reporting period

Special Situations

  • Filing due date is 30 days from the date your business stops operating
  • Filing due date is 90 days from the date a partner or sole proprietor dies

Penalties

Even though these forms are informational, employers must stay on top of these filing deadlines and remain aware of their responsibilities, as the following penalties can start to pile up for those who are not cognizant:
  • $100 to $7,500: filing an information return late
  • $100 to $2,500: providing slips to employees late
  • $250 to $2,500: failing to file information returns electronically

Make sure to mark your calendars if any of the above filing requirements apply to you or your business so you don’t make a costly mistake and miss any of the 2024 tax deadlines.

If you are looking for assistance in staying compliant with all your tax filing obligations, we are here to help. AgileCPA offers accounting and tax services assisting both individuals and businesses. Reach out to us today to schedule your free, 15-minute consultation to discuss how we can help you.

 

T4 Information for Employees

Employers must submit T4s by February 29, 2024. The CRA requires employers to give employees T4s by the deadline. If you do not receive one by February 29, reach out to your employer.

You will only receive a T4 if you earn a salary, wages, tips, bonuses, vacation pay, commissions, fringe benefits, and retirement allowances during the year. There are other situations that might warrant the issuance of a T4, but these are the most common.

 

Pension payments, group term life insurance, retiring allowances for non-Canada residents, retirement compensation arrangement payments, and annuities are generally excluded from being issued on a T4.

If you don’t receive a T4 by the deadline, but believe you should, double check with the employer or reach out to one of our accountants.

T4 Information for Employers

Employers have a greater filing burden when it comes to T4s. Employers are required to submit a T4 for qualifying money paid to employees by February 29, 2024.

If your business ends during the year, you have 30 days from the date your business stops to file T4s. This means if your business ceased operations on June 1, you would have until July 1 to file the T4s.

If a partner or sole proprietor dies during the year, the CRA gives the business 90 days from that date to file the T4s.

If you file more than 50 T4s, you are required to file the forms electronically. Businesses with under 50 T4s can file on paper. Keep in mind that electronic processing is quicker and less susceptible to loss, ensuring you meet the deadline.

 

Employers can also submit up to 100 T4s through web forms. Additionally, internet file transfers are available if the file size is 150MB or less. Internet file transfers generally involve a third-party software program, making them a less viable option for small businesses with under 50 forms.

There are stiff penalties for employers that miss the filing deadline or do not file using the correct method. The failure to file electronically penalty ranges from $250 to $2,500, depending on how many T4s you file incorrectly.

The CRA assesses another penalty for employers that don’t give employees T4s timely, which is $25 per day for each T4 slip that isn’t handed out. This means that if you are holding on to five T4s, you could see a penalty of $125 per day.

 

Employers also need to consider the late filing penalty, which ranges from $100 to $7,500, depending on the number of T4s you are required to file.

 

If you’re still unsure about your tax deadlines or want extra assistance getting prepared for the tax season, contact us for a consultation.

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