Canada Tax Deadlines & Calendar
Interactive timeline tracker for CRA filings, RRSP contribution cutoffs, and tax instalment schedules.
Individual income tax returns must be filed and taxes paid by **April 30, 2026**. Self-employed individuals have until **June 15, 2026** to file, but interest on balances owed starts accumulating after **April 30**. Instalments are mandatory if your net tax owing is over $3,000.
Interactive Tax Calendar (2026)
Check off items as you submit them. Dates are dynamically measured against current calendar queues.
| Status | Deadline Event | CRA Date | Days Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 RRSP Contribution DeadlineLast day to contribute to your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to deduct against your 2025 taxable income. | 2026-03-02 | Completed | |
| Personal Income Tax Filing & PaymentDeadline to file individual income tax returns (T1) and pay any balance owed to the CRA to avoid interest penalties. | 2026-04-30 | Completed | |
| Q2 Tax Instalment PaymentSecond quarterly instalment due for sole proprietors and investors. | 2026-06-15 | Completed | |
| Self-Employed Tax Filing DeadlineFiling deadline for self-employed individuals and their spouses. Note: Any balance owed was still due by April 30. | 2026-06-15 | Completed | |
| Q3 Tax Instalment PaymentThird quarterly instalment due to the CRA for sole proprietors. | 2026-09-15 | 73 Days Left | |
| Q4 Tax Instalment PaymentFourth quarterly instalment due to the CRA. | 2026-12-15 | 164 Days Left |
Late-Filing Penalties & Interest
Filing your tax return late when you owe money results in heavy interest and penalty structures from the CRA:
- Late-Filing Penalty: A flat **5%** penalty on your 2025 balance owing, plus an additional **1%** of your balance for each full month that your return is late, up to a maximum of **12 months** (total 17% maximum penalty).
- Repeated Failures: If the CRA issued late-filing penalties in any of the three preceding tax years, the late-filing penalty increases to **10%** of your balance owing, plus **2%** per month up to **20 months** (total 50% maximum penalty).
- CRA Interest Charges: The CRA charges compound daily interest on unpaid taxes. The interest rate is adjusted quarterly (typically hovering around 8–10% annually). Interest is charged even on the late-filing penalties starting the day after your filing deadline.
2026 CRA Limits
| Max RRSP Limit | $33,810 |
| Max TFSA Room | $7,000 |
| Home Buyers' Plan | $60,000 limit |
| FHSA Room | $8,000/yr |
RRSP Contributions
RRSP contributions made in the first 60 days of the calendar year (usually Jan 1 to March 2) can be claimed on either the previous year's tax return or the current year's return.
Make sure you do not exceed your deduction limit (found on your last CRA Notice of Assessment) to avoid a **1% per month excess contribution penalty**.