Personal tax information checklist
Most of the time spent preparing a tax return goes into gathering information. Work through this checklist before your appointment and the return itself takes far less time — and far fewer things get missed.
How to use this page. This is general information for Canadian personal tax returns, not tax advice, and the rules change from year to year. Some credits mentioned here have been introduced, changed or discontinued over time. We confirm the current rules for your situation when we prepare your return, and the Canada Revenue Agency publishes the authoritative current information.
1. Income slips and income documents
Collect every slip that reports income paid to you during the year:
- T4 — employment income from each employer
- T4A — pensions, retiring allowances, lump-sum payments and other income
- T4A(OAS) and T4A(P) — Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan benefits
- T4E — employment insurance benefits
- T4RSP and T4RIF — withdrawals from RRSPs and RRIFs
- T5 — investment income such as interest and dividends
- T3 — income from trusts and mutual fund trusts
- T5008 or your own trading records — proceeds of disposing of investments
- RC62 — Universal Child Care Benefit statements (historical)
Also gather, where they apply to you:
- Rental income records: lease agreements, rent received, and expenses such as mortgage interest, property tax, insurance, repairs and management fees
- Self-employment income and expenses: invoices, receipts, mileage logs and home-office costs
- Foreign income and foreign property: foreign slips, and details of any property held outside Canada
- Capital gains and losses: purchase and sale statements, including for cryptocurrency and other digital assets
- Support payments received
- Workers’ compensation benefits and social assistance
2. Deductions you can claim
Deductions reduce your income before tax is calculated, so they are usually worth more than a credit of the same size:
- RRSP contributions — official receipts, plus your RRSP deduction limit from your notice of assessment
- Union and professional dues
- Child care expenses — receipts showing the provider’s name and Social Insurance Number or business number
- Moving expenses — if you moved at least 40 kilometres closer to work or school
- Support payments made — under a written agreement or court order
- Carrying charges and interest — for example, interest on money borrowed to earn investment income
- Employment expenses — where your employer completes and signs Form T2200
- Northern residents deductions, if you lived in a prescribed northern zone
- Capital losses — including losses carried forward from earlier years
3. Credits and receipts
Non-refundable credits reduce the tax you owe. Keep the receipts for every one you claim:
- Medical expenses — prescriptions, dental and optical care, therapy, travel for medical treatment, and premiums paid for private health plans
- Charitable donations — official receipts, including donations made by a spouse or common-law partner
- Tuition — Form T2202 from the institution, and any unused tuition amounts carried forward
- Disability — Form T2201 certified by a medical practitioner, plus attendant care and medical expenses
- Caregiver and family credits — for a dependent with a physical or mental impairment
- Home buyers’ amount — if you (or your spouse or common-law partner) acquired a qualifying home
- Home accessibility and renovation credits — for qualifying modifications to a home
- Digital news subscription and other targeted credits — where they apply for the year in question
- Volunteer firefighter, search and rescue, and apprentice credits
4. Self-employment and rental income
Self-employment and rental income need more supporting detail than employment income:
- A summary of gross income and expense categories for the year
- Receipts for expenses, and a mileage log if you use a vehicle for business
- Home-office details: square footage used for business and total home costs
- Capital purchases such as equipment, computers and vehicles, with the purchase date and cost
- GST/PST registration numbers and returns filed during the year
- Rental property: purchase documents, rental agreement, and a breakdown of expenses
If your records are behind or incomplete, that is not unusual and not a problem — bookkeeping services exist for exactly that situation.
5. Life events that change your return
Tell us if any of these happened during the year, because each one changes what you can claim:
- Marriage, common-law partnership, separation or divorce
- The birth or adoption of a child, or a child turning 18
- Buying, selling or refinancing a home
- Starting or incorporating a business
- Becoming self-employed, or returning to school
- Retiring, turning 65, or starting CPP or OAS benefits
- A disability affecting you or a dependant
- The death of a spouse, common-law partner or other family member
- Moving to or from British Columbia
6. What to do next
Gather what you can, note anything you are unsure about, and bring the whole package to your appointment. If something is missing we will tell you — it is far easier to chase a single slip before filing than to adjust a return afterwards.
Have your return prepared for you
Personal T1 returns are prepared and electronically filed at Marcus & Co., CGA, including rental income, investment income, self-employment and family credits. The first consultation is free.