Why you should file your tax return
International students are encouraged to file a tax return even if they don't have any income.ÌýThe Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a list of reasons .
Most international students completing a degree in Canada on a study permit are considered residents of Canada for income tax purposes; however taxes are based on an individual’s specific circumstances. It's very important that you consider the significance of your residential ties to Canada and  prior to submitting an income tax return.
For more information about Canadian taxes, please see  on the Government of Canada's website or contact the .Ìý
Filing an income tax return
The tax year runs from January to December each year and the deadline to file an income tax return is April 30 of the following year. Example: The deadline to file taxes for the 2024 calendar year is April 30, 2025.
Whether you hire an accountant or complete your own tax return, you'll need to prepare the following documents (if applicable):
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) or, if you're not eligible for a SIN, your .ÌýTo receive an ITN, you must complete Form T1261: Application for a Canada Revenue Agency Individual Tax Number (ITN) for Non-Residents.
- Income tax slips like T4 or T4A (for scholarships, awards, GRS, and bursaries). If you worked for the university, you can access your T4 from , which is also where you get your T4A.ÌýReview the University's viewing tax documents guide for instructions.Ìý
- Interest tax slips like a T3 or T5 from financial institutions.ÌýContact your financial institution for a copy if applicable.
- Tuition receipt T2202A. This identifies the number of months you attended university and the tuition you paid. You can  on your Quest account under Finances, Tax Receipts.
- Donation receipts if you made a donation to a Canadian charity.Ìý
- Medical receipts for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
- Rent receipts from your landlord. This does not include on-campus residence fees.
- Any correspondence from the CRA if you've filed taxes in Canada before, including your past notice of assessments.
- You may have other information slips, receipts, or amounts you can indicate on your income tax return.
Student Financial Services also has information on tax receipts and where to find them.
Residents of Canada are required to indicate any income earned from both inside and outside of Canada. If you worked in another country, your income tax return, including residency status for tax purposes, could be impacted by a .
Once you've submitted an income tax return, you should receive a response from the CRA in the form of a notice of assessment. Keep any correspondence you receive from the CRA in a safe place for your records.Ìý
Once you've filed at least one income tax return, received one notice of assessment, and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), you can  on the CRA website. Your account allows you to receive correspondence from the CRA electronically, set up direct electronic bank deposits for any refunds or benefits you may receive, and keep your personal information, address and banking information up-to-date with CRA.
Important note: Find out if the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ has your Social Insurance Number (SIN) in Quest, or how to add it. If you do not provide consent for your SIN to the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, the SIN field on your tax receipt will be blank when submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Missed the deadline to file?
The tax year runs from January to December each year and the deadline to file an income tax return is April 30 of the year after. If you miss the April 30 deadline, you can still submit a late income tax return. However, there could be  if you owe the government taxes.Ìý