SimpleFile services – Summer 2024 pilot
Many lower-income and vulnerable Canadians are missing out on valuable benefit and credit payments because they are not filing their income tax and benefit returns. Payments such as the Canada child benefit and the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax credit can help with the cost of living.
In order to receive, or continue to receive, benefit and credit payments, individuals have to update their information with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) each year by doing their taxes.
Overview of the SimpleFile suite of services
The SimpleFile services allow eligible individuals to file their 2023 income tax and benefit return either by phone, digitally or by paper. These simplified methods of filing are free, secure, and easy to use. There are no complex forms to fill out or calculations to do.
The CRA is sending invitations in July of 2024. If you are invited to use the service, you will receive an invitation letter by mail or email notification (only available for the phone option) to view the letter in My Account, if you are registered and have your correspondence preference set to ‘’Electronic mail.’’
The SimpleFile services use the information in CRA’s systems at the time of use of the service, along with the answers provided, to file the return.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the SimpleFile services, you must:
- have an income under a certain threshold based on factors that include age, province of residence, and disability status
- have income exclusively from the following sources:
- Benefits
- Old Age Security – T4A(OAS)
- Guaranteed Income Supplement / Net federal supplements – T4A(OAS)
- Canada or Quebec Pension Plan benefits (including disability benefits) – T4A(P)
- Employment and related income supports
- Employment income – T4
- Employment Insurance Benefits – T4E
- Workers’ compensation benefits – T5007
- Social assistance payments – T5007
- Canada Emergency Benefits – T4A
- Investment income
- Some Interest Income – T5 (box 13)
- Benefits
For Quebec residents
For all options, if you’re a resident of Quebec, the services only complete the federal tax return. You’ll still need to complete and submit a Quebec provincial tax return with Revenu Québec.
Filing options using SimpleFile
If you are eligible, you will receive an invitation letter from the CRA to use SimpleFile to file your 2023 income tax and benefit return.
Your invitation letter will indicate the filing option available to you, along with the instructions you need to complete your taxes. Once your return has been assessed, you will receive a notice of assessment.
SimpleFile by Phone
The SimpleFile by Phone service (formerly called File my Return) allows eligible individuals to auto-file their 2023 income tax and benefit return over the phone.
This service is available 21 hours a day between 6 am and 3 am (Eastern time), 7 days a week from:
July 15, 2024 to January 31, 2025
The invitation letter provides the information you need to use this service. There are no forms to fill out or calculations to do. You do not need to speak to an agent to use this service.
Completion time: Approximately 5 to 10 minutes
To auto-file your tax information by phone, you will need to:
- Verify some personal information
- Answer a series of short questions using the keypad on your phone
Additional eligibility criteria
- You do not need to have income to use this service
- You must have a recent filing history
Your information is not saved during the session
If you hang up or are disconnected from the call before the end of the session, you will have to call again. If you think you have made an error before the end of the session, you can hang up and call back to start over.
If you have a Personal Identification Number (PIN)
At the end of the call, you can receive an estimate of your net income, taxable income, and any refund that you may be eligible for at the end of the call. To receive this information, you will need to provide your PIN when prompted.
For information on how to create a PIN, go to Use a PIN when you call us.
SimpleFile Digital
The SimpleFile Digital option allows eligible individuals to file their 2023 income tax and benefit return online.
This service is available 21 hours a day between 6 am and 3 am (Eastern time), 7 days a week from:
July 3, 2024 to January 31, 2025
The invitation letter provides the information you need to use this service. There are no calculations for you to do.
Completion time: Approximately 10 to 20 minutes
To complete the web form, you will need to:
- Use the validation code provided in the invitation letter
- Provide some personal information
- Answer a series of short questions
SimpleFile by Paper
The SimpleFile by Paper option allows eligible individuals to quickly file their 2023 income tax and benefit return.
This service does not have a closing date, but the form can only be used for the tax year specified on the form.
The invitation letter provides the information you need to use this service.
Completion time: Approximately 25 minutes or less
To complete the paper form, you will need to:
- Provide some personal information
- Confirm the information about your income in the form provided in the invitation letter package
- Send the form back to the CRA using the envelope provided (no postage required)
Additional eligibility criteria
- You do not need to have income or a filing history to use this service
- You are allowed to have tax exempt income
General questions about the service
If you have questions about the SimpleFile services, you can call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281.
Protect yourself against fraud
To avoid scams and fraud, be aware of when and how the CRA might contact you. The Scams and fraud page provides information on the ways the CRA may contact you, including by phone, email, mail, and text message.
We strongly encourage you to monitor your CRA accounts regularly for any suspicious activity. Find valuable information on how to protect your CRA accounts.
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