T4FHSA annual information return

Find out about the reporting requirements for the T4FHSA annual information return and how to transfer between specimen plans or report a change to a first home savings account (FHSA) contract number.

Registering an FHSA

The issuer will file with the Minister of National Revenue (“the Minister”) an election to register the qualifying arrangement  as an FHSA. The election will be filed via the T4FHSA annual information return under the social insurance number (SIN) or temporary tax number (TTN) of the qualifying individual. The election must be filed before March of the calendar year following the calendar year the arrangement was entered into.

What needs to be reported in the T4FHSA annual information return

A T4FHSA annual information return includes the T4FHSA individual records and the T4FHSA return summary.

You must fill out a return for each FHSA identification number under which one or more FHSAs exist at any time in the year.

Once an FHSA is opened, an individual T4FHSA record must be filed every year even if:

Until an individual T4FHSA record is filed with an indication that the account has been closed in the year, the account will be considered open unless the account ceases to be an FHSA.

The information (data elements) required to process each individual record is described in the T4FHSA data elements.

Do not prepare a T4FHSA individual record if the FHSA was reported as closed in the prior year’s T4FHSA individual record. Once an FHSA is reported as closed, you cannot reopen it.

T4FHSA individual record

The T4FHSA individual record is used to report the information as listed in Appendix A – T4FHSA Data elements – T4FHSA individual electronic record.

T4FHSA return summary

The T4FHSA return summary is used to report the totals of the amounts you reported on all the related T4FHSA individual records under the FHSA identification number. The totals must agree with the amounts you reported in the T4FHSA individual records. Any discrepancies will cause the T4FHSA annual information return to be rejected.

To complete the T4FHSA return summary, go to Appendix B – T4FHSA Data elements – T4FHSA return summary.

What could cause a return or an individual record to be rejected

The CRA strongly recommends that you use a validating parser before submitting the XML file to ensure that it conforms to the schema.

Any information that does not conform to the schema will cause the T4FHSA annual information return or the individual record to be rejected.

For example:

A rejected record is an individual record that has failed the CRA's validations but has been stored in their database and for which the CRA is expecting an amended record.

For more information about the error codes, go to Rejected T4FHSA individual records or annual information returns.

An amended record is filed to make a change to a previously filed record (original or amended). When an original record is rejected to the issuer, the issuer should file an amendment. The change can relate to the identification of the holder or to any of the transactions related to that contract.

Failure to file an amended record in the case of an FHSA opened during the reporting year may result in the account not being registered as an FHSA and the client being subject to tax on the investment earnings. For example, if an FHSA was opened in 2023 and the record for that tax year was rejected, an amended record will need to be filed for the same tax year. 

Failure to file an amended record, whether or not the FHSA was opened in the reporting year, can also affect the calculation and notification of an individual's FHSA participation room .

Transfer between specimen plans

For situations where qualifying arrangements are bulk transferred between specimen plans (whether or not there is a change in issuer) both transferring and receiving institutions should keep an internal record of the transfers.

If you are an issuer that is transferring qualifying arrangements to another specimen plan, you must report the following fields on the T4FHSA annual information return for the account that is being transferred out:

This indicates that all the property in the old account has been transferred out and the account has been closed.

If you are an issuer that is receiving qualifying arrangements as a result of a transfer between specimen plans, you must report the following fields on the T4FHSA annual information return for the account that is being transferred into: 

The 'new FHSA account indicator' must only be reported as 'Y' if it is the first year filing for this contract for the holder. Any amounts transferred as a result of the transfer of qualifying arrangements from one specimen plan to another must not be reported as contributions or withdrawals on the T4FHSA annual information return.

Change to an FHSA contract number

A holder’s FHSA contract consists of the combination of both the contract number and the FHSA identification number. If either number or both are changed, it represents a change to a holder’s contract.

An FHSA contract number may change when qualifying arrangements are bulk transferred between specimen plans.

Example: How to report a change to an FHSA contract number

Branch 1 (Bank A) has 20 clients who opened an FHSA between April 2023 to July 2023. In September 2023, Branch 1 will be shutting down permanently.

All the FHSAs held with Branch 1 will need to be transferred to Branch 2 (Bank A) by the end of September 2023. Branch 2 will be generating new FHSA contract numbers for all the accounts that were transferred to them.

For Branch 1, the issuer must report the following fields under each old FHSA contract number to show the property being “transferred out” of the FHSA: 

  • FMV immediately prior to the transfer out
  • FHSA transfer out 
  • Total FHSA transfers out
  • Calendar year end FMV
  • FHSA account closed indicator: Y
  • FHSA close date: 2023-09-30

For Branch 2, the issuer must report the following fields under each new FHSA contract number to show the property being “transferred in” to the FHSA:

  • New FHSA account indicator: Y
  • FHSA transfer in
  • Total FHSA transfers in
  • Calendar year end FMV

For any questions about this information, please refer to Contact the Registered Plans Directorate.

T4FHSA Data Elements

The information (data elements) required to process an information return is described in Appendix A and B.

When a monetary value is required, you must report the amount in Canadian dollars and cents. For more information, go to Income Tax Folio S5-F4-C1, Income Tax Reporting Currency. You must make reasonable efforts to determine the FMV when it is required to be reported. Do not report negative values, unless specified for the data field. Negative values on the T4FHSA electronic record will result in the record being rejected.

When multiple transactions occur on the same date, report the transactions in the order in which they occur. The total number of transactions that an issuer can file per record cannot exceed 9,999. If there are more than 9,999 transactions to report, an additional record will need to be filed.

What you need to file the T4FHSA annual information return

Before you can use any of the filing methods outlined in How to file the T4FHSA annual information return, you must have a valid RP program account number.

The RP program account number consists of three parts:

The entire account number has 15 characters. You may use an existing RP program account number to file your T4FHSA annual information return.

If you do not have an RP program account number, you can obtain one by filling out Part C2 – General Information of the Form RC1, Request for a business number and certain program accounts. Select “Other” as the type of payment and specify “First Home Savings Account”.

If you do not have a BN, you can get one by filling out Form RC1, Request for a Business Number and Certain Program Accounts, and submitting it by mail or fax. To find the appropriate office or center, go to Find a CRA address. To get a business number by phone, call the Business enquiries line at 1-800-959-5525.

For more information, go to Business number.

Web access code (WAC)

To file your return over the Internet using the Internet file transfer (XML) service or Web forms application, you will need a business number and its associated web access code (WAC). You do not need a web access code if you file your returns through My Business Account or Represent a Client.

If you do not remember your web access code or you need a code for a new account, you can use the Web access code online service or call business enquiries at 1-800-959-5525.

How to file the T4FHSA annual information return

You can file a T4FHSA annual information return by using:

To know when internet filing will be available go to File information returns electronically (tax slips and summaries). If you use commercial or in-house developed software to manage your business, you can file up to 150 MB by Internet file transfer. For example, a service bureau can file multiple returns in one submission provided that the total submission does not exceed the 150 MB restriction.

If your file is more than 150 MB, you can either compress the file or divide it into two or more files so that each submission is no more than 150 MB (the T4FHSA return summary must reflect the same split).

When to file the T4FHSA annual information return

You have to file the T4FHSA annual information return by the last day of February (Feb 28th or 29th in a leap year) following the calendar year to which the T4FHSA annual information return applies. If the last day of February is a Saturday or Sunday, your T4FHSA annual information return is due the next business day.

If you discontinue your business or activity, you have to file a return for the year or part-year no later than 30 days after the date the business or activity ended.

For information about penalties associated with late filing an annual information return, go to Penalties and interest for FHSA.

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