Income tax filing and payment deadlines: CRA and COVID-19

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Income tax filing and payment deadlines for the 2020 tax year : CRA and COVID-19

Here are the current 2020 income tax filing and payment deadlines for individuals, corporations, trusts, and charities:


Individuals – Deadlines


Individuals – Deadlines
Filing date for 2020 tax year

April 30, 2021

Filing on time avoids delays and ensures that you receive the refunds, benefits, or credit payments that you may be entitled to, in a timely manner.

Payment date for 2020 tax year

April 30, 2021

To avoid late-filing penalties and interest, you must ensure that your returns are filed by April 30, 2021, and that payments are made by April 30, 2021.


Deceased individuals and cohabitating spouse or common-law partner – Deadlines


If the death occurred between January 1 and October 31, 2020, inclusive:
Filing date for 2020 tax year

April 30, 2021

During this difficult time, if you require assistance, please call us.

Payment date for 2020 tax year

April 30, 2021

To avoid late-filing penalties and interest, the legal representative of the deceased individual must ensure that the tax return for the deceased individual is filed, and any balance owing is paid by April 30, 2021. These deadlines also apply to the deceased individual’s spouse or common law partner’s return.

If the death occurred after October 31, 2020 and before May 1, 2021:
Filing date for 2020 tax year

6 months after the day of the individual’s death.

During this difficult time, if you require assistance, please call us.

Payment date for 2020 tax year

6 months after the day of the individual’s death.

To avoid late-filing penalties and interest, the legal representative of the deceased individual must ensure that the tax return for the deceased individual is filed and any balance owing is paid within 6 months after the day of the individual’s death.

Any balance owing on the surviving spouse’s or common-law partner’s return still has to be paid on or before April 30, 2021 to avoid interest charges.


Self-employed individuals and their cohabiting spouse or common law partner – Deadlines


Self-employed individuals and their cohabiting spouse or common law partner – Deadlines
Filing date for 2020 tax year

June 15, 2021

Filing on time avoids delays and ensures that the self-employed individual, spouse or common law partner receive the refunds, benefits, or credit payments that they may be entitled to, in a timely manner.

Payment date for 2020 tax year

April 30, 2021

To avoid late-filing penalties and interest, you must ensure that your returns are filed by June 15, 2021, and any balance owing is paid by April 30, 2021.


Deceased self-employed individuals and cohabitating spouse or common-law partner – Deadlines


If the death occurred between January 1 and December 15, 2020, inclusive:
Filing date for 2020 tax year

June 15, 2021

During this difficult time, if you require assistance, please call us.

Payment date for 2020 tax year

April 30, 2021 (if the death occurred between January 1 and October 31, 2020, inclusive):

To avoid late-filing penalties and interest, the legal representative of the deceased individual must ensure that the tax return for the deceased self-employed individual, is filed by June 15, 2021, and that any balance owing is paid by April 30, 2021. These deadlines also apply to the deceased individual’s spouse or common law partner’s return.

6 months after the day of the individual’s death (if the death occurred after October 31, 2020 and before December 16, 2020):

To avoid late-filing penalties and interest, the legal representative of the deceased individual must ensure that the tax return for the deceased individual is filed and any balance owing is paid within 6 months after the day of the individual’s death.

Any balance owing on the surviving spouse's or common-law partner's return still has to be paid on or before April 30, 2021, to avoid interest charges.

If the death occurred after December 15 and before June 16, 2021:
Filing date for 2020 tax year

6 months after the day of the individual’s death.

During this difficult time, if you require assistance, please call us.

Payment date for 2020 tax year

6 months after the day of the individual’s death.

To avoid late-filing penalties and interest, the legal representative of the deceased individual must ensure that the tax return for the deceased individual is filed and any balance owing is paid within 6 months after the day of the individual’s death.

April 30, 2021 (if the death occurred after April 30, 2021, and before June 16, 2021)

Any balance owing on the deceased’s 2020 return has to be paid on or before April 30, 2021, to avoid interest charges.

Any balance owing on the surviving spouse's or common-law partner's return has to be paid on or before April 30, 2021, irrespective of the date of the individual’s death, to avoid interest charges.


Corporations – Deadlines


Corporations – Deadlines
Filing date

6 months after the end of the corporation’s tax year

Payment date

Generally, corporations have to pay their taxes in instalments, either monthly or quarterly.

The balance of tax is required to be paid two or three months after the end of the tax year depending on your balance-due day.

For more information about payment due dates for Corporations, go to Corporation payments.


Trusts – Deadlines


Trusts – Deadlines
Filing date for the current tax year (T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return)

90 days after end of tax year

Payment date for the current tax year

90 days after end of tax year


Charities – Deadlines


Charities – Deadlines
Filing date for the current tax year (Form T3010)

Six months after each tax year

Filing deadlines are dependent on the end of the charities’ fiscal period. The T3010 charity return tax form should be filed no later than six months after the end of the fiscal period.

Payment date for the current tax year

Not Applicable


Goods and services tax/Harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) Returns – Deadlines


Goods and services tax/Harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) Returns – Deadlines
Filing date

30 days after the end of the reporting period for monthly/quarterly filers

Generally, 3 months after the end of reporting period for annual filers; and on June 15 for self-employed individuals with annual filing and a calendar fiscal year.

Payment/remittance date (including instalment payments)

Same date as your GST/HST return

Generally, if you are a monthly or quarterly filer, GST/HST payments are due at the same time as your GST/HST return, or one month after the end of the reporting period. If you are an annual filer, payments are generally due three months after the end of your fiscal year. Instalment payments may also be required and are due one month after the end of each of your fiscal quarters.

For more information about payment due dates for GST/HST, go to Remit (pay) the tax you collected - When to remit (pay).


Section 216(4) and Section 216(5) - Non-residents with Canadian rental income – Deadlines


Section 216(4) and Section 216(5) - Non-residents with Canadian rental income – Deadlines
Filing date

June 30, 2021

If you sent the CRA Form NR6 and the CRA approved it for 2020, you have to file your section 216 return for 2020 by June 30, 2021

However, whether or not you completed form NR6, you must file a section 216 return for 2020 by April 30, 2021 if both the following conditions apply:

  • You disposed of rental property for which you have previously claimed capital cost allowance (CCA); and
  • You are including the recapture of CCA on your 2020 return.
Payment date for 2020 tax year

April 30, 2021

If you have an approved form NR6; to avoid late-filing penalties and interest, you must ensure that your Section 216 return is filed by June 30, 2021, and any balance owing is paid by April 30, 2021.

However, if you have disposed of rental property for which you have previously claimed capital cost allowance (CCA) and you are including recapture of CCA on your Section 216 return; to avoid late-filing penalties and interest, you must ensure that your Section 216 return is filed by April 30, 2021, and any balance owing is paid by April 30, 2021.


Section 217 Non-residents and deemed residents of Canada – Deadlines


Section 217 Non-residents and deemed residents of Canada – Deadlines
Filing date

6 months after the non-resident’s tax year end

The due date for filing your section 217 return may be different if you also report other types of Canadian-source income on this return.

Payment date for 2020 tax year

April 30, 2021

To avoid interest, you must ensure payments are made by April 30, 2021.


Payroll remittances – Deadlines


Payroll remittances – Deadlines
Payment date

Deadlines are dependent on the remitting periods when you pay or give remuneration.

Please visit How and when to pay (remit) source deductions for filing deadlines.


Information returns, elections, designations and information requests – Deadlines


Information returns, elections, designations and information requests – Deadlines
Filing date for 2020 information returns under the Enhanced International Information Reporting (part XVIII) and the Common Reporting Standard (part XIX) of the Income Tax Act

May 1, 2021

Generally, the information return for 2020 has to be filed on or before May 1, 2021. However, because the due date falls on a Saturday, the information return is considered on time if it is received or postmarked on or before May 3, 2021.

To avoid late-filing penalties and interest, you must ensure the information return is filed by May 3, 2021.

Filing date for the 2020 Partnership Information Return (form T5013)

March 31, 2021

This due date applies to partnerships if throughout the fiscal period, all partners are individuals. Please submit the partnership information return by March 31, 2021.

5 months after the end of the partnership’s fiscal period if, throughout the fiscal period, all partners are corporations, including end members of tiered partnership.

In all other cases, the earlier of March 31, 2021 and the day that is five months after the fiscal period the partnership ended.

Filing date for the 2020 Statement of Amounts Paid or Credited to Non-Residents of Canada information return (form NR4)

March 31, 2021

The NR4 information return is due on or before the last day of March following the calendar year to which the information return applies.

No later than 90 days after the end of the estate’s or trust’s tax year in the case of estate or trust.


Other income tax debts, including:

  • Tax in respect of Over-contributions to Deferred Income Plans (Part X.1 of the Income Tax Act).
  • Tax in respect of Registered Investments (Part X.2)
  • Tax in respect of overpayments to Registered Education Savings Plan (Part X.4).
  • Payments under Registered Education Savings Plan (Part X.5)
Other income tax debts
Filing dates

Part X.1 – Within 90 days after the end of its taxation year (for each person who is liable to pay tax under this Part in respect of a month in the year and must file a T1-OVP, Individual Tax Return for RRSP, PRPP and SPP Excess Contributions).

Part X.2 – Within 90 days from the end of its taxation year.

Part X.4 – Within 90 days after the end of the year (for each person who is liable to pay tax under this Part in respect of a month in the year and must file a T1E-OVP, Individual Return for RESP Excess Contributions).

Part X.5 – Person’s regular filing due date (for every person who is liable to pay tax under this Part for a taxation year).

Payment dates

Part X.1 – 90 days after the end of the year.

Part X.2 – 90 days from the end of the tax year of the registered investment.

Part X.4 – 90 days after the end of the year.

Part X.5 – On or before the person’s filing due date.

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Date modified:
2021-03-23