SimpleFile by Paper – Personal income tax
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SimpleFile by Paper is a free service that eligible individuals can use to file their income tax and benefit return. If you are invited to use SimpleFile by Paper, you only need to answer a series of quick questions. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) uses your answers, plus the information the CRA has on file, to complete and process a tax return for you.
Changes to your financial situation may affect your eligibility to use SimpleFile by Paper.
- Free
- Secure
- Takes 25 minutes or less
Using SimpleFile by Paper
SimpleFile by Paper is offered by invitation only, and must only be completed by the individual invited to use the service. The invitation package includes the paper return, and provides the information you need to use this filing method.
- Who receives an invitation
You do not need to have income to use this filing method. If you do have income, it must be under a certain threshold and from certain sources.
You:
- Do not need to have a filing history
- Can have tax exempt income under the Indian Act
Income under a certain threshold
The income threshold is based on factors that include age, province of residence, and disability status.
Income from certain sources
You must only have income 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
Interest income from Canadian sources – T5 (box 13)
- When invitations are sent
SimpleFile by Paper invitations are sent in:
- Summer
SimpleFile invitation packages are sent to the mailing address we have on file.
If your personal situation has changed, you may no longer be able to use this filing method.
- Type of return filed
For all residents of Canada (except Quebec), both the federal tax return and provincial or territory forms are filed.
For Quebec residents, only a federal tax return is filed. You will still need to complete and submit a Quebec provincial income tax return with Revenu Québec.
- Availability
This service does not have a closing date, but the return can only be used for the tax year specified on the return.
- Additional information
To complete the paper return, you will need to:
- Provide some personal information
- Provide information about your income on the form provided in the invitation package
- Send the form back to the CRA using the envelope provided
After you file
The CRA will send you a notice of assessment (NOA) with the outcome of your tax return. Keep your supporting documents for 6 years in case the CRA asks to see them.
If you need to make a change
If you have already submitted your tax return using SimpleFile and need to make a change, refer to Changing a tax return.