5. File your income tax returns
Question & Answer
Do I qualify to become a Canadian citizen?When you apply for Canadian citizenship, you have to show that you’ve filed income tax returns with the (CRA) for 3 out of the last 5 years. This applies only if the law says you must file a tax return.
Most permanent residents have to file an annual income tax return.
The deadline for filing an income tax return is usually April 30 of the following year. For example, you need to file an income tax return for 2018 by April 30, 2019.
If you miss the deadline, you still have to file an income tax return. If you owe money, CRA can charge you:
- a fee for filing late, and
- interest on the money you owe from the date you started owing it.
You can ask the government not to make you pay the fee or interest.
