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Figures: 2026 tax year

Filing late or asking for more time

What filing a T1 late costs, why the CRA grants no extension to ask for, and why a late return is still far better than no return at all.

Updated 24 July 2026 · 1 min read

Missing the deadline is not the end of the matter. The cost depends on whether you owe money.

There is no extension to ask for

There is no extension to ask for. The return is due on 30 April 2027.

The late-filing penalty is 5 per cent of the balance owing plus 1 per cent for each full month the return is late, to a maximum of 12 months. Interest is charged on the balance and on the penalty.

If you are owed a refund

The CRA does not penalise a late return when you owe nothing. You are lending the government your money for longer, and you are delaying the benefit payments that depend on the return.

File even if you cannot pay

The penalty for filing late is much larger than the interest on paying late. Send the return on time and arrange the payment separately. Read paying tax you owe.

Sources

Every figure and every procedure on this page was checked against the pages below on the date shown. The agencies revise these pages, so confirm anything you are about to act on.

  1. Interest and penalties for individuals (opens in a new tab)canada.ca · checked 24 July 2026
  2. Payments to the CRA (opens in a new tab)canada.ca · checked 24 July 2026

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This article explains a form and a process. It is general information, not tax advice about your own situation, and Hypertax does not send your return to the CRA — you print it and mail it. See the not-tax-advice notice and the rest of the help centre.