Tax Season Document Checklist (Canada)

What to have ready before you (or your accountant) start your return.

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Income

All T4 and T4A slips received
Total sales/revenue report from your bookkeeping software
Records of any other business income

Expenses

Categorized expense report for the year
Receipts for all deductible purchases
Kilometre log if you deduct vehicle use
Home office measurements if you claim that deduction

Payroll & Contractors

Payroll remittance summaries (PD7A, T4 Summary)
T4A slips sent to contractors paid for services

Prior Year & Admin

Last year's tax return (T1 or T2) for reference
Instalment payments made this year
BN and business formation documents on hand

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a T4 and a T4A?

A T4 reports employment income for employees. A T4A reports other income like contractor/self-employed payments, pensions, or certain scholarships.

When are T4A slips due to contractors?

Generally the last day of February following the tax year — file early enough to confirm delivery before the deadline.

What if I'm missing some of these documents?

Gather what you can and flag the gaps to your accountant early — the CRA's My Business Account portal can help you retrieve missing slips and remittance summaries.

Is this checklist different in the US?

Yes — see the US version of this checklist, which covers 1099s/W-2s and quarterly estimated taxes instead of T4/T4A slips and CRA instalments.

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