Tax returns in Canada typically start being processed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) near the end of February each year.
- If you file your tax return electronically (e-file), your refund can be processed in as little as about two weeks, sometimes even a few days if you have direct deposit set up.
- If you file a paper tax return, it generally takes about eight weeks for the CRA to process your return.
- Refunds for non-residents can take longer, up to about sixteen weeks.
The CRA does not begin processing paper returns until almost the end of February, so refunds will not usually start arriving until March or later. If you file early online, you could receive your refund faster, with deposits typically happening within 5-10 business days after filing. You can check the status of your refund through the CRA's My Account online service. In summary:
- Electronic filing: refund within ~2 weeks
- Paper filing: refund within ~8 weeks
- Processing starts late February
- Tax return filing deadline is typically April 30 for most individuals
These timelines assume there are no complications or additional reviews needed on your tax return.
