Canada Revenue Agency

One-Time GST Credit Top-Up Payment Announced for June 5, 2026

Eligible Canadians will receive a one-time GST/HST credit top-up equal to 50% of the 2025-26 benefit year on June 5, 2026. Recipients must have filed their 2024 tax return and been entitled to the GST/HST credit in January 2026. The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will replace the GST/HST credit on July 3, 2026, with quarterly payments increasing by 25% for the next five years. Over 12 million recipients are affected, with families of four potentially receiving up to $1,890 and single persons up to $950 in 2026 including the top-up.

Secretary of State Announces Update on Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

The Honourable Wayne Long, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions), will hold a press conference on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET in Vaughan, Ontario to provide an update on the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. Media are required to register by contacting the CRA Media Relations team at cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca no later than 9:45 a.m. ET on the day of the event.

CRA Launches SR&ED Pre-Claim Approval Process April 1

The CRA has launched a new optional Pre-claim Approval process for the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program, effective April 1, 2026. The process, introduced in the Canada Strong Budget 2025, allows eligible Canadian-controlled private corporations, Canadian corporations, or Canadian partnerships with gross income under $25 million to receive technical approval of planned SR&ED projects before starting work or incurring costs. For approved claims requiring an expenditure review, processing time is halved from 180 to 90 days.

2026 Tax Filing Season Launches, Filing Deadline April 30

The Canada Revenue Agency officially launched the 2026 tax filing season on February 23, 2026, enabling Canadians to file their 2025 income tax and benefit returns online. The standard filing deadline is April 30, 2026. The announcement promotes the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which can provide up to $1,890 for an eligible family of four and up to $950 for an eligible single person in 2026, and highlights service improvements including AI-driven modernization, doubled responsiveness, and expanded SimpleFile Digital access. Last year Canadians filed over 33 million returns with 93% filed online, and over $45 billion in refunds were delivered.

Tax Filing Deadline Tips and Statistics for 2026

The CRA released a press release reminding Canadians of the April 30, 2026 tax filing deadline for most individuals and the June 15, 2026 deadline for self-employed filers. As of April 12, over 16.1 million income tax and benefit returns have been filed, with over 9.9 million refunds totaling $22.2 billion issued. The document provides guidance on online filing options, direct deposit for faster refunds, payment arrangements for outstanding balances, and free tax clinic resources.

Team Lease Directors Sentenced for $1.3M Tax Evasion

The Canada Revenue Agency announced that Ghansham Vania and Davinder Vania, sole directors of temporary staffing agency Team Lease, were sentenced January 16, 2026, in Newmarket Courthouse to conditional sentences of two years less a day. Ghansham Vania was fined $450,000 and Davinder Vania was fined $500,000 for one count of fraud over $5,000 under the Criminal Code. The investigation revealed they diverted corporate funds into 31 personal bank accounts, underreporting $1.3 and $1.5 million respectively on their 2013-2016 tax returns and evading $394,103 and $452,784 in federal income taxes respectively.

Quebec Administrator and Accomplices Guilty of Tax Evasion

The CRA announced that Gaétan Desbiens, administrator of Cade Groupe Conseil inc., consultant Claude Genest, and CPA Jessy Savaria pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges. For fiscal years 2012-2014, they claimed personal loan repayments as business expenses and fabricated false documents during a CRA audit. Desbiens received a six-month conditional sentence and $74,450 fine; Genest was fined $74,450; Savaria must complete 240 hours of community service within 18 months.