Changes for this year's tax-filing season

Tax packages

Tax packages are being restocked continuously during tax filing season and will be available until May at Canada Post outlets and Service Canada offices. If your local office is temporarily out of stock, please check back again soon. If you need a copy immediately of the T1 General income tax and benefit package for 2012, you can download and print one from our Web site, order one online, or call the CRA to order one at 1-800-959-8281. If you would like several copies, we suggest you place your order directly with the CRA, either online or by phone.

Filing online is easy, and we can help. Go to Get ready to file your 2012 income tax and benefit return, and we will walk you through it step by step.

If you still wish to file your return on paper, please be advised that the CRA will no longer mail income tax and benefit packages, unless taxpayers request them. However, paper returns will still be accepted.

As the CRA is no longer producing abbreviated forms and guides, all taxpayers must now use the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide and forms. Please see our tips below to help you with the transition.

The T1 General income tax and benefit package for 2012 is available on the CRA Web site and at Canada Post outlets and Service Canada offices. It can also be ordered for home delivery.

Tips

If you used the T1S-C, Credit and Benefit Return last year, please see Tips for claiming your credits and benefits.

If you used the T1S-A, Income Tax and Benefit Return last year, please see Tips for seniors.

If you need help with getting a paper tax package, please call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281. If you need help completing your return, you may qualify for help through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, which runs volunteer tax clinics across the country. If there is no tax preparation clinic listed for your area, check the clinics pages again as community organizations add clinics on an on-going basis.

NETFILE access code

You no longer need a NETFILE access code. However, as in previous years, you need your SIN and date of birth. NETFILE remains safe and secure. For more information, please see What’s new for NETFILE.

TELEFILE service

TELEFILE was a service that let individuals file simple tax returns over the telephone. On June 27, 2012, the CRA announced that it would discontinue its TELEFILE service. Use of this service had declined, on average, by 10% every year as taxpayers moved to other channels, such as the CRA’s secure, convenient online services.