National Revenue Minister highlights new services and benefits

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

With the 2025 tax season officially underway, Sherbrooke MP and Minister of National Revenue Élisabeth Brière emphasized the importance of filing income tax returns on time to maximize access to benefits and credits. In an interview on Feb. 24, Brière outlined two major changes introduced this year, aimed at making the process more user-friendly and inclusive.

Improved electronic services

Brière highlighted enhanced digital services, noting that “it’s very convenient, user-friendly,” making it easier for Canadians to access tax assistance and information. The new services include a secured online communication platform where users can get direct help from CRA representatives. The platform also offers support for individuals who are hard of hearing or non-verbal through a specialized line for sign language users.

This year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is expanding its SimpleFile by Phone service. “We will send 2 million letters,” Brière stated, targeting low-income individuals who can now complete their tax returns over the phone, securely and at no cost. The initiative is part of the CRA’s ongoing effort to simplify the tax filing process, especially for those with modest incomes and straightforward tax situations.

According to the CRA’s press release, the agency is also piloting a new digital option as part of its automatic tax filing initiative. Eligible individuals will receive invitations to participate, further expanding access to free, simple, and secure filing methods.

Digital tools to simplify filing

The CRA’s enhanced digital services are designed to streamline the tax filing process. These include:

• My Account portal – Access to tax slips and notices of assessment from previous years.
• Auto-fill my return – Pre-populates parts of tax returns with information already available to the CRA.
• Online chat support – Offers real-time help from CRA agents for account-specific issues.
• Check CRA processing times tool – Allows users to track the status of their income tax and benefit returns, as well as other tax-related requests, ensuring transparency and reducing uncertainty about processing times.

Taxpayers using direct deposit and filing online could receive their refunds within eight business days.

Benefits and credits: Don’t leave money on the table

Brière stressed the importance of filing tax returns even for those without taxable income. “It’s not because you don’t have an income that you shouldn’t file,” she said, pointing out that non-filers could miss out on valuable credits and benefits, including the GST/HST credit and Old Age Security supplements.

The CRA’s press release lists several key benefits accessible through timely filing:

• GST/HST credit – up to $533 for eligible individuals.
• Canada Child Benefit – up to $7,997 for each child under 6 and up to $6,748 for each child aged 6 to 17.
• Canada Workers Benefit – up to $1,590 for eligible individuals.
• Canadian Dental Care Plan – A newly highlighted benefit this year, ensuring that eligible families can access necessary dental care without financial burden.

Brière emphasized that filing on time ensures continued access to these programs and avoids leaving “money on the table.”

Support for community tax clinics

Brière gave a “big shout out to all the volunteers” at tax clinics, which provide free help for individuals with modest incomes and simple tax situations. In Sherbrooke, three such clinics receive funding through a grant program extended for a fifth consecutive year. This program supports the operational costs of hosting the clinics, making it easier for low-income residents to access free tax help.

The CRA has actively promoted these clinics to ensure that vulnerable populations receive the assistance they need, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity and financial literacy.

Deadline extensions and relief measures

The CRA has extended several deadlines this year to provide flexibility for taxpayers. Notably:

• The RRSP contribution deadline has been extended to Feb. 28, 2025, due to postal delays caused by a Canada Post strike. Donations made by this date will be considered for the 2024 fiscal year.
• Capital gains relief is available until June 2, 2025, for individual filers, and until May 1, 2025, for trust filers. This is due to a system update related to capital gains inclusion rates, which may not be completed by Feb. 24, 2025.

The CRA will maintain a 50 per cent inclusion rate for capital gains this year and has postponed the new effective date to Jan. 1, 2026. Brière confirmed that those impacted by the system update are encouraged to wait until the changes are implemented before filing.

Additionally, the Department of Finance is planning to introduce legislation related to the capital gains inclusion rate change. Details are expected to be released soon, and taxpayers are advised to stay informed through official CRA updates.

Enhanced security and fraud prevention

To ensure the safety of taxpayers’ personal information, the CRA has reinforced its security measures, including:

• Multi-factor authentication – Required for all CRA sign-in services, adding an extra layer of security.
• Proactive revocation – CRA user IDs and passwords that may have been compromised are proactively revoked to prevent unauthorized access.
• Public awareness campaign – The CRA launched an educational initiative to help taxpayers recognize and report fraudulent schemes.

The agency also encourages taxpayers to stay informed through its Taxology podcast, which covers fraud prevention and other relevant topics for the tax season.

Payment options and support for small businesses

To avoid interest charges, taxpayers must pay any amounts owed by Apr. 30, 2025. The CRA offers various payment options, including online banking and credit card payments. For those unable to pay in full, payment arrangements can be made directly with the CRA.

The agency also provides free tax guidance for small business owners and self-employed individuals through meetings with Liaison Officers, ensuring they understand their tax obligations and avoid common filing errors.

Self-employed filing deadline

Self-employed individuals, or those with a spouse or common-law partner who is self-employed, have until June 15, 2025, to file their income tax returns. However, since this date falls on a Sunday, the CRA will consider the returns filed on time if received by June 16, 2025.

This extended deadline provides additional flexibility for business owners navigating the complexities of self-employment taxes.

Preparing for tax season

Brière urged taxpayers to gather all necessary documents before filing and to use certified tax software listed on the CRA’s website. She also reminded taxpayers to remain vigilant against scams, directing them to Canada.ca/taxes-fraud-prevention for resources on fraud detection and reporting.

Staying informed

To help Canadians stay up-to-date with the latest tax information, the CRA actively engages with the public through various platforms:

• Social Media – Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• Electronic Mailing Lists – Subscribers receive timely updates on tax news and important dates.
• RSS Feeds and YouTube – For news releases and tax-related educational videos.

Brière emphasized the importance of staying connected, noting that “it is important to file your tax return… to receive the benefits and credits to which you are entitled.” With improved digital services, community support, and flexible payment options, the CRA aims to make the 2025 tax season more accessible and efficient for all Canadians.