Tax Returns
You must have all your tax documents in order to to file a tax return correctly.
Supporting Documents
Select the category that best suits you. Read all the information in that category very carefully.
I arrived to Canada in 2021
I have a SIN
You cannot file a tax return at this time, but you will be able to file a tax return in 2022.
I do not have a SIN
You need to apply for a SIN first.
After applying for a SIN you will be able to file a tax return in 2022.
I arrived to Canada in 2020
I am filing taxes for the first time and I have an ITN
Every full time international student with a valid study permit can apply for a SIN. You should apply for a SIN and file tax returns using a SIN.
The International Centre does not offer tax appointments for students with ITNs. This is because you cannot submit a tax return online using an ITN.
I am filing taxes for the first time and I have a SIN
You must collect the following documents before you start the Netfile program.
If you are missing any of the documents that apply to you, your return will be incomplete and should not be filed. Please collect all your documents in order to file your tax return.
| Document | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Social Insurance Number (SIN) | You can apply for a SIN online or by mail. Your SIN is printed on the SIN letter from Service Canada. It is also printed on your T4. |
| Date you first entered Canada (DD/MM/YY) | Found in the Canada entry stamp in your passport OR the issue date of your first study permit. |
T2202A OR
Tuition receipt from language school |
Login to Dal Online.
Contact your language school. |
T4 (if you had a job) |
Contact your employer if you have not yet received a T4. Most employers send the T4 to their employees' mailing address. If your employer is Dalhousie University: |
| T4A (if you have a scholarship/bursary/funding from Dalhousie university) |
Login to Dal Online. Click Web for Students. Click on Canada Tax Forms, then T4AA Tax Credit Forms. Select 2020, and open the Printable Version. |
| Your bank account number, institution number and transit/branch number to allow direct deposit into your bank account. | Contact your bank branch. Please note, the number on your debit/credit card is NOT your bank account number. |
| T5 – if you earned interest on investments and deposits | Contact your bank branch. |
| Medical receipts, if you paid directly for a huge medical expense |
Your doctor's office, health clinic, hospital, etc. |
Charitable donation receipts (if you donated to a charitable organization, eg. Red Cross, Feed Nova Scotia) |
The organization can send you a receipt confirming your contribution. |
| If you are married, your spouse's documents | Your spouse must also have a SIN/ITN, and if applicable the tax documents stated above. If your spouse is not in Canada with you, they still need to complete a tax return. You willl need their name, date of birth, country of residence and income earned between Janaury 1 and December 31 of the year 2020. |
| RC62 – if you are filing for Universal Child Care Benefit | Canada Revenue Agency issues this document. |
I arrived to Canada in 2019, 2018, 2017, or earlier
I have filed taxes before and I need to file for the tax year 2020 (only) using an ITN
Every full time international student with a valid study permit can apply for a SIN. You should apply for a SIN and file tax retuns using a SIN.
The International Centre does not offer tax review appointments for students with ITNs. This is because you cannot submit a tax return online using an ITN.
I have filed taxes before and I need to file for the tax year 2020 (only) using a SIN
You must collect the following documents before you start the Netfile program.
If you are missing any of the documents that apply to you, your return will be incomplete and should not be filed. Please collect all your documents in order to file your tax return.
| Document | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Social Insurance Number (SIN) | Your SIN card/letter from Service Canada. |
T2202A OR
Tuition receipt from language school |
Login to Dal Online. Contact your language school |
T4 (if you had a job) |
Contact your employer if you have not yet received a T4. Most employers will send your T4 to your mailing address. If your employer is Dalhousie University: |
| T4A (if you have a scholarship/bursary/funding from Dalhousie university) |
Login to Dal Online. Click Web for Students Click on Canadian Tax. Forms, then T4A Tax Credit Forms. Select 2020, and open the Printable Version. |
| Your bank account number, institution number and transit/branch number to allow direct deposit into your bank account | Contact your bank branch. Please note the number on your degit/credit card is not your account number. |
| Medical receipts, if you paid directly for a huge medical expense |
Your doctor's office, health clinic, hospital, etc. |
| Notice of Assessment – confirming that you filed your income tax return for the previous year | Canada Revenue Agency issues this document. |
| T5 (if you earned interest on investments and deposits) |
Contact your bank branch. |
Charitable donation receipts (if you donated to a charitable organization, eg. Red Cross, Feed Nova Scotia) |
The organization can send you a receipt confirming your contribution. |
| If you are married, your spouse's documents | Your spouse must also have an ITN/SIN, and if applicable the tax documents stated above. If your spouse is not in Canada with you, they still need to complete a tax return. You willl need their name, date of birth, country of residence and income earned between Janaury 1 and December 31 of the tax year |
| RC62 (if you are filing for Universal Child Care Benefit) |
Canada Revenue Agency issues this document. |
I have been living in Canada for a number of years and never filed taxes before
The International Centre does not offer appointments for students who try to file multiple year tax returns (for all their years in Canada). You will have to go to other tax clinics for assistance.
If those clinics create errors in your tax return, the International Centre cannot fix the errors as we will not have access to your tax files. Please return to the clinic or business who did your return. Please note that this is not always possible because some clinics shut down after April 30 of each year.
You will still need the following documents to file multiple year tax returns.
| Document | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Social Insurance Number (SIN) | You can apply for a SIN online or by mail. Your SIN is printed on the letter from Service Canada. It is also printed on your T4. |
| If you are married, your spouse's SIN or ITN | ITN is printed on the ITN letter you recieve after applying for an ITN. |
| Date you first entered Canada (DD/MM/YY) | Found in the Canada entry stamp in your passport OR the issue date of your first study permit. |
T2202A OR
Tuition receipt from language school |
Login to Dal Online. Contact your language school. |
T4 (if you had a job) |
Contact your employer if you have not yet received a T4. If your employer is Dalhousie University: |
| T4A (if you have a scholarship from the university) |
Login to Dal Online. Click Web for Students. Click on Canada Tax Forms, then T4AA Tax Credit Forms. Select each year, and open the Printable Version. |
| Your bank account number, institution number and transit/branch number to allow direct deposit into your bank account | Contact your bank branch. Please note the number on your debit/credit card IS NOT your bank account number. |
| Medical receipts, if you paid directly for a huge medical expense |
Your doctor's office, health clinic, hospital, etc. |
| Notice of Assessment (if you filed your income tax return in a previous year) | Canada Revenue Agency issues this document. |
| T5 (if you earned interest on investments and deposits) |
Contact your bank branch. |
Charitable donation receipts (if you donated to a charitable organization, eg. Red Cross, Feed Nova Scotia) |
The organization can send you a receipt confirming your contribution. |
| If you are married, your spouse's documents and spouse's ITN/SIN | If applicable your spouse should bring the tax documents stated above. If your spouse is not in Canada with you, they still need to compelte a tax return. You willl need their name, date of birth, country of residence and income earned between Janaury 1 and December 31 of the tax year |
| RC62 (if you are filing for Universal Child Care Benefit) |
Canada Revenue Agency issues this document. |
I have filed taxes before but I missed a year (or more) so I need to file for multiple years
The International Centre does not offer appointments for students who try to file multiple year tax returns (for all their years in Canada). You will have to go to other tax clinics for assistance.
If those clinics create errors in your tax return, the International Centre will not fix the errors. You will have to go back to the clinic or business who did your return. Please note that this is not always possible because some clinics shut down after April 30 of each year.
You will still need the following documents to file multiple year tax returns.
| Document | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Social Insurance Number (SIN) | You can apply for a SIN online or by mail. Your SIN is printed on the letter from Service Canada. It is also printed on your T4. |
| If you are married, your spouse's SIN or ITN | ITN is printed on the ITN letter you recieve after applying for an ITN. |
| Date you first entered Canada (DD/MM/YY) | Found in the Canada entry stamp in your passport OR the issue date of your first study permit. |
T2202A OR
Tuition receipt from language school |
Login to Dal Online. Contact your language school. |
T4 (if you had a job) |
Contact your employer if you have not yet received a T4. If your employer is Dalhousie University: |
| T4A (if you have a scholarship from the university) |
Login to Dal Online. Click Web for Students. Click on Canada Tax Forms, then T4AA Tax Credit Forms. Select each year, and open the Printable Version. |
| Your bank account number, institution number and transit/branch number to allow direct deposit into your bank account | Contact your bank branch. Please note the number on your debit/credit card IS NOT your bank account number. |
| Medical receipts, if you paid directly for a huge medical expense |
Your doctor's office, health clinic, hospital, etc. |
| Notice of Assessment (if you filed your income tax return in a previous year) | Canada Revenue Agency issues this document. |
| T5 (if you earned interest on investments and deposits) |
Contact your bank branch. |
| If you are married, your spouse's documents and spouse's ITN/SIN | If applicable your spouse should bring the tax documents stated above. If your spouse is not in Canada with you, they still need to complete a tax return. You willl need their name, date of birth, country of residence and income earned between Janaury 1 and December 31 of the tax year |
| RC62 (if you are filing for Universal Child Care Benefit) |
Canada Revenue Agency issues this document. |
How to reply to a tuition review request
After filing a tax return, you may receive a letter stating that your tax return is under review and you have 30 days to confirm your tuition amounts. If you receive this letter you must reply to this tuition review request.
Instructions on how to reply can be found below. You can reply online (recommended) or on paper.
How to reply to a tuition review request online
Step 1 - Print a copy of your T2202A
Login to Dal Online
Click Web for Students.
Click on Canada Tax Forms, then T2202A Tax Credit Forms.
Select 2020, and open the Printable Version.
Step 2 - Print out the tuition schedules from your tax return
Open your pdf file of your tax return. In the navigation, look for the pages with the following titles:
- Schedule 11 – Tuition, education
- NS(S11) – Tuition, education
Print out those two pages
Step 3 - Scan your documents into one pdf file
You must scan the T2202A and your tuition schedules into one pdf document.
Step 4 - Log into your CRA MyAccount
Go to cra.gc.ca
Log in to your account and then click on submit documents.
Enter the reference number. You can find your reference number on the letter from Canada Revenue Agency that asked you to submit your tuition documents.
You can then upload your documents and Canada Revenue Agency will receive them immediately.
How to reply to a tuition review request by paper
Step 1 - Print out a copy of your T2202A
Login to Dal Online
Click Web for Students.
Click on Canada Tax Forms, then T2202A Tax Credit Forms.
Select 2020, and open the Printable Version.
Step 2 - Print out the tuition schedules from your tax return
Open your pdf file of your tax return. In the navigation, look for the pages with the following titles:
- Schedule 11 – Tuition, education
- NS(S11) – Tuition, education
Print out those two pages
Step 3 - Write a letter
Write a letter to the CRA stating your Social Insurance Number and reference number and explain that you are sending your T2202A, and Schedule 11 documents for your tax return review.
The reference number can be found in the top right hand corner of the letter you received from Canada Revenue Agency. Remember to sign the letter after you have printed it out.
Step 4 - Mail the documents
Mail the T2202A, Schedule 11 – Tuition, education, NS(S11) – Tuition, education and the letter you printed to the address label you were given. If you do not have a label the address is:
T1 Processing Review Section
Canada Revenue Agency
PO Box 12078
St John’s, NL, A1B 0C2
OR
If you have a MyAccount on the Canada Revenue Agency website you can upload the documents there.
Additional information
For information about income tax in Canada, contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)—International Tax Services Office.