The rules and issues around the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve and information changes consistently. Please take note of when our content was written and always go to the sources we’ve provided for the most current guidance.

To give Canadians more flexibility during this challenging time, the Government of Canada has extended some tax deadlines. Today, we’re sharing which deadlines have shifted that may impact you, and what else you should know about filing your taxes this year.  

Current deadlines for the 2019 tax year: 

For individuals: 

  • Filing date: June 1, 2020 (extended date) 
  • Payment date: September 1, 2020 (extended date) 

For those who are self-employed and their spouse/common law partner: 

  • Filing date: June 15, 2020  
  • Payment date: September 1, 2020 (extended date) 

For corporations: 

  • Filing date: June 1, 2020 (extended date) 
  • Payment date: September 1, 2020 (extended date) 

For other return types, you can find out more on Government of Canada’s income tax filing and payment deadlines page.  

What else you should know: 

  • Some taxpayers may have received a Notice of Assessment that says the deadline for payment is April 30, 2020. This is incorrect. Check the Government’s Income tax filing and payment deadlines page for the most up to date information. 
  • The CRA is experiencing some significant delays in processing paper income tax and benefit returns.
    • They recommend that you instead file your 2019 taxes online by June 1, 2020 and register for direct deposit. This will mean you get your refund faster and will avoid interruptions to benefit and credit payments.  
    • If you’ve already filed a 2019 paper return that has not been processed yet, you can file again using NETFILE certified tax software for eligible returns (this does not include returns that are excluded from electronic filing).  

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Look through all of our COVID-19 related information on our website.      

Where do we fit in?

Yes, we are a provincial regulator. We are responsible for some very specific transactions in BC. We aren’t experts on COVID-19. We won’t – and shouldn’t – ever give medical or legal advice. But we are in a unique circumstance right now and we want to help people navigate the current reality. We don’t have all the answers, but we will do our best to share information from reliable sources, put it in ways that are easy to digest and understand, provide referrals and help you navigate this situation.      

About Consumer Protection BC:

We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will be happy to provide you with as much information as possible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.