not filing Taxes

[commentbyiz]

So, i've been in Canada for around 11 years. I filed taxes for the 2010 year as this was the first year that I held a full-time job. I got the Notice of Assessment, etc.
However, for the other years, I was a full-time student and rarely made any money. Even when i did, it wasn't enough for me to have owed the government. So, I never filed taxes, except for the very first year I was in Canada.

Will CIC penalize me any way???

[BZ Mom]

So, i've been in Canada for around 11 years. I filed taxes for the 2010 year as this was the first year that I held a full-time job. I got the Notice of Assessment, etc.
However, for the other years, I was a full-time student and rarely made any money. Even when i did, it wasn't enough for me to have owed the government. So, I never filed taxes, except for the very first year I was in Canada.

Will CIC penalize me any way???

There are a lot of reasons why you should file taxes even if you don't have income or do not have enough income to owe the government. You need to file a tax return in order for you to get GST credit, receive Child Tax Benefit (if you have kids), claim a refund, etc. You migh have missed some government assistance by not filing a return. CRA (not CIC) might penalize you if they find out that you did not report your income in previous years.

[commentbyiz]

There are a lot of reasons why you should file taxes even if you don't have income or do not have enough income to owe the government. You need to file a tax return in order for you to get GST credit, receive Child Tax Benefit (if you have kids), claim a refund, etc. You migh have missed some government assistance by not filing a return. CRA (not CIC) might penalize you if they find out that you did not report your income in previous years.

Will this impact my application under CEC though?? They only ask for you to send in your most recent T4 and notice of assessment, which i have.
And as far as CRA, what can they penalize me with if I didn't actually owe them any money?

[jes_ON]

Will this impact my application under CEC though?? They only ask for you to send in your most recent T4 and notice of assessment, which i have.
And as far as CRA, what can they penalize me with if I didn't actually owe them any money?

You would probably be OK with CIC with the most recent tax year.   If they really wanted to investigate, tho, they would clearly know how long you've been in Canada and see that you did not file for those years. 

And, are you REALLY sure you didn't owe?  For example, you have to file if:  "You have to contribute to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). This can apply if, for 2010, the total of your net self-employment income and pensionable employment income is more than $3,500."  I realize students often do not make much, but most make more than that... Also, keep in mind that Canada taxes on GLOBAL income if you are residing in Canada.  Still, as already noted, more likely you missed out on benefits.

In any case, you can file back taxes - if you didn't owe, there wouldn't be penalties. 
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/formspubs/t1gnrl/llyrs-eng.html

[commentbyiz]

You would probably be OK with CIC with the most recent tax year.   If they really wanted to investigate, tho, they would clearly know how long you've been in Canada and see that you did not file for those years. 

And, are you REALLY sure you didn't owe?  For example, you have to file if:  "You have to contribute to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). This can apply if, for 2010, the total of your net self-employment income and pensionable employment income is more than $3,500."  I realize students often do not make much, but most make more than that... Also, keep in mind that Canada taxes on GLOBAL income if you are residing in Canada.  Still, as already noted, more likely you missed out on benefits.

In any case, you can file back taxes - if you didn't owe, there wouldn't be penalties. 
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/formspubs/t1gnrl/llyrs-eng.html

Well, when I was making money, it was through the university. So I did technically pay my taxes as they were deducted.
Why would me not filing taxes influence my PR application? Is there a legislation/requirement that I may be missing? Thanks.

[jes_ON]

ah, YES, it is the law - if you are required to pay taxes (and it sounds like you did, so this does apply to you), then you are required to file a tax return.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/flng-blgtns/menu-eng.html

[commentbyiz]

ah, YES, it is the law - if you are required to pay taxes (and it sounds like you did, so this does apply to you), then you are required to file a tax return.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/flng-blgtns/menu-eng.html

I know it from the CRA angle. But strictly from the PR application perspective, can my application be denied based on my not filing taxes for previous years, given that I did file for 2010 which was my only year of full-time work (following graduation)?

[jes_ON]

I know it from the CRA angle. But strictly from the PR application perspective, can my application be denied based on my not filing taxes for previous years, given that I did file for 2010 which was my only year of full-time work (following graduation)?

LOL, that is not one of the CEC eligibility requirements on which you pass or fail.  Still, you might want to tidy things up with the CRA.