Filing Income Tax Returns after leaving Canada

[Abhishek1991]

I was a temporary foreign worker in Canada for 2 years 11 months and 15 days and left Canada during Sept 2024. I realized now that I have to file my Canadian tax returns as I have stayed there for more than 183 days. My questions are the following :

a) How to go about it? I don't have my T4 slip at the moment.
b) I don't have the documents which mention my previous returns ( every time I had to pay some extra amount due to some inefficiency from the HR). How do I obtain them now that I am in a different country. I am not able to access this via the CRA website. I believe that these documents would be helpful when I declare my foreign income back in my current location and avoid double taxation.

 

[azazulhaq]

Hello,
You are required to file your Canadian tax return and enter your date of departure from Canada on your return. This informs the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) of your change in residency status. You can grant access to your accountant, and they can handle the filing on your behalf. CRA has updated the authorization process - you must now log into your CRA My Account and grant access to your accountant directly.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,
Azaz

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hello,
You are required to file your Canadian tax return and enter your date of departure from Canada on your return. This informs the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) of your change in residency status. You can grant access to your accountant, and they can handle the filing on your behalf. CRA has updated the authorization process - you must now log into your CRA My Account and grant access to your accountant directly.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,
Azaz

If they’ve never filed a return they ain’t getting access to the My Account

 

[azazulhaq]

If they’ve never filed a return they ain’t getting access to the My Account

Yes you are correct. Tax returns can also be filed without access to your account.

 

[Copingwithlife]

Yes you are correct. Tax returns can also be filed without access to your account.

That wasn’t the question about

 

[azazulhaq]

That wasn’t the question about

Could you clarify what exactly you were asking?

 

[Abhishek1991]

Thanks a lot for the reply @azazulhaq and @Copingwithlife. I was trying to somehow get access to my CRA account. A question I have is the following :

I intend to go back to Canada after 2/3 years so should I be a non-resident or an emigrant?

 

[azazulhaq]

Thanks a lot for the reply @azazulhaq and @Copingwithlife. I was trying to somehow get access to my CRA account. A question I have is the following :

I intend to go back to Canada after 2/3 years so should I be a non-resident or an emigrant?

Hello, you just need to report your exit date on your tax return for the year you left Canada. After that you will be treated as a non resident. That means any income you earn in India or anywhere else won’t be taxed in Canada while you are away.

 

[2cookies]

Hi
I (Canadian Citizen) left Canada some years ago due to family reason but i have not file any taxes since...is that an issue?
Thanks

 

[steaky]

Hi
I (Canadian Citizen) left Canada some years ago due to family reason but i have not file any taxes since...is that an issue?
Thanks

See my reply in the other thread.

 

[beatrice_davies]

You can still file your Canadian tax return online or by mail through a certified tax preparer. If you don’t have your T4, contact your former employer’s HR or payroll team to resend it. For missing tax records or past returns, reach out to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) directly by phone—they can verify your identity and mail or email copies to your registered address.

 

[steaky]

You can still file your Canadian tax return online or by mail through a certified tax preparer. If you don’t have your T4, contact your former employer’s HR or payroll team to resend it. For missing tax records or past returns, reach out to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) directly by phone—they can verify your identity and mail or email copies to your registered address.

Which poster were you replying?

 

[abff08f4813c]

Which poster were you replying?

My guess is the OP (the thread starter).

You can still file your Canadian tax return online or by mail through a certified tax preparer. If you don’t have your T4, contact your former employer’s HR or payroll team to resend it. For missing tax records or past returns, reach out to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) directly by phone—they can verify your identity and mail or email copies to your registered address.

It seems like this includes calling the CRA to obtain a copy of the T4s, as per https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-ag...x-return/tax-slips/a-copy-your-tax-slips.html

To verify your identify, you will need:

• your social insurance number
• full name and date of birth
• your complete address
• details from your [...] proof of income [...]

That said I'm not sure if the CRA can send these to someone outside of Canada, so going thru an accountant or something might still be worthwhile.

 

[seowr]

Here’s a short, ~100-word forum reply you can post:

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When you leave Canada, you’re usually required to file a final income tax return for the year of departure. This return should include your date of exit and report worldwide income earned up to that date. After becoming a non-resident, you generally only report Canadian-source income, such as rental income or pensions. Some assets may also trigger a departure tax (deemed disposition), which many people overlook.

At Bestax, we often see issues arise from misunderstanding residency status or missing required disclosures. Getting proper guidance early helps avoid CRA penalties and ensures a smooth transition after leaving Canada.

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