Should the CRA File Your Taxes Automatically?
Official title: Consultation on Automatic tax filing (ATF)
Why This Matters
Ever put off filing your taxes because it felt too complicated? You're not alone. Millions of Canadians—especially seniors, people with disabilities, and those with lower incomes—miss out on benefits they're entitled to simply because they don't file. This consultation could make getting your refund as easy as clicking a button.
What Could Change
The CRA could expand SimpleFile to cover more Canadians automatically. That means more people would receive benefits like the GST/HST credit and Canada Child Benefit without lifting a finger. The tax prep industry might see changes too, as automatic filing reduces the need for paid services.
Key Issues
- How can automatic tax filing services like SimpleFile be expanded to reach more Canadians?
- What barriers prevent lower-income Canadians from filing their taxes?
- How can the CRA work with community organizations and the tax industry to improve automatic filing?
How to Participate
- The online questionnaire closed on October 9, 2025. The CRA is now gathering input through an advisory group and roundtable discussions with community organizations and tax industry representatives.
- Learn more about SimpleFile and automatic tax filing services to understand what's being expanded.
What Happened
The online questionnaire phase has concluded. The CRA thanked participants and indicated a summary of the consultation will be made available once complete. The CRA continues to gather input through an advisory group and roundtable discussions.