File and pay on or before May 5 to avoid interest to income tax and benefit return

THE Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is reminding taxpayers they have until midnight on or before May 5 (Monday) to file their 2013 income tax and benefit return and pay any balance owing. As a result of the five-day service interruption in April, interest and penalties will not be applied to individual taxpayers filing their 2013 tax returns by midnight on or before May 5.

If you or your spouse or common-law partner is self-employed, the deadline to file your 2013 income tax and benefit return is midnight on June 16 because June 15 falls on a Sunday. However, you still have to pay any balance owing on or before May 5.

The CRA invites you to join the growing number of Canadians who are filing electronically. NETFILE is one of the CRA’s convenient and secure electronic tax-filing options. NETFILE lets you file your return with the CRA at your convenience using the Internet. For a list of software and web service options, including some that are free for everyone, go to www.netfile.gc.ca/software.

If you have a balance owing, you can make your payment using your financial institution’s telephone or Internet banking service. For more information about online payments, go to www.cra.gc.ca/payments or contact your financial institution. You can also make a payment using the CRA’s My Payment service. My Payment lets you make one or more payments in one simple online transaction. You can use this service if you have access to online banking at a participating financial institution.

For tips that will help you get ready to file your 2013 tax return, go to www.cra.gc.ca/getready.

Worried you can’t pay your full tax bill on or before May 5?

Even if you can’t pay all of your balance owing right away, you should still file your return on or before May 5 to avoid a late-filing penalty. If you can’t pay the full amount of taxes you owe, you may be able to make a payment arrangement with the CRA. If the CRA agrees that you are unable to pay in full, an agent can work with you to develop a plan to help you pay your taxes. For more information, go to www.cra.gc.ca/paymentarrangements or call 1-888-863-8657. Our agents are available Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Eastern time.