What Do I Need for My Tax Return?
Getting organized before we prepare your return helps make tax season easier. You won’t need everything on this list — simply gather the documents that apply to your situation. If you’re not sure whether something is relevant, send it along or ask us. We’d rather take a look than have you leave something out.
Personal & Family Information
Please let us know about any changes during the year, including:
Address or contact information
Marital status
Dependants or changes to your family
Banking information for direct deposit, if it has changed
Residency or province of residence
Any significant life changes that may affect your tax situation
New clients:
We’ll also need some additional personal information, including your Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth and a copy of your most recent Notice of Assessment.
Income Slips
Depending on your situation, you may receive:
T4 — Employment income
T4A — Pension, retirement, annuity or other income
T4A(OAS) — Old Age Security
T4A(P) — Canada Pension Plan benefits
T5 — Investment income
T4RSP — RRSP income
T4RIF — RRIF income
T4E — Employment Insurance and other benefits
T3 — Trust income
T5007 — Workers' compensation or social assistance benefits
T5008 — Securities transactions
T5013 — Partnership income
T4FHSA — First Home Savings Account
T2202 — Tuition and enrolment
Any other tax slips you received during the year
Some slips arrive later than others. Before we finalize your return, make sure you’ve received all of the tax slips you’re expecting.
Investments & Savings If applicable, please provide:
RRSP contribution receipts
FHSA contribution information
Investment income slips
Investment transaction or trading statements
Information relating to the sale of stocks, mutual funds or other investments
Investment management or advisory fees that may be deductible
Details of other investment income not reported on a tax slip
Deductions, Credits & Expenses Depending on your circumstances, please gather:
Childcare expenses
Medical and dental expenses
Charitable donation receipts
Union or professional dues
Eligible employment or home-office expenses
Moving expenses, if your move may qualify
Support payments paid or received
Student loan interest information
Disability-related information, if applicable
Caregiver information, if applicable
Self-Employment or Side Income
If you earned self-employment, freelance, contract or other business income, please provide:
Income earned during the year
Business-related expenses and receipts
Vehicle expenses and mileage information, if applicable
Home-office expenses, if applicable
Details of any equipment or assets purchased for the business
Any tax slips relating to your business or contract income
Rental Property If you own a rental property, please provide
Rental income received
Property taxes
Mortgage interest
Insurance
Utilities you paid
Repairs and maintenance
Property management fees
Professional fees
Other rental-related expenses
Details of any major purchases or improvements
Information about the purchase or sale of a rental property during the year
Did Something Change This Year? Please tell us if you:
Got married, became common-law, separated or divorced
Had or adopted a child
Moved
Started or stopped working
Started a business or began earning side income
Retired or began receiving pension income
Bought or sold a home or rental property
Bought or sold investments
Opened or withdrew funds from an FHSA
Became responsible for supporting or caring for a family member
Experienced another significant financial or family change
Sometimes the information we need isn't obvious from a tax slip.
Other Important Documents
Please also provide, where applicable:
Your most recent Notice of Assessment or Reassessment
Any correspondence you've received from the Canada Revenue Agency
Property tax or rent information where relevant to provincial credits
Instalment payment information
Information relating to a previous return that still needs to be addressed
Not Sure If We Need It?
Send it along or ask us.
You don’t need to figure out the tax treatment before bringing something to our attention — that’s part of what we’re here to help with.
Ready to Get Started?
Once you’ve gathered your documents, send them to Glenden Tax using one of our secure document options.
Tax Tips
Beyond the Tax Return
Getting Organized for Tax Season
What Changed This Year?
RRSP Contributions vs. RRSP Deductions
Understanding Your CRA My Account
Missing a Tax Slip?
Self-Employment & Side Income
Rental Property: What Should You Keep?
Your Notice of Assessment: Don't Just File It Away
Life Changes Matter
Have a Tax Question?
Beyond the Tax Return is intended to make tax information easier to understand, but everyone’s circumstances are different. If something has changed or you’re unsure whether information may be relevant to your return, ask us. We’d rather know about it and determine whether it matters than have something important left out.
Before Family Court: Get Your Financial House in Order
Spend less time dealing with paperwork — and more time addressing the issues that matter.
Separation and family court proceedings can already be stressful and expensive. When child support, spousal support or other financial issues are involved, incomplete tax returns and missing financial documents can add unnecessary time, expense and frustration to the process.
Ontario family courts expect parties to exchange full and frank financial disclosure as early as possible.
That means one of the most practical things you can do before negotiations, a case conference or other court proceedings is simple:
Get your tax returns filed. Get your financial documents together. Get your disclosure organized.
Your Lawyer's Time Is Expensive
- Requesting missing tax returns and financial documents
- Following up on outstanding disclosure
- Reviewing incomplete information
- Corresponding with the other party or their lawyer about missing records
- Preparing lists of outstanding disclosure
- Addressing disclosure issues at conferences or in court
- Bringing or responding to disclosure motions where problems cannot otherwise be resolved
Those are legal hours that can add to the overall cost of your family law matter.
More importantly, they can take attention away from the issues you actually need to resolve.
Financial disclosure should be the groundwork — not the battleground.
When your financial information is organized early, your lawyer is in a better position to focus on meaningful negotiations and the substantive issues affecting your family, including:
Parenting time. Decision-making responsibility. Child support. Spousal support. Your children's needs. And reaching a workable resolution.
Why Do It Before You Go to Court?
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice expects parties to make reasonable efforts to exchange full and frank financial disclosure before the case conference.
Where disclosure remains outstanding, valuable conference and court time can be spent dealing with documents that could potentially have been organized beforehand.
Failure to meet disclosure obligations can also have consequences, including costs.
Being prepared doesn’t guarantee that your family law matter will be simple or inexpensive. But it can help avoid unnecessary delays and professional fees associated with getting basic financial information into order after the legal process is already underway.
Start With Your Tax Returns
For many people, the first question is straightforward:
Are your tax returns up to date?
If you’ve fallen behind, now is the time to address them.
Tax returns and CRA Notices of Assessment are commonly important pieces of income disclosure when child or spousal support is being determined.
Depending on your circumstances, additional financial records may also be required, particularly if you are self-employed, own a business, receive income from multiple sources or have more complicated financial circumstances.
How Glenden Tax Can Help
Glenden Tax can help you get the tax side of your financial disclosure organized before expensive legal time is spent dealing with missing tax information.
We can assist with:
Filing outstanding personal income tax returns
Catching up on multiple years of unfiled returns
Preparing your current tax return
Organizing your tax returns and Notices of Assessment
Identifying missing tax-related documentation
Helping organize tax information for self-employment income
Providing copies of tax documents available through our records
Once your tax records are organized, they can be provided to your lawyer along with the other financial information your lawyer advises is required.
Give Your Lawyer the Opportunity to Focus on the Legal Issues
Your family lawyer’s expertise is valuable.
Whenever possible, their time should be spent advising you, negotiating, advocating for you and addressing the substantive legal and parenting issues in your case — not chasing down tax returns that could have been prepared beforehand.
A little organization at the beginning can help make the process more efficient and give everyone a better opportunity to focus on moving the matter forward.
Preparing for Separation, Support Negotiations or Family Court?
Start with your financial records.
If your tax returns aren’t current or you need help getting your tax documentation organized, contact Glenden Tax.
Simple. Accurate. Stress-Free.
Important Information
Glenden Tax provides tax preparation and tax-related document assistance. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice or prepare court financial disclosure forms.
The financial disclosure required depends on the circumstances of each family law matter. Your lawyer or other qualified legal professional should advise you about your disclosure obligations and the court forms and supporting documents required in your case.
FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to live in Blenheim to use Glenden Tax?
No. While Glenden Tax has its roots in Blenheim, Ontario, we can work with clients across Canada. Documents can be provided securely and much of the tax preparation process can be completed remotely.
Local roots. Canada-wide service. How do I send my documents?
We provide secure options for sending your tax documents electronically. Once you’re ready to get started, we’ll provide the information you need to submit your documents safely.
Please don’t send sensitive information such as your SIN, tax slips or banking information through our general website contact form.
When should I send my tax information?
You can start gathering your documents as soon as you receive them. Once you have most of the information relating to your return, you can send your documents to us.
Keep in mind that some tax slips are issued later than others, so receiving an early T4 doesn’t necessarily mean you have everything needed to complete your return.
Do I need all my slips before getting started?
Not necessarily. You can begin gathering and submitting your information before every document has arrived.
Just let us know if you’re still waiting for a tax slip or other information. We won’t finalize your return until we have the information needed to prepare it properly.
Can you prepare previous-year returns?
Yes. If you have an outstanding personal tax return from a previous year, contact us and let us know which year or years need to be prepared.
If there are several outstanding years or other circumstances involved, we’ll discuss what information is needed before getting started.
What if I'm missing a tax slip?
Don’t panic. Some tax slips may be available through your CRA My Account even if you haven’t received a paper or electronic copy.
Let us know what’s missing before we finalize your return so we can determine the appropriate next step.
Do you prepare self-employment or rental returns?
Yes. We can prepare personal income tax returns that include self-employment income and rental property income and expenses. These returns generally require additional information beyond your regular tax slips, so we recommend reviewing our What Do I Need for My Tax Return? checklist before submitting your documents.
How do I sign my return?
Once your return has been prepared, we’ll provide the required documents for your review and authorization. Where appropriate, documents can be signed electronically, making it possible to complete the process without visiting us in person.
How will I know when my return has been filed?
We’ll let you know once your return has been completed and electronically submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency.
After CRA processes your return, CRA will issue your Notice of Assessment, which confirms the results of its assessment.
How do I pay CRA if I owe money?
If your tax return results in an amount owing, payment is made directly to the Canada Revenue Agency—not to Glenden Tax.
CRA provides several payment options, including online banking, CRA’s online payment services and payments through participating financial institutions.
We can point you to the appropriate CRA payment information when your return is completed.
Still Have a Question?
Every tax situation is a little different. If you don’t see your question here, get in touch with us.
CRA RESOURCES
The Canada Revenue Agency provides a number of online services and resources that can help you access your tax information, update your account and find important documents.
CRA My Account
Access your personal income tax and benefit information, view Notices of Assessment, check available tax slips, manage personal information and access other CRA services.
Find or Replace a Missing Tax Slip
Missing a T4, T5, T3 or another tax slip? The CRA explains when slips are generally available and how you may be able to obtain copies through your CRA account.
Update Your Information with the CRA
Moved? Changed your phone number, email address, marital status, name or direct-deposit information? Keeping your CRA information current can also affect benefits and payments.
Deductions, Credits & Expenses
Use the CRA’s searchable resource to learn about deductions, credits and expenses that may apply to your personal income tax return.
CRA Digital Services for Individuals
Find CRA online services for individuals, including managing your account, changing a return, submitting documents, making payments and accessing other tax services.
Direct Deposit
Set up or update direct deposit for CRA refunds and benefit payments. The CRA currently allows individuals to update direct-deposit information through their CRA account or participating financial institutions; it can no longer be changed by telephone.
A note from Glenden Tax
Not sure which CRA resource you need?
You don’t need to navigate everything on your own. If something relates to the preparation of your tax return, contact us and we’ll help point you in the right direction.