Faire ses impôts au Québec — deux déclarations, deux paliers de gouvernement.
1. Why you must file taxes
In Canada, all residents must file a tax return every year — even with no work. It's the condition to receive the Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) — which replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026 — and other benefits.
2. Quebec's specificity: two returns
In Quebec, you must file two returns every year:
- The federal return (T1) — for Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- The provincial return (TP1) — for Revenu Québec
This is unique to Quebec. In other provinces, a single return is enough.
3. The deadline: April 30
The deadline is April 30 each year, for the previous year. For self-employed workers, the deadline is June 15, but any payments owed are still due April 30.
4. Documents to keep
Before filing your taxes, gather:
- All your T4 slips and Relevés 1 (slips from your employer)
- Medical receipts, daycare fees, charitable donations
- Your SIN and that of your family members
5. How to file
Three options:
- Tax software: TurboImpôt, Wealthsimple Tax, H&R Block — often free for modest incomes
- Accountant: the fee depends on complexity — ask for a price first
- Free tax clinic: for modest-income filers, organized by volunteers
To estimate your refund before filing, use our tax refund estimator. And to better understand GST and QST — the taxes that give you credits — see our GST/QST calculator.
6. Your action list
Follow these concrete steps to file your first tax return. Check each box as you go — your progress is saved if you're signed in.
7. Credits and benefits available to newcomers
Several credits and benefits are linked directly to your return. Without a return, you receive nothing. But in your first year, several are not automatic: you have to apply.
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB): form RC151 for the year you arrive (CRA)
- Canada Child Benefit: form RC66, if you didn't register at birth
- Solidarity tax credit: Schedule D of your Quebec return, plus direct deposit registration (Revenu Québec)
That's the deciding argument for never skipping a return — even the first year you barely worked.
| Benefit | Level | Typical amount | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Child Benefit (CCB) | Fed. | Up to $8,157/yr per child under 6, $6,883 aged 6–17 (July 2026–June 2027) | At least 1 child |
| CGEB (Groceries and Essentials Benefit, formerly the GST/HST credit) | Fed. | Up to $679/yr (single) | Modest income; RC151 the first year |
| Medical expense credit | Fed. + Prov. | Variable | Expenses above a threshold tied to net income |
| Quebec Family Allowance | Prov. | $1,221 to $3,068/yr per child (2026, two-parent family) | Residence in QC |
| Solidarity tax credit | Prov. | Depends on income and housing | Schedule D + direct deposit |
| Shelter allowance | Prov. | Depends on income, household and rent | Housing costs ≥ 30% of income (tenant or owner) |
| Childcare expense credit | Prov. | 67% to 78% of eligible expenses (2025) | Not for reduced-contribution fees (CPE etc.); children under 14 from 2026 |
8. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions for newcomers: am I a Canadian tax resident from arrival, must I declare income from my home country, why does Quebec have two returns, which free software to use, and what to do if I can't finish by April 30.
Am I considered a Canadian tax resident from arrival?
Yes, as soon as you establish significant ties in Canada — housing, spouse, dependent children, personal belongings.
Your first return will be marked as a part-year resident — you declare only income earned from your arrival date. Note that date carefully — it's a mandatory field on both returns.
Must I declare income earned in my home country before arrival?
For the portion of the year before your arrival in Canada, no — you weren't yet a Canadian tax resident. For income earned abroad after your arrival, yes — Canada taxes residents on worldwide income.
Tax treaties with your home country generally prevent double taxation. An accountant familiar with immigration files helps clarify first-year edge cases.
Why does Quebec have two returns while other provinces have one?
Because Quebec is the only province that collects its own income tax fully autonomously. Other provinces let the Canada Revenue Agency collect via a single return.
Quebec has run its own tax system separately since 1954 — a historical choice tied to provincial autonomy. Practical consequence: two forms, two identical April 30 deadlines, two separate refunds.
Which tax software is free and easy to use?
Several software packages certified by the CRA and Revenu Québec offer a free version, at least for simple returns — for example Wealthsimple Tax or TurboTax; check the conditions of the free version before you start. Volunteer tax clinics are another free option if your income is modest.
These packages let you file electronically through NETFILE, which speeds up the refund.
What if I can't finish my return before April 30?
File anyway, even late — the late-filing penalty is calculated on tax owed, so if you owe nothing, the penalty is zero.
If you owe money, interest starts accruing on May 1. For a truly difficult case (lost documents, family situation), call Revenu Québec or the CRA: you can ask for penalties and interest to be cancelled or reduced when circumstances beyond your control kept you from filing on time.
9. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Understanding your Quebec pay stub — the paycheque withholdings the return reconciles.
- Understanding GST and QST in Quebec — the other tax-side that triggers the GST credit.
- Family Allowance in Quebec — the financial benefit triggered by your first return.
- Tax refund calculator — to estimate your refund before filing.
- GST/QST calculator — to understand the taxes that open access to credits.
- RRSP vs TFSA vs FHSA vs HBP: Which Account First? — how to use registered accounts to reduce your taxable income and grow savings.
- Self-Employed in Quebec: Registering, Invoicing and Paying Your Taxes — if part of your income comes from self-employment, your taxes get filed differently.
10. Official sources
For official information:
By phone: Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-8281; Revenu Québec at 1-800-267-6299.
Author's Note: Never skip a return, even in a year with no income. Refunds and credits are among the best financial benefits of being a Canadian resident. Every year, no exceptions.