First Tax Return Document Checklist for Newcomers

Key takeaways

Your SIN (or temporary tax number), your residency date and your address
Canadian slips: T4, T4A, T4E, T5, T3, T5008, T2202, RRSP and FHSA slips
Receipts for credits: medical, donations, child care, and rent if your province uses it
Foreign income records after your residency date, and proof of foreign tax paid
World income before arrival, and your spouse’s details

Which personal details do you need?

Item	Why it is needed
Social Insurance Number (SIN), or a temporary tax number	Your tax number. See how to get a SIN
Your residency date	Sets the start of your taxable world income and prorates some credits
A record of that date, such as your landing document, permit or travel record	Helps if the CRA asks you to confirm it
Current Canadian address	Your notice of assessment and letters go there
Marital status and spouse’s details	Needed for credits and family benefits
Canadian bank details	For direct deposit of refunds and benefits

Which Canadian tax slips might you get?

Slip	What it reports	When it arrives
T4	Pay from a job, and tax, CPP and EI taken off	By the end of February
T4A	Scholarships, contract income, some pensions	By the end of February
T4E	Employment Insurance benefits	By the end of February
T5	Interest and dividends from Canadian accounts	By the end of February
T5008	Sales of shares or other securities	Usually by the end of February
T3	Income from mutual funds and trusts	May arrive as late as the end of March
T2202	Tuition paid to a Canadian school	Usually by the end of February; many schools post it in your student account
RRSP contribution receipts	RRSP contributions	From your bank or broker
T4FHSA	First Home Savings Account activity	From your FHSA issuer

If you had more than one job, you get a T4 from each employer. If a slip does not arrive, ask the payer. The CRA advises waiting until you have all your slips before you file.

Which receipts help you claim credits?

Medical expenses paid in Canada that your plan did not cover, such as dental, glasses and prescriptions
Donations to registered Canadian charities
Child care receipts, with the provider’s name and number
Rent or property tax, for provinces with credits that use them; see provincial credits and benefits
Union or professional dues, if not already on your T4
Moving expenses only if you moved within Canada for a job or school; a move into Canada from abroad usually does not count
Self-employment income and expenses, if you drove for an app or had a side business

Which foreign records do you need?

World income before your residency date, for the part of the year before you arrived. It is not taxed, but it is used for benefits.
Foreign income after your residency date: wages, interest, rent, pensions and sale proceeds, in the foreign currency.
Exchange rates: the Bank of Canada rate for each date, or the annual average rate for regular payments.
Proof of foreign tax paid, to claim the foreign tax credit.
Value of property on your residency date, such as shares or a flat abroad. This becomes your cost for later sales and for Form T1135 in later years.
Translations of foreign-language documents, if the CRA asks for them.

For details, see how to report foreign income.

What do you need for your family and benefits?

Your spouse or common-law partner’s net income, including world income before arrival. They should file their own return too.
Your children’s names and dates of birth.
Copies of Form RC151 and RC66 if you already applied for benefits.
Any benefit notices from the CRA.

Benefits like the Canada Child Benefit continue only if both partners file every year.

Printable checklist

☐ SIN or temporary tax number
☐ Residency date and a record of it
☐ Current address and bank details
☐ All T4, T4A, T4E, T5, T3 and T5008 slips
☐ T2202 tuition slip, if you studied
☐ RRSP and FHSA slips or receipts
☐ Medical, donation and child care receipts
☐ Rent receipts or property tax bill, if your province uses them
☐ World income before arrival
☐ Foreign income after arrival, with exchange rates
☐ Proof of foreign tax paid
☐ Property values on your residency date
☐ Spouse’s income and children’s details

Then follow how to file your first tax return, step by step.

How long should you keep these documents?

The CRA advises keeping your records for at least six years. Do not send receipts with an online return. The CRA may ask for them later, if it selects your return for review. It may also accept bank statements or cancelled cheques as proof.

Store paper and digital copies in one place. Next year, you will need some of the same documents, plus your notice of assessment.

Common questions

What documents do I need for my first tax return in Canada?

Your SIN or temporary tax number, residency date, Canadian slips (such as T4 and T5), receipts for credits, foreign income records after you arrived, and your world income before you arrived.

Do I need my immigration documents to file?

You do not send them with your return. Keep a record of your residency date, such as your landing document or permit, in case the CRA asks.

What if my employer never sent a T4?

Ask your employer first. Employers must send T4 slips by the last day of February. With a CRA account, you may also see it in My Account by mid-March.

Do I send receipts with my return?

Not when you file online. Keep them for at least six years in case the CRA asks.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

First tax return document checklist for newcomers