Filing Canadian Tax Returns as an International Student - Missed First Year

I moved to Canada as an international student about 2 years ago, and I totally messed up by not filing my taxes the first year. There were several reasons this happened: 1) The amount of information online was overwhelming and I had no idea what I was supposed to do 2) I was swamped with school, work and family stuff, so taxes kept getting pushed to the back burner 3) I didn't even understand the difference between filing taxes and returns I tried to get some help, but the professional tax services were way too expensive for my student budget (I was only 18 when I arrived and in my home country we just have sales tax, nothing like this system). I've educated myself a bit more now and found a tax filing company nearby that seems reputable based on my research. But I still have questions: Do I need to file my taxes and returns as separate things? Will I face serious penalties or legal trouble for missing my first year filing? (This has me really worried) How much should I expect to pay as an international student with tuition costs, a minimum wage part-time job, and a summer job? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm terrible with numbers and rules, and I don't have anyone around me who can provide guidance on Canadian taxes.

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20 comments

Connor O'Reilly

•8M

Don't worry too much - you're not the first international student to miss filing taxes in Canada, and the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) generally understands that newcomers need time to learn the system. First, let's clarify: in Canada, "filing your taxes" and "filing your returns" refer to the same process. You complete a tax return (form T1) to report your income and calculate taxes owed or refunds due. So no, you don't need to file them separately. For your missed return, you should file it as soon as possible through the Voluntary Disclosures Program. Since you're a student with likely low income, you probably won't face significant penalties - you might even be due a refund! The CRA typically doesn't pursue legal action for honest mistakes, especially for newcomers. As for how much you'll pay: with tuition credits and likely low income from minimum wage jobs, you might actually receive money back rather than owing taxes. International students can claim tuition credits just like Canadian residents. My suggestion is to gather all your documents (T4 slips from employers, tuition receipts, rent receipts) for both years and have that tax company help you file for both the missed year and the current one.

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Connor O'Reilly

•8M

The Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) is designed to allow taxpayers to correct past omissions. While it doesn't guarantee complete immunity from penalties, for someone in your situation with likely minimal tax owing, it typically results in reduced or waived penalties, especially for first-time issues. The time that has passed actually doesn't disqualify you - the VDP specifically exists for situations where taxpayers have missed deadlines. The key requirement is that you're coming forward voluntarily before the CRA contacts you about the unfiled return. Given you're a student with tuition credits, there's a good chance you're actually owed a refund rather than facing penalties.

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Keisha Taylor

•8M

After struggling with my Canadian taxes last year (I'm from Brazil and was COMPLETELY lost), I found this amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much headache! It analyzed all my documents and explained everything in simple terms. I uploaded my T4s from my campus job and summer internship, plus my tuition statements, and it showed me exactly what credits I qualified for as an international student. The best part was that it walked me through the entire process of filing my missed return from the previous year too. It highlighted all the international student-specific deductions I didn't know about. Seriously changed my whole tax filing experience!

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Keisha Taylor

•8M

It actually guided me through how to handle the late filing with simple explanations of the Voluntary Disclosures Program. It even generated a letter template explaining my situation that I could submit with my late return. The process was much smoother than I expected! I didn't need to visit a tax professional afterward because the service was comprehensive enough to handle my situation. It identified all my international student tax credits and explained the implications for my study permit. The step-by-step guidance gave me confidence that I wasn't making mistakes that would affect my immigration status. The peace of mind alone was worth it.

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Paolo Marino

•8M

I just wanted to update everyone! After seeing the recommendation here, I tried taxr.ai for my missed tax return situation. As an international student from Malaysia who also missed my first year in Canada, I was seriously stressing about penalties and legal issues. The service analyzed my tuition payments, my part-time campus job, and my summer warehouse position. It showed me exactly which credits I qualified for as an international student that I had no idea about! The system actually determined I was owed a $870 refund for my missed year instead of penalties. It guided me through filing both years and explained everything in simple terms. Such a relief to have this sorted finally! My study permit renewal next semester shouldn't have any issues now.

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Amina Bah

•8M

If you're still having trouble reaching the CRA to discuss your situation (their hold times are INSANE for international student questions), I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent DAYS trying to get through to ask about my missed filing as an international student, but kept getting disconnected after waiting for hours. Claimyr got me connected to a real CRA agent in about 20 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I was experiencing before. They have this clever system that navigates the phone menus and waits on hold for you, then calls you once an actual human picks up. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The CRA agent I spoke with was actually super helpful and walked me through exactly what I needed to do for my missed filing. Much less scary than I thought it would be!

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Amina Bah

•8M

They don't jump the queue - they just wait in line for you! Their system calls the CRA, navigates through all those annoying menu options, and then stays on hold. When a real person finally answers, their system calls your phone and connects you directly to the agent. You literally go from zero to talking to a CRA agent in seconds, without sitting through the hold music for hours. The reason it works is that most people give up after being on hold for too long. I was initially skeptical too, but it's just a clever way to have technology handle the frustrating waiting part. The CRA agent I spoke with answered all my questions about my missing international student tax return and explained exactly what forms I needed to include with my late filing.

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Natasha Petrova

•8M

I have to eat my words and admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the CRA about my international student tax situation, so I decided to try it anyway. I couldn't believe it when I got a call back connecting me to an actual CRA agent after only 35 minutes (I'd previously waited over 2 hours and got disconnected TWICE). The agent was able to confirm that as an international student, I qualified for tuition tax credits even for my missed year, and that filing late through the Voluntary Disclosures Program would likely result in minimal or no penalties given my situation. This saved me so much stress and probably hundreds of dollars in unnecessary penalties by getting accurate information directly from the source. Never thought I'd say this, but sometimes the solutions that sound too good to be true actually work!

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Javier Hernandez

•8M

International student from India here. Just wanted to add something important - make sure you claim the GST/HST credit when you file! Many international students don't realize they're eligible for this quarterly payment from the government. You need to complete the GST/HST credit application section on your tax return, and you could get around $350-450 per year depending on your income. This isn't automatic - you have to check the box requesting it on your return. Also, keep all your rent receipts! In some provinces like Ontario, you can claim a portion of your rent on your tax return through provincial credits.

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Javier Hernandez

•8M

Yes, you can claim the GST/HST credit retroactively when you file your missing return! The CRA will calculate what you were eligible for in that tax year and typically issue it as a lump sum payment. This is one reason why filing your missed return is so important - you might actually have money waiting for you. The only limitation is that the CRA generally won't go back more than 3 years for GST/HST credit payments, but since you only missed one year, you should be fine. Just make sure when you file the late return that you complete the GST/HST credit application section properly.

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KaiEsmeralda

•5M

As someone who works with international students on tax issues, I want to emphasize a few key points that might help ease your worries: 1) **You're not in legal trouble** - The CRA understands that international students often miss their first year due to unfamiliarity with the system. They're much more interested in getting you compliant than punishing you. 2) **You'll likely get money back** - With tuition credits (which can be substantial), the basic personal amount, and potentially GST/HST credits, most international students with part-time jobs actually receive refunds rather than owing taxes. 3) **File both years together** - When you work with that tax company, have them prepare both your missed year and current year returns. This shows good faith effort to become compliant. 4) **Keep it simple** - Don't overthink the process. As an international student, your tax situation is likely straightforward: employment income, tuition credits, and basic deductions. The stress you're feeling is completely normal, but the reality is much less scary than you think. The Canadian tax system actually has several benefits specifically designed to help students like you!

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