Tax Refund
Estimator Canada
Enter your income, the tax your employer withheld (T4 box 22) and the deductions and credits you plan to claim. The calculator works out your tax for the year and shows whether you get a refund or owe a balance.
Your 2026 tax situation
Deductions
Credits
Your estimated refund
This estimate covers common deductions and credits at 2026 federal and provincial rates. It does not include every credit, refundable benefit or special situation. The CRA assesses your actual return. Not tax advice. Terms →
How a Canadian tax refund works
A refund is not extra money from the government. It is the difference between the tax you paid during the year and the tax you owe for the year. Your employer withholds tax from each paycheque based on your pay and the forms you filed. When you file your return, the CRA works out your actual tax. If more was withheld than you owe, you get a refund. If less was withheld, you owe a balance.
The calculation in four steps
- Add up your income: employment income from your T4, plus interest, rental income, taxable capital gains and other income.
- Subtract deductions to reach net income. The main ones are RRSP and FHSA contributions, CPP and EI deductions on self-employment, childcare, moving expenses and union dues.
- Work out federal and provincial tax on that amount, then subtract non-refundable credits such as the basic personal amount, the Canada employment amount, the CPP and EI credits, tuition, medical expenses and donations.
- Subtract the tax you already paid (T4 box 22 plus instalments). The result is your refund or balance owing.
Why many people get a refund
Withholding is based on the assumption that you earn the same pay all year and claim only the standard credits. Anything that lowers your tax without changing your paycheque shows up as a refund. The common ones are RRSP contributions made outside payroll, tuition, medical expenses, donations and childcare. For example, a person in Ontario earning $60,000 who contributes $3,000 to an RRSP and gets no other changes has an estimated refund of about $754. With $1,000 of donations and $4,000 of tuition and no RRSP, the estimate is about $1,121.
Why some people owe money
You can owe a balance if you have income without withholding, such as freelance work, rental income, or investment income. You can also owe if you changed jobs mid-year and both employers used the full basic personal amount, if you had a large taxable capital gain, or if you cashed in an RRSP and the withholding was lower than your tax rate. Self-employed people also pay both the employer and employee halves of CPP, which this estimator does not include.
Quebec residents
Quebec residents pay QPP instead of CPP, a higher EI rate reduced to 1.30%, and QPIP premiums, and they get a 16.5% federal abatement. The estimator applies the 2026 QPP, EI and QPIP rates when you select Quebec. Quebec has its own provincial return (TP-1), and this estimate does not include every Quebec credit, such as the solidarity tax credit.
What is not included
The estimator does not include refundable credits, which can add to your refund at lower incomes. These include the GST/HST credit, the Canada Workers Benefit, provincial low-income credits, and the Ontario LIFT credit. It also leaves out loss carry-forwards, foreign income and the home buyers amount. When your net income is below about $45,000, the calculator shows a note saying your real refund could be higher.
Deadlines and timing
- Most people must file by April 30, 2027 for the 2026 tax year.
- Self-employed people have until June 15, 2027 to file, but any balance owing is still due April 30.
- The CRA says electronic returns with direct deposit are usually processed in about two weeks, and paper returns in about eight weeks.
- Interest on a balance owing starts on May 1 and compounds daily at the CRA prescribed rate.
How to raise your refund legitimately
Claim every deduction and credit you are entitled to, keep receipts, and make RRSP or FHSA contributions before the deadline. Use the RRSP refund calculator to see how much a contribution returns. Do not pay for an advance on your refund unless you understand the fees.
Frequently asked questions
How much will my tax refund be?
It equals the tax withheld during the year plus any instalments, minus the tax you owe for the year. Enter your income, T4 box 22 and your deductions above for an estimate.
Where do I find the tax withheld?
On your T4 slip, box 22 (income tax deducted). If you left it blank in the estimator, the calculator estimates withholding from your employment income.
Why is my refund smaller than I expected?
Your employer may have withheld less than you assumed, you may have extra income that was not taxed at source, or you may be missing deductions and credits. Check each against your slips.
When is the tax filing deadline for 2026?
April 30, 2027 for most people. Self-employed people have until June 15, 2027, but any balance owing is still due April 30.
How long does a refund take?
The CRA says electronic returns with direct deposit are typically processed in about two weeks and paper returns in about eight weeks. Reviews can take longer.
Does this include the GST/HST credit or Canada Workers Benefit?
No. These refundable credits are paid separately and are not part of this estimate. At low incomes they can add meaningfully to your total, so the real figure may be higher.
Does it include self-employment income?
You can enter it under other taxable income, but the estimator does not calculate the self-employed CPP contribution, so tax is understated for the self-employed.
Is this the same as what the CRA will assess?
No. It is an estimate based on the inputs you enter. The CRA assesses your actual return after you file.