2016 Tax Filing Season: Almost 90% File Electronically

Canadian taxfilers are saving the planet! Of the total returns received to April 25 for the 2015 tax filing year, 87% were filed electronically, according to CRA’s tax filing statistics. The average refund so far is slightly lower than last year: $1653.

Tax filers using paper are dwindling in numbers according to this year’s statistics so far: only 13% ,or 2.3 million taxpayers, filed on paper; whereas 10.5 million, or 57%, of all filers used the EFILE services of professionals. NETFILING by self-preparers was popular too: 5.5 million, or 30%, of all filers used the push-button convenience of tax preparation software to prepare and file their own returns. To April 25, 18.5 million returns had been filed, but that means there were still millions more to be filed before the May 2 tax filing deadline.

Those who owed money (just under 3 million of the total returns processed so far) owed an average of $3907. Just over 3 million people filed nil returns (neither owing or owed money); the primary reason to file in those cases is to claim for refundable tax credits and OAS benefits.

Here’s how the numbers broke down:

Additional Educational Resources: For the most recent trends in tax and financial services attend Distinguished Advisor Workshops and Distinguished Advisor Conference.

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