Why Should You File Your Taxes in Canada If You Are an International Student?

The Government of Canada encourages and welcomes the international students to Canada and file the tax return even if you do not pay the taxes. The CRA or the Canada Revenue Agency informs all the foreign students to pay the annual tax and claim a refund. You can also claim the working income tax benefit-WITB. If you or your spouse want to begin or continue the Canada child benefit-CCB or GST/HST credit or Guaranteed Credit Supplement-GCS, you need to file the tax return. Your spouse or any common-law partner should also file the tax return along with you. If you are an international student and completing your degree in Canada through a study permit, you are considered to be a resident of Canada especially, for income tax purposes. Therefore, you should apply for an ITN and file tax return until you stay in Canada. Contact Clearititn number requestto apply for an ITN and to avail all necessary assistance for filing a tax return in Canada.

However, filing a tax return solely depends upon the individual circumstances. You should further take it important to file a tax return by which you will tie your residential status with the Government of Canada. It will also play a significant role while determining your residential status in Canada. Secondly, your income including scholarship, RESP payments, tips or any other income from any sources should be reflected in the tax return as per the law of Canada. However, you may not include HST/GST credit, any provincial or territorial program payments, Canada child benefit payment, gifts and inheritance, lottery winnings etc. in the return.

The tax year starts from January 1^st every year and ends on 31^st December. The last date for filing your income tax return is 30^th April every year. You should incorporate some necessary documents to file your income tax return. You must incorporate the form of your social insurance number-SIN in the income tax return. In the case of your ineligibility of SIN, you need to provide your individual tax number-ITN form. You should also attach your income tax slips such as T4 or T4A for scholarships, GRS, awards, bursaries etc. Besides the above attachment, attach the interest tax slips like T3 or T5 from the concerned financial institutions in the tax return. The other attachment in your income tax return includes tuition receipt T2202A, receipts of donation if you have donated to a Canadian charity, medical receipts if you have done it out of your pocket, rent receipt from your landlord, expenses of correspondence with CRA and any other relevant receipts and proof of expenditures.