Filing your income tax and benefit return can be overwhelming, and mistakes happen. Whether you forgot to report income, miscalculated deductions, or entered incorrect information, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows taxpayers to correct errors without needing to file a new return.
At Nguyen Scott LLP, we help individuals and businesses navigate the tax correction process, ensuring accuracy and compliance while avoiding unnecessary penalties and delays.
📞 Need tax correction help? Contact us today!
📍 St. Albert & Leduc: 780-458-5479
📍 Drayton Valley: 780-542-9292
💻 Visit us at nsllp.ca
What to Do If You Made a Mistake on Your Tax Return
If you’ve already filed your tax return but realized you made an error, do not submit a new return. Instead, you need to request a change using one of the CRA’s approved methods.
💡 Common reasons for making a tax adjustment:
✔️ You forgot to report income (T4, freelance work, rental income)
✔️ You missed claiming deductions or credits (medical expenses, RRSP contributions, tuition)
✔️ You entered incorrect amounts (business expenses, charitable donations)
✔️ You need to split pension income or adjust carryforward/carryback amounts
The CRA allows you to make corrections for the last 10 years, meaning you can fix errors as far back as 2015 if you request changes in 2025.
How to Fix Your Tax Return Online
The CRA provides two online tools for making changes:
1️⃣ Change My Return (via CRA My Account)
🔹 Best for general tax adjustments
🔹 Request to carry forward losses (farming, fishing, restricted farm losses)
🔹 Update non-resident tax returns
💡 Steps to use Change My Return:
1️⃣ Log in to CRA My Account
2️⃣ Select “Change my return”
3️⃣ Make the necessary updates
4️⃣ Submit the request
2️⃣ ReFILE (via NETFILE-certified tax software)
🔹 Best for quick corrections after filing electronically
🔹 Allows you to split pension income
🔹 Provides instant feedback on refund changes
💡 Steps to use ReFILE:
1️⃣ Open your tax return in your tax software
2️⃣ Select the ReFILE option
3️⃣ Adjust the necessary figures
4️⃣ Submit the request electronically
ReFILE is the fastest way to correct your return and see if your refund or balance owing changes right away!
📬 How to Fix Your Tax Return by Mail
If you can’t access CRA My Account or your tax software doesn’t support ReFILE, you can request a correction by mail.
💡 Steps to request a change by mail:
✔️ Complete Form T1-ADJ (T1 Adjustment Request)
✔️ Attach supporting documents (if required)
✔️ Send your request to your nearest CRA tax centre
Tip: Processing times for mail-in requests are longer than online changes, so we recommend using Change My Return or ReFILE whenever possible.
How Long Does It Take for the CRA to Process Adjustments?
The CRA’s processing time depends on how you submitted your request:
🔹 Change My Return or ReFILE – Typically 2 weeks
🔹 Mail-in Requests – 6 to 8 weeks
You can track your adjustment’s progress using the CRA Processing Times Tool or by checking CRA My Account. Once processed, the CRA will send you:
✔️ A Notice of Reassessment (confirming changes made)
✔️ A letter explaining why changes were not made (if applicable)
Key Takeaways – How to Fix Tax Return Errors
✅ DO NOT file a new return to correct mistakes
✅ Use Change My Return (CRA My Account) for most corrections
✅ Use ReFILE (tax software) for quick, electronic adjustments
✅ If mailing a request, complete Form T1-ADJ and attach supporting documents
✅ You can correct tax returns for up to 10 years
✅ Processing takes 2 weeks (online) or up to 8 weeks (mail)
📞 Need Help Fixing a Tax Mistake? Contact Nguyen Scott LLP!
At Nguyen Scott LLP, we take the stress out of correcting tax errors. Whether you missed a deduction, forgot income, or need to adjust past tax returns, our team ensures your corrections are made properly while maximizing your benefits.
📍 St. Albert & Leduc: 780-458-5479
📍 Drayton Valley: 780-542-9292
💻 Visit us at nsllp.ca