As Canadians approach the tax-filing deadline, many are facing a frustrating issue: missing T3s, T5s, and other slips from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website. This problem has left some unable to use the convenient “auto-fill” feature that simplifies the online tax filing process. So, what’s behind this issue?

What’s Causing the Missing Slips?

According to a CRA spokesperson, the missing documents are the result of a new validation process introduced in January 2025. This process ensures that the T3, T5, and other tax slips submitted to the government by companies and organizations are accurate before they are made available to the public.

“We understand the concern this causes for taxpayers,” the spokesperson said, adding that the CRA is actively working with issuers to resolve the issue and make the slips available online as soon as possible. The CRA expects that most outstanding slips will be accessible by mid-April, well before the filing deadline of April 30.

What Should Taxpayers Do?

The government has advised taxpayers to manually file their taxes using the slips provided by employers, banks, and other organizations, since the “auto-fill” feature may not be reliable due to the missing slips.

Additionally, the CRA has warned that some Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) contribution limits may not be up-to-date. To avoid over-contributing, the government recommends reviewing records provided by your financial institution until the online system is updated.

Past Filing Issues

This isn’t the first issue Canadians have encountered while filing their taxes for 2024. Earlier this year, many individuals who attempted to submit their returns were unable to complete the process if they had capital gains or losses to report. The problem stemmed from a delay in a planned increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, which determines how much of a person’s capital gains are taxable.

The increase was supposed to take effect in mid-2024 but was postponed to 2026. As a result, the CRA had to make last-minute system adjustments. Fortunately, that issue was resolved by mid-March.

Looking Ahead

Despite the glitches, Canadians are advised to file their taxes on time. The CRA has not indicated any plans to extend the April 30 filing deadline. It’s crucial for taxpayers to stay informed about the latest updates from the CRA and manually enter any missing information to avoid delays.

In conclusion, while the missing slips and earlier filing issues may have caused some inconvenience, the CRA is working to resolve these problems. Taxpayers are urged to be patient and take the necessary steps to file their taxes accurately by the deadline.