How to File Taxes in London, Ontario? (Explained)

Even if you think you know where to file your taxes, it can feel like you’re lost in a maze when the rules change, the deadlines move, and the forms keep coming. In Ontario, you have to deal with both federal (CRA) and provincial levels, which makes it even harder. Yes, you can do it on your own, but having a plan and a little room for mistakes makes a huge difference.

London, Ontario Tax Season Snapshot

If you live in London, Ontario, you have to follow the same federal and provincial tax rules as everyone else in Ontario. However, local accountants, tax clinics, and software services may offer services that are specific to the area. During tax season, London has a good number of tax offices, small accounting firms, and even clinics run by university students, so you have more options.

Here are the important dates to remember for 2026 (the year you file your taxes in 2025):

• April 30, 2026: Deadline for most individuals to file their income tax return and pay any taxes owed.
• June 15, 2026: The filing deadline for self-employed individuals and their spouses or common-law partners. However, any taxes owed must still be paid by April 30, 2026, to avoid interest charges.
• February 24, 2026: The CRA’s online service, NETFILE, is scheduled to
• You have six months from the end of your business’s fiscal year to file your corporate (T2) returns.

If you miss the deadline, you may have to pay penalties and interest, and your refunds or benefits may be delayed.

Personal Tax Basics (Ontario + Canada)

A few important things to know before you file:

• Your residency is important: If you live in Ontario for tax purposes, you have to report all of your income from around the world (with some exceptions for foreign income) and pay both federal and provincial taxes.
• You need to fill out a T1 form, which is the Income Tax and Benefit Return. Because the province is integrated, the same system handles your provincial part.
• The basic personal amount, medical expenses, charitable donations, childcare, and other credits and deductions are shared between the federal and provincial governments.
• These days, you almost have to use a CRA account (My Account) to see slips that CRA has received, check the status of your return, respond to notices, and more.
• You can file your return online using CRA-approved software through the NETFILE system.

London, Ontario: Ways to File (Step-by-Step)

If you live in London, your choices are the same as they are in all of Ontario. The only difference is that they are easier to get to. Let’s look at three different paths:

A) Do it yourself with tax software

Step by step

Pick a software that is NETFILE-certified and approved by the CRA

Every year, the CRA puts out a list of certified software. Some examples are SimpleTax, TurboTax, UFile, StudioTax, and so on.

Set up or log in to your CRA account

You will need to sign up for “My Account” if you don’t already have one. This could mean confirming your identity or waiting for a code to come in the mail. The CRA’s new “document verification service” makes things go faster.

Gather all your slips & documents

Think about T4 (income from work), T5 (income from investments), T3, RRSP slips, and receipts for deductions like medical bills and donations. If you use CRA’s “Auto-fill my return,” some slips will already be filled out.

Import or enter data

You can either import digital slips or type them in by hand with good software. Follow the instructions to make sure all sources of income are recorded.

Claim deductions/credits

Usually, the software will help you figure out what you can claim. Don’t skip the less obvious ones.

Review & validate

The program looks for mistakes or fields that are missing. Check to see that everything looks good.

Submit via NETFILE (file taxes inline)

You will get a confirmation (that CRA got it) once you send it in. This is usually the fastest way to get a refund (if you chose direct deposit).

Pros, cons, and average time:

• Pros: Lower cost, full control, faster refunds, and good for simple returns
• Cons: more chances of making mistakes, harder to learn if you have a lot of income streams, and a steeper learning curve

For a simple salaried person, it might take 30 minutes to an hour (if they have all the paperwork ready). For more complicated cases, it could take several hours.

B) Hire a Professional (Accountant Near You)

If your taxes are complicated because you have more than one source of income, rental properties, investments in other countries, or business income, it might be worth it to hire an accountant .

Typical process:

• You make an appointment for a discovery call with a tax or accounting firm in your area, like one in London, Ontario.
• They (or you) upload documents safely through a secure client portal or by dropping them off.
• The accountant looks over the return, asks questions to make sure everything is clear, and then writes it up.
• You check and sign off.
• They file through EFILE, which is NETFILE’s professional version.
• They might help you if the CRA raises a red flag, with answers, changes, and so on.

When this path is better:

• You make money from a business, self-employment, or renting out property.
• You have a lot of slips, assets in other countries, and capital gains or losses.
• You want peace of mind or help with an audit that you can count on.

What is the price?

It depends a lot on how hard it is. In Canada, simple personal returns can cost between CAD 50 and CAD 150, but more complicated ones can cost between CAD 200 and CAD 500 or more. In Ontario, some companies advertise a “Basic Personal Tax Preparation Fee” of $49, which includes one slip, plus extra fees for each slip.

Fees for business cases or corporate returns can go up into the high hundreds or even thousands.

Always ask for a flat fee or estimate up front when you hire someone. This way, you won’t be surprised.

C) In-Person Community Tax Clinics (Free or Low Cost)

If your finances are pretty simple and your income isn’t very high, you might be able to find free tax clinics in London. These are usually run by community centers, libraries, or non-profit groups.

Who is eligible: Most of the time, these are people with low incomes, seniors, students, or new residents. Each clinic has its own rules about who can get care there.

What you should bring:

• Photo ID
• All tax forms, like T4 and T5
• Receipts for tax breaks
• The Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Last year’s Notice of Assessment (if you have it)

What they do/don’t do:

• They help you get ready to file your return and file it.
• They usually won’t handle very complicated returns, like those that involve business income or big investments.
• They usually work in the early spring.

There are also national chains like H&R Block that do business in London and may offer simple services. Their prices are clear, and you can just walk in.

How Much Does It Cost to File Taxes in London, Ontario?

This is a very common question, and for good reason: costs can be very different depending on how complicated the job is.

• You might pay CAD 50 to CAD 100 for very simple personal returns (some Ontario companies say $49 plus $5 per slip).
• If your taxes are moderately complicated (with more than one source of income and small deductions), you should expect to pay between CAD 150 and CAD 350.
• For very complicated returns, like those for businesses, rentals, or foreign investments, the fees could be CAD 500 or more.
• Corporate (T2) returns, which include things like financial statements, usually start in the hundreds to low thousands range.

Don’t forget about “hidden” costs, like the time you spend gathering paperwork, fixing mistakes, or paying fines if you miss a deadline.

According to a study, the average Canadian taxpayer spends about CAD 130 in time and money to comply with tax laws.

Documents You Need: What to Bring (One-Page Checklist)

Here’s a quick list to help you remember what to bring. It’s always better to bring too much than too little.

Document Type	Examples / Notes
Identity	Driver’s license, passport, SIN (Social Insurance Number)
Income slips	T4, T4A, T5, T3, T5013, RRSP income, pension slips, etc.
Deduction / expense receipts	Medical, charitable, childcare, tuition (T2202), home office, etc.
Previous year’s Notice of Assessment (NOA)	Helps for carryover amounts, unused credits
Deduction/expense receipts	Sale of stocks, mutual funds, etc.
Investment/capital gains documents	Income & expense statements, capital costs, home office details
Supporting documentation	Receipts, invoices, contracts
Bank information for direct deposit	Branch, Transit, Institution numbers

Common Credits & Deductions (Ontario + Federal)

Many people forget about these deductions and credits:

• Basic Personal Amount (a credit that can’t be used again)
• Contributions to CPP and EI
• Medical expense credit (federal and provincial)
• Donations to charity
• Costs of taking care of children
• The cost of tuition, books, and other school supplies for students
• If you work from home, you can deduct home office costs.
• Costs of moving (if you moved for school or work)
• Tax credit for people with disabilities
• Pension income credit, age credit, spouse or common-law credit
• Carry-forward amounts include things like unused tuition, unused RRSP, and so on.
• Your tax software or accountant should remind you of these, but it’s a good idea to keep them in mind so you don’t forget anything.

Filing Timeline: Key Dates & “Tax Deadline 2026 Canada”

A quick review (and a little reminder):

• The first day to file online is February 24, 2026, and the last day for most people to file and pay what they owe is April 30, 2026.
• The deadline for self-employed people to file is June 15, 2026 (-> June 16), but they still have to pay by April 30.
• T2 (for corporations): due six months after the end of the year.

Step-By-Step: How to File Income Tax Return in Ontario

Putting all of that together, here is a simple list of things to do:

Choose your path: free clinic, hire an accountant, or do it yourself with software

• Get all the slips and paperwork together.
• Sign up or log in to CRA My Account
• Use Fill in automatically when you can
• Fill out the return, including income, deductions, and credits.
• Check and confirm
• Send it in through NETFILE or EFILE.
• Pick direct deposit for your refund.
• Check the status of your return through the CRA.
• Get your Notice of Assessment (NOA) and look for changes.
• You can use “Change my Return” in CRA My Account or ReFILE (if your software supports it) to fix mistakes after you file.

Corporate Note: How to File Corporate Tax Return in Ontario

When you run a business, even a small one, the process is different in important ways:

• Fill out T2 forms for your corporate income tax return.
• The return is due six months after the end of the corporation’s fiscal year.
• If certain conditions are met, corporate taxes are usually due three months after the end of the year.
• The Ontario and federal tax layers are in effect.
• For 2026, keep in mind that the CRA let companies delay paying their corporate taxes (not filing them) until June 30, 2026, with no interest during the delay period.
• You will need financial statements (like a balance sheet and an income statement), supporting schedules, and possibly GST/HST filings (if they apply).
• A lot of small businesses pay in installments instead of all at once.

Most businesses hire professional accountants or firms because the work is so hard.

How We Work (If You Engage a Practitioner)

If you were to hire a company, this is what it might look like:

• Secure Upload: You can either upload your documents through an encrypted portal or drop them off.
• Review Call: The accountant asks about changes in your life, credits you can use, and missing information during the review call.
• Prepare and Draft: The accountant makes a draft return.
• Review and Sign: You look over the document, ask questions, and give your approval.
• E-File: accountant files through EFILE or NETFILE
• Support: You keep an eye on the CRA status, and the company takes care of any follow-ups, notices, or changes within a set time frame.

This model gives you peace of mind and expert help.

Conclusion

It’s not magical to file taxes in London, Ontario; it’s just complicated, procedural, and time-sensitive. You can make the process easier (and less stressful) by knowing what your options are (do it yourself, get help with your taxes, or go to a community clinic), having a good checklist, and being aware of important dates. This guide should help you act smart, whether your question is “how much does it cost?” or “am I missing something small in deductions?”

FAQs

What’s the last day to file taxes in 2026?

April 30, 2026, is the deadline for most people. If you are self-employed (or your spouse or common-law partner is), you have until June 15, 2026 (or June 16 since June 15 is a Sunday).

How long until I get my income tax refund?

If you file online and choose direct deposit, you might get your refund in two weeks or so. Filing on paper or missing direct deposit makes things take a lot longer.

What is an NOA, and how do I read it?

Notice of Assessment is what NOA stands for. It’s CRA’s answer to your tax return. It shows your assessed income, how much tax you owe or will get back, carry-forward credits, and other information. When it comes, you need to check it right away.

Can I fix a mistake after filing (adjustments)?

Yes, you can do this through “Change my Return” in your CRA My Account or through ReFILE (if your software supports it). This can usually be done within a year of the original filing.

Do I need an accountant, or can I use tax software?

Tax software is fine for simple returns (and it’s cheaper). An accountant lowers risk and stress when things get complicated, like with business, rentals, or income from abroad.

How do I set up a CRA login and direct deposit?

Go to the CRA “My Account” registration page, confirm your identity (using your T4 information, previous NOA, etc.), and set up multi-factor authentication. You will need to give your bank account information (branch, transit, and institution numbers) for direct deposit.

I’m filing in Ontario for the first time. What’s different?

You need to make sure that the provincial credits, tax rates, and deductions that are only available in Ontario are all included. Make sure your address is correct so that you are taxed in Ontario, and learn about Ontario’s schedule.

Corporate vs. personal returns: What’s the difference?

Individual (T1) returns are for people and include income from jobs, investments, and simple businesses. Corporate (T2) returns are for businesses that are incorporated. They need full financial statements, follow corporate tax rules, and have different deadlines.