The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says it will no longer mail T1 income tax packages to taxpayers who file paper returns — a change that supports the agency’s shift to digital services.
“Paper filers will not automatically receive a 2025 income tax package in the mail,” the CRA said in a release on Thursday.
“It’s a cost-saving decision, but also part of the agency’s modernization and digital delivery efforts,” Ryan Minor, director of taxation with CPA Canada in Sudbury, Ont., said in an email.
The CRA also said it removed several schedules from the 2025 income tax package that had low usage rates, “reducing administrative burden while only affecting a small group of taxpayers,” Minor said.
The CRA says about 93% of income tax returns received in 2025 were filed online.
“The number of Canadians that still file a paper return has been declining each year,” Jamie Golombek, managing director and head of tax and estate planning with CIBC Private Wealth in Toronto, said in an email. “Online filing is better for everyone — fewer mistakes, faster processing and quicker refunds.”
Beginning on Jan. 20, taxpayers who continue to choose to paper file can view, download and print the T1 package and any needed schedules online or can call the CRA’s automated phone line (1-855-330-3305). Receiving the publications by mail may take up to 10 business days, the CRA said.
Thursday’s announcement “might be the final push that paper filers need to encourage electronic filing,” Golombek said.
For lower-income families and seniors who may not be able to file electronically, “the CRA encourages qualifying taxpayers to use the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program,” Golombek said (in Quebec, the Income Tax Assistance — Volunteer Program). With the programs, “community organizations host free tax clinics where volunteers complete tax returns for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation.”
Thursday also marked the end of the CRA’s 100-day service improvement plan to fix call centre delays, with a focus on digital services, system enhancements and better access to phone agents. During the 100 days, the number of unique calls answered more than doubled to 70%, with peaks of 92%, the CRA said.
A plan was also implemented to reduce wait times for tax adjustments, disability tax credit applications and Canada child benefit claims.
“There are still areas that require continued attention, including significant delays in processing complex T1 adjustment requests,” Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson François Boileau said in a release. “Once we have fully reviewed the CRA’s actions during the past 100 days and its long‑term strategy for addressing the remaining gaps, we will be better positioned to assess the results and impact for Canadians.”