NOTICE

Here is the information on off-campus tax clinics offered by CRA and Service Canada. They are drop-in services and do not require appointments.

  • March 24 from 10am to 2:30pm at Christ Church, 61 Dundas Street, Dartmouth
  • March 28 from 10am to 2pm at Captain William Spry Library, 16 Sussex Street, Halifax

On these days, CRA will be available to assist with individual tax account questions, CRA correspondence, and support with applications for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), Canada Child Benefit, and GST/HST Tax Credit, as well as to provide general information on CRA programs, digital services, and more.

Service Canada will also issue Social Insurance Numbers, Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP) attestations, Canada Disability Benefit applications, and My Service Canada Account (MSCA) Personal Access Codes (PAC) and provide general information on Service Canada programs, including Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and more.

Halifax Public Libraries also provide free tax clinics. Please find details here (it will lead you to the Halifax Public Libraries’ website.)

 

 

 

 

TAXES

Why do I need to file my taxes?

There are two reasons to file your taxes:

  • If you were employed, filing your taxes allows the government to assess if the correct amount of income tax was collected from your pay throughout the year. This annual process is also your opportunity to apply credits, including credits from your tuition fees, which will reduce the taxes owing, which can result in a tax refund from the Government of Canada. 
  • Whether you were employed or had no income at all, filing your taxes allows you to receive financial benefits (payments) from the Government of Canada. There are several benefits offered by the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia that require you to file a tax return to determine your eligibility, because some of these benefits are not available to people with a higher income. We describe some of these benefits below. 

What information and/or documents do I need to file my taxes?

You will need to provide the following (not all will apply to you): 

  • Your Social Insurance Number, address, date of birth, and date of entry into Canada 
  • Tax slips received from your employer, e.g., T4 Statement of Remuneration Paid; 
  • Tax slips from the Mount, e.g., T2202 Tuition and Enrolment Certificate, T4A Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income (Usually for scholarship revenue); 
  • Tax slips received from your bank, e.g., T5 Statement of Investment Income (usually for interest paid on savings); 
  • A copy of your student financial account statement, to show the amount paid for MSVU Student Union Medical & Dental Insurance, and any receipts for prescription medication and medical and dental services received throughout the year (can reduce your taxes payable); 
  • Information about your world income, i.e., amounts you may have earned outside of Canada; 
  • If you have a spouse, you will need to provide their Social Insurance Number and their Canadian and world income; 
  • If you have children, you will need to provide their birth dates and their income (if they have any); 
  • Other documents may be required depending on your circumstances. We will be able to assess this when we meet.

What benefits (money) can I receive if I file my taxes?

If you had no income, you are generally not required to file a return. But some benefits and credits are available even without income, e.g., the HST credit, the Nova Scotia Affordable Living Credit, and the Climate Action Incentive. These provide payments of $311.75 every 3 months, starting in July ($1,247 per year). Amounts are larger if you have children or live in a rural area.

If you have children, you may also be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit and the Province of Nova Scotia Child Benefit, which can provide between $649.99 and $746.83 per month for each child, depending on their age.

Also, the benefits are available retroactively, so if you did not file a return in previous years, you can file a return now and receive any benefits you were entitled to for previous years.

The CRA is telling me I owe them money; can you help me understand their decision and be sure that they are correct?

Yes! If you need help understanding correspondence from the CRA or if you need help resolving an issue with the CRA, please click here to book an appointment with Normand Gendron.

I worked remotely for an employer in my home country while I was studying in Canada in 2025, do I need to file my taxes?

Generally, yes. Taxes in Canada are based on residency (not citizenship) and world income, i.e., if you are a resident in Canada, you are taxed on income earned throughout the world. However, tax treaties allow for some deductions based on tax paid in other countries.

My spouse is with me here in Canada, but worked remotely for an employer in our home country; do they also need to file their taxes?

Generally, yes. If your spouse was a resident in Canada, they will be taxed on their world income, as mentioned above. There are many benefits and credits (payments or reductions of tax payable) that are based on family income, so it is important that your spouse also files a return. 

I came to Canada before 2025 but have never filed my taxes. What should I do?

You can file tax returns for previous years. We can retroactively file returns up to 2015 (10-year limit). Most financial benefits (payments) are available retroactively, but not all. Also, amounts paid for tuition in the past can reduce the taxes you will pay in the future or can reduce the taxes payable by your spouse. We recommend that you make an appointment (remove link) to file your returns with the help of a volunteer tax preparer at the links provided above.

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

I do not have a SIN. Do I need one?

As an international student, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs such as GST/HST, education credits, and the Canada childcare benefit.

The use of these SINs is temporary, and they are valid only until the expiry date indicated on the immigration document authorizing you to work in Canada.

You must update your SIN record to ensure that the expiry date always corresponds with the expiry date on your document from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) authorizing you to work in Canada. Once your SIN record has been updated, you will receive a SIN with the new expiry date. Your previous SIN (whether it is in paper format or on a plastic card) is no longer valid and should be destroyed in a secure manner.

How can I apply for a SIN? My SIN is expired or about to expire, how do I renew it?

All SIN applications, whether new/first-time or renewals, are to be submitted via the eSIN application. Please ensure that the procedure is followed and that all documents are submitted as directed in order to avoid delays or a rejected application. SIN Online Application Guide (PDF)

You may apply for your SIN online. There is no fee for SIN application.

This is the direct link to the online SIN application.

Prepare to upload copies of at least 3 documents:

  1. a valid primary document that proves your identity and legal status in Canada; and
  2. a valid secondary document to confirm your identity; and
  3. a proof of address

View the list of acceptable primary documents.

View the list of acceptable secondary documents.

View the list of acceptable proof of address documents.

IMPORTANT:

  • The digital copies of your documents must be clear and legible. Documents must include all the information that appears on the front and the back of the document.
  • If the name indicated on your primary or secondary document is different than the name you are currently using, you must also provide supporting documents. View the list of acceptable supporting documents.

Note: Failure to provide required documentation will result in your application not being accepted.

My SIN is expired, can I continue to use it?

Yes. If you have implied status (have applied to renew your permits and are waiting for the decision), you continue to have access to federal benefits and services.

However, you must apply to renew your SIN as soon as possible. Please refer to the question above to learn how to apply for your SIN online.