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Hi Mr. Madan,
I am a newcomer and confused about my tax obligations and situation.
I became a PR in 2024 and soft-landed (This is a brief, initial visit to Canada by a new Permanent Resident (PR) to activate their status before their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) expires, without immediately moving permanently). I spent 29 days in 2024 during my stay and returned back to home country.
In early 2025, I visited again and in total I spent 53days and returned back to home country. Then on December 28th 2025 I arrived and I have been here since then. Other facts about my situation;
-I am single
-When I soft landed in 2024, I opened 2 bank account and 1 in 2025 and made deposits to the accounts.
-The banks sent me T5
-In all my recent visits to canada I didn’t establish any significant tie because I never had a home here(stayed in Airbnb and shortlets),spouse or dependent.
—I rented my first apartment ending of march 2026.
—I haven’t started work here yet in canada and so do not have any other income to report for 2025.
Now my questions
1. Am I obligated to file 2025 taxes.
2. If I’m not what will happen regarding the T5 that the banks sent to me.
3.If I’m obligated or decided to file 2025 taxes how do I report the T5, since I wasn’t a tax resident most part of 2025 and only arrived Dec. 28th ( That makes it just 4 days officially in 2025 if I decide to use Dec. 28th as my date of entry in Canada, Even though i just rented my own home in march 2026, which I think is the time I established a significant tie as a tax residence)
4.If filing for 2025 taxes, What date should I use for DATE OF ENTRY IN CANADA, does it have to be the date I arrived at the airport ? Even though I flew in on dec 28th, I still did not have a significant residential ties with Canada because I arrived at an Airbnb and just only rented an apartment in march.
5. What benefits can I apply for as a new comer.
Thank you do much for your time, I really do appreciate it.
Best regards,
Max James
Hi Max,
Thank you for your question.
Canadian tax residency is based on your residential ties to Canada, not simply your permanent resident status. Based on the facts you provided, your brief visits in 2024 and early/mid-2025 may not, by themselves, have made you a Canadian tax resident, since you stayed temporarily and did not have a home, spouse, dependants, or employment in Canada.
However, your arrival on December 28, 2025 is important. If you came to Canada at that time with the intention of settling permanently, CRA may consider your Canadian tax residency to have started on December 28, 2025, even though you did not rent your own apartment until March 2026.
For 2025, if you became a Canadian tax resident on December 28, 2025, then you should file a 2025 Canadian tax return as a part-year resident/newcomer. Your date of entry for tax purposes would generally be December 28, 2025.
If your facts support that you were still only visiting Canada temporarily and did not actually become resident until March 2026, then you may not be required to file a 2025 resident tax return. In that case, your date of entry for tax purposes may be in March 2026. This depends on your full facts, including your intention when you arrived, whether you maintained a home abroad, whether you moved your belongings, whether you applied for provincial health coverage, and whether you changed your mailing address to Canada.
Regarding the T5 slips, CRA will also receive copies from the banks. If you file a 2025 return, the T5 interest should generally be reported. However, you should determine whether the interest was earned before or after your Canadian tax residency start date. If the interest was earned before you became a Canadian tax resident, it may need to be reviewed differently than interest earned after your entry date.
As a newcomer, you may also be eligible for GST/HST credit and other federal or provincial benefits, depending on your income, residency date, and eligibility. In many cases, newcomers can apply for certain benefits after they become resident in Canada.
Because your residency start date is not completely straightforward, I recommend that you speak with a Canadian CPA before filing. Using the wrong entry date can affect how your income is reported, whether your T5 income is taxable on a resident basis, and your eligibility for benefits.