CRA Deadlines Every Ontario Small Business Must Know in 2025

Missing a CRA deadline is one of the most expensive mistakes a small business owner can make. Penalties start immediately and compound daily. Here is a clear breakdown of the key CRA deadlines for Ontario small businesses in 2025.

HST / GST Filing Deadlines (Quarterly Filers)

Q1 (Jan–Mar): due April 30 · Q2 (Apr–Jun): due July 31 · Q3 (Jul–Sep): due October 31 · Q4 (Oct–Dec): due January 31

Late penalty: 1% of the balance owing plus 0.25% for each full month the return is late, up to 12 months. Plus daily compound interest on the outstanding balance.

Payroll Remittance Deadlines

Most small businesses (under $25,000/year in remittances) are monthly remitters — due by the 15th of the following month. Late payroll penalty: 10% on the first offence, 20% on subsequent late remittances in the same year. These are the steepest CRA penalties for small businesses.

T4 and T4A Slips — February 28, 2025

T4 slips (employees) and T4A slips (contractors/subcontractors paid over $500) must be filed with the CRA and distributed to recipients by the last day of February each year. Many contractors miss T4A obligations for subcontractors — a common CRA audit trigger.

Personal Tax Return — April 30, 2025

Self-employed individuals have until June 15 to file, but any balance owing must be paid by April 30 to avoid interest charges.

Corporate Tax Return (T2)

Corporate tax returns are due 6 months after your fiscal year-end. Balance owing must be paid within 2–3 months of year-end to avoid interest.

How Accounting Folks keeps you compliant

Every Accounting Folks plan includes CRA deadline monitoring. We track your HST, payroll, and T4 deadlines, file on time, and alert you before anything is due.