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Canadian tax documents: a beginner’s guide

Sort your income slips, receipts and donation records, and see which of them a simple employment-income tax estimate can use.

Published by Beaver Ledger · Edited

Getting ready for a personal return, 2025 or 2026. The calculator only handles employment income and the amounts it asks for.

The question

What should I gather before estimating or filing?

Gather three kinds of records: what you earned, the tax already taken off, and receipts for deductions or credits. Collect every slip you received, not just your T4. Some income still has to be reported even if no slip arrives.

  1. 01Income slips and receipts do different jobs
  2. 02Example: you changed jobs
  3. 03Missing or amended slips
  4. 04A simple checklist

Income slips and receipts do different jobs

A T4 reports income from a job. A T4A covers several other kinds of income, a T5 reports investment income and a T2202 shows eligible tuition. RRSP and donation receipts back up particular claims; they don't replace your income slips.

Sources: CRA: Federal income tax and benefit information for 2025 (opens in a new tab); CRA: T4 slip guide (opens in a new tab); CRA: T4A slip guide (opens in a new tab)

Example: you changed jobs

Say your two T4s show $30,000 and $20,000 in box 14, and $4,000 and $2,500 in box 22. For a simple employment estimate, your totals are $50,000 of income and $6,500 of tax deducted. Using only your latest employer's slip would leave out part of your income.

If you also have investment or business income, the tax refund calculator can't show your full picture. Keep those records for your return instead of adding them to its employment income box.

Missing or amended slips

Check the tax year, who issued the slip and your details on it. An amended slip replaces the one it corrects; don't add both. If a slip you expected hasn't arrived, contact whoever pays you and read the CRA's filing guidance. The income still counts.

Sources: CRA: Federal income tax and benefit information for 2025 (opens in a new tab); CRA: T4 slip guide (opens in a new tab)

A simple checklist

Keep one folder per tax year, plus a running note of older donations and other amounts you haven't claimed yet.

  • List every employer and other source of income.
  • Gather your receipts and last year's notice of assessment.
  • Check for missing or amended slips.
  • Don't email your slips or receipts to Beaver Ledger. The calculators never need uploads.
Sources: CRA: Federal income tax and benefit information for 2025 (opens in a new tab)

Sources checked for this editorial revision on October 17, 2026. Educational content from Beaver Ledger; no professional review is claimed. Methods and limitations · Editorial practices and corrections.