Canadian Business Tax Deadlines 2027
Important CRA Dates Every Business Owner Should Know
Don’t let a missed tax deadline cost your business more than it should.
Running a business means managing
customers, employees, expenses, cash flow and growth. The last thing you need
is an unexpected tax penalty because a filing or payment deadline slipped
through the cracks.
Your tax filing deadline and payment
deadline are not always the same. You may have more time to file your return
than to pay the tax owing. Here are the key dates to plan for in 2027,
organized by business obligation.
1. Corporate income tax deadlines
For incorporated businesses in Canada,
deadlines are generally determined by the corporation’s fiscal year-end, not a
single calendar-wide filing date.
- Corporate income tax balance: generally payable two months after fiscal year-end.
- Eligible Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs): may qualify for a three-month balance-due period, subject to CRA conditions.
- T2 corporation income tax return: generally due six months after fiscal year-end.
Example: December 31, 2026 corporate year-end
| Obligation | Due date |
|---|---|
| General income tax balance | March 1, 2027* |
| Eligible CCPC income tax balance | March 31, 2027 |
| T2 return filing | June 30, 2027 |
The normal two-month date is February 28, 2027 (Sunday); the next-business-day rule generally applies.
Important: Waiting until the T2 filing deadline to calculate taxes can mean paying interest on an overdue balance.
Corporations generally must file a T2
return even when inactive or when no tax is payable. Corporate instalments may
also be required monthly or quarterly, depending on eligibility and
circumstances.
Wave Taxes tip: Review your books,
compensation decisions and estimated corporate tax position before year-end.
2. GST/HST filing and payment deadlines
GST/HST deadlines are based on the
reporting frequency assigned to your account. Filing and payment are generally
due on the same date, except for certain annual filers.
| Reporting frequency | General due date |
|---|---|
| Monthly | One month after reporting period end |
| Quarterly | One month after reporting period end |
| Annual (most businesses) | Three months after fiscal year-end |
Selected 2027 GST/HST calendar dates
| Reporting period ending | General deadline |
|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2026 — monthly or quarterly | Feb 1, 2027* |
| Dec 31, 2026 — annual | Mar 31, 2027 |
| Mar 31, 2027 — quarterly | Apr 30, 2027 |
| Jun 30, 2027 — quarterly | July 30, 2027 |
| Sep 30, 2027 — quarterly | Nov 1, 2027* |
| Dec 31, 2027 — quarterly | Jan 31, 2028 |
Dates reflect next-business-day adjustments where applicable. Confirm your actual reporting period and any applicable provincial or holiday rules.
Special rule for certain self-employed annual filers
- April 30, 2027: generally pay any outstanding GST/HST for 2026.
- June 15, 2027: generally file the 2026 annual GST/HST return.
These dates apply only where the special
annual-filer conditions are met. Even a business with no activity may still
need to file a nil GST/HST return. Some annual filers also owe instalments.
Wave Taxes tip: Reconcile GST/HST collected
and input tax credits regularly to help prevent year-end surprises.
3. Self-employment and personal tax deadlines
For sole proprietors, freelancers and independent contractors, the payment and filing dates for 2026 income can differ.
| Obligation | 2027 deadline |
|---|---|
| 2026 personal income tax balance payment | April 30, 2027 |
| 2026 self-employed personal return filing | June 15, 2027 |
The June 15 filing deadline generally applies to self-employed individuals and eligible spouses or common-law partners, subject to exceptions. It does not extend the April 30 payment deadline.
2027 individual income tax instalments
| Instalment | Deadline |
|---|---|
| First | March 15, 2027 |
| Second | June 15, 2027 |
| Third | September 15, 2027 |
| Fourth | December 15, 2027 |
Instalments apply only when required under
CRA rules; special schedules can apply to certain farming and fishing income.
Wave Taxes tip: Estimate your net business
income early and reserve funds for income taxes and GST/HST separately.
4. Other important business deadlines
T4 and T5 slips — March 1, 2027
The general filing deadline for applicable 2026 T4 and T5 information returns moves to Monday, March 1, 2027 because February 28 falls on a Sunday. Review employee remuneration, dividends and shareholder payments in advance.
Payroll source deductions
Employers must remit required CPP contributions, EI premiums and income tax deductions on the schedule assigned to their payroll account. Regular remitters generally pay by the 15th of the next month, subject to CRA rules and adjustments.
Additional filings to monitor
- T4A information returns where required
- Provincial workers’ compensation reporting
- Provincial sales tax returns where registered
- Partnership information returns where required
- Industry-specific and provincial filing obligations
What happens if you miss a CRA deadline?
Depending on the return, tax balance, filing history and circumstances, missed deadlines may lead to late-filing penalties, interest, payroll or GST/HST remittance charges, and additional compliance follow-up. The time spent fixing overdue filings also takes attention away from running your business.
Five ways to stay ahead in 2027
- Keep your bookkeeping current. Reconcile accounts and review missing expenses throughout the year.
- Know your fiscal year-end. Use it to calculate your T2 and corporate payment due dates.
- Confirm your GST/HST frequency. Know whether you are a monthly, quarterly or annual filer and whether instalments apply.
- Plan tax payments in advance. Monitor cash flow and maintain a tax reserve.
- Book a year-end tax review. Review the numbers before year-end while planning options may still be available.
Don’t just meet your deadlines. Plan ahead of them.
At Wave Taxes Inc., we help Canadian businesses with corporate income tax, GST/HST, bookkeeping, payroll and proactive tax planning. Know what you owe, when it is due, and how your decisions affect your tax position.
Book your 2027 tax planning review
wavetaxes.ca | info@wavetaxes.ca | +1 587-586-9283
Disclaimer: General Canadian tax information only. Actual deadlines depend on business structure, fiscal year-end, reporting frequency, eligibility and CRA rules. Provincial requirements and exceptions may apply.
