News release

Minister of National Revenue extends tax-filing deadline for self-employed individuals and their spouses or common-law partners

Ottawa, June 3, 2002... Elinor Caplan, Minister of National Revenue, today announced that self-employed individuals and their spouses or common-law partners have until midnight on Monday, June 17, 2002, to file their 2001 income tax returns.

"As June 15 falls on a Saturday this year, the filing deadline has been extended to the next working day, Monday, June 17," said Minister Caplan. "Tax returns received or postmarked by midnight on June 17, 2002, will be considered to be filed on time."

Late-filing penalties on amounts owing for 2001 will only apply to returns received or postmarked after June 17. However, interest on amounts owing for 2001 accrues from May 1, 2002. This is because clients who owe tax for 2001 had to pay the balance owing by April 30, 2002, even if the return is not due until June 17.

Individuals who complete their returns using CCRA-certified commercial tax preparation software can still take advantage of the CCRA's popular NETFILE service, a fast and secure system that allows returns to be filed over the Internet. For more information, visit: www.netfile.gc.ca

Self-employed individuals and their spouses or common-law partners who are entitled to the July 2002 GST/HST credit will receive their payments after the CCRA has assessed their 2001 returns. If they are currently receiving the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), they will receive their payments in July based on the information contained in their 2000 returns. After their 2001 returns are assessed, the CCRA will issue revised notices and recalculate their monthly CCTB, if necessary.

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