About the TELEFILE service

• What is TELEFILE?
• Who can use TELEFILE?
• What's an access code?
• How do you use TELEFILE?
• Why use TELEFILE?

What is TELEFILE?

TELEFILE is an interactive computer program that allows eligible taxpayers to electronically file their tax return for free using a touch-tone telephone. All you need to use the service is a touch-tone telephone, your social insurance number (SIN), your personalized access code and your completed tax return.

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Who can use TELEFILE?

TELEFILE is a service designed for taxpayers with the most common types of income tax information such as employment income, pension income, interest income, registered pension plan contributions, and charitable donations. More complex tax information, such as self-employment income, capital gains and rental income are not accepted by the system because they would take more telephone time and could require documentation before we can process them. Requests for documentation would slow our processing times. Please note that first-time filers are not eligible to use TELEFILE.

The TELEFILE service is available to taxpayers who have received a T1 Special, T1S-A, or T1S-C (wage earners, students, seniors, and credit and benefit filers) income tax package. The TELEFILE service is also available to taxpayers who receive the tax package for computer software users and who would otherwise receive T1 Special, T1S-A, or T1S-C package. These packages also contain your personalized access code and information about the TELEFILE service.

If you didn't receive one of these tax packages but you believe your tax situation makes you eligible to use TELEFILE, see the section “What's an access code?“ for information on obtaining an access code.

TELEFILE is designed to accept certain income, deduction, and tax credit amounts. This means that not everyone will be able to use the system, even if eligible. If you were eligible last year, but could not use the service, try it again. We review and improve the service every year.

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What's an access code?

An access code is a four-digit number that is printed on the personal label sheet included in the income tax package that the CRA mails you. This access code can be used for either the TELEFILE or NETFILE service. You need this personalized access code along with your SIN to use the TELEFILE service.

If you didn't receive an access code or if you received an access code that is only eligible for NETFILE and you feel that your tax situation makes you eligible to use TELEFILE, you can call the e-service Help Desk toll free at 1-800-714-7257 to get a personalized access code.

If you lose your access code, call the e-service Help Desk.

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How do you use TELEFILE?

Step 1—Complete your tax return, including all necessary forms and schedules, using the information in your tax package.

Step 2—Call the TELEFILE service toll-free at 1-800-959-1110. You must use a touch-tone telephone and call from within Canada or the continental United States. TELEFILE is available seven days a week. See “Hours of Service“ for more information.

Step 3—Enter your tax information using your telephone keypad. The TELEFILE service will guide you every step of the way.

We will ask you for your SIN and personalized access code (shown on your personal label sheet included in your income tax package). We will also ask you to confirm your marital status, and if applicable, your spouse or common-law partner's SIN. We may ask for his or her net income and the amount of Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) that is included in their net income to determine amounts for which you may qualify, such as the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit and the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB). You will then be guided through the entry of the information from your tax return.

Step 4—Confirm that you want to file the information as your tax return. We will give you a confirmation number and immediately begin processing your tax return. Write down this confirmation number and keep it for your records. It is your proof that we have received your tax return.

Note
Your income tax return has not been filed until we issue your confirmation number. Be sure to listen for it before hanging up.

If a disability prevents you from using a touch-tone phone pad for TELEFILE, please call 1-800-714-7257 and we will help you.

Tips for using TELEFILE:

• To answer “yes“ to a question press the one (1) key.
• To answer “no“ to a question press the zero (0) key.
• If you want to have a question repeated, press the star (*) key.
• Enter dollar amounts only unless TELEFILE asks you to enter amounts in dollars and cents.
• After you have finished entering an amount, press the pound (#) key. TELEFILE repeats each entry.
• If you make a mistake, you can correct it, or hang up and call again up to six times.

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Why use TELEFILE?

• It's free!— All you need is a touch-tone telephone and your personalized access code.
• Faster refunds—Over 98% of taxpayers who used TELEFILE to file their tax returns last year received their refund within two weeks.
• Quick and easy—TELEFILE takes only minutes to do using your touch-tone telephone.
• Paperless—There's no paper return to submit and no receipts to send in, unless we ask for them at a later date.
• Acknowledgement—At the end of your telephone call, we'll issue a confirmation number that indicates that we've received your tax return.

Other ways to file your tax return

If you decide not to use the TELEFILE service, you may be eligible to use one of our other electronic tax-filing methods, such as EFILE or NETFILE, or you can mail your completed tax return to your tax centre