Posted by The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is under intense pressure as the 2025 tax season is marred by technical glitches, including duplicate tax slips and erroneous e-filing error codes.
These issues have disrupted the filing process for both taxpayers and professionals, leading to concerns about accuracy and potential financial repercussions.
Duplicate Tax Slips: A Growing Concern
Taxpayers have reported instances of duplicate T4 and T4A slips appearing in their CRA online accounts.
These slips, which document employment and pension income respectively, have caused confusion and the risk of overreporting income, potentially leading to overpayment of taxes.
The CRA has acknowledged the issue, attributing it to a system update introduced in January 2025. This update implemented stricter slip verification protocols, which inadvertently led to some slips being duplicated.
The agency has advised issuers not to remove the duplicate slips themselves, promising to correct the issue internally.
E-Filing Errors: Hindering Timely Submissions
In addition to duplicate slips, taxpayers and professionals are encountering error codes that prevent electronic submission of tax returns. Notable error codes include:
- Error 2508: Related to capital gains from prior year dispositions.
- Error 2515: Pertains to First Home Savings Account entries.
- Error 45555 & 45566: Under investigation for system issues.
- Error 90308 & 95031: Linked to form revisions pending updates.
The CRA has stated that if these issues are not resolved by the April 30 filing deadline, they will proactively waive penalties and interest for affected taxpayers who attempted to file on time but were hindered by these errors.
Impact on Taxpayers and Professionals
The technical issues have placed an additional burden on tax professionals, who must now manually verify slips and monitor for errors.
For taxpayers, especially seniors, the duplicate slips have affected calculations such as the Old Age Security (OAS) clawback, leading to potential financial strain.
The CRA has not indicated any plans to extend the April 30 deadline, despite ongoing technical challenges.
Key Issues and Resolutions
| Issue | Description | CRA Response |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate Tax Slips | T4 and T4A slips appearing multiple times in accounts. | Acknowledged issue; correction in progress; issuers advised not to remove. |
| E-Filing Error Codes | Errors preventing electronic submission of returns. | Tracking affected cases; some errors resolved; others under investigation. |
| Impact on OAS Calculations | Duplicate slips affecting senior benefits calculations. | Working to resolve; no specific guidance provided. |
| Filing Deadline Concerns | Technical issues causing delays in return submissions. | No extension announced; relief for those affected by specific error codes. |
The 2025 tax season has presented significant challenges for the CRA, taxpayers, and professionals alike. With issues ranging from duplicate slips to e-filing errors, the importance of meticulous record-keeping and verification cannot be overstated.
As the filing deadline approaches, affected individuals should stay informed of CRA updates and take proactive steps to ensure accurate and timely submissions.
FAQs
What should I do if I see duplicate tax slips in my CRA account?
Rely on the slips provided directly by your employer or financial institution. Do not report duplicate slips; the CRA is addressing the issue internally.
How can I resolve e-filing error codes preventing my tax return submission?
Refer to the CRA’s list of known error codes and their statuses. If unresolved, consider mailing your return or seeking assistance from a tax professional.
Will the CRA extend the April 30 tax filing deadline due to these issues?
As of now, the CRA has not announced any extension. However, they have stated that penalties and interest will be waived for those affected by specific error codes who attempted to file on time.