tax aid
The GSA Tax Aid services will resume in March 2025.
The GSA-UW hosts an Income Tax Seminar and a series Income Tax Aid Clinic for graduate students. The both services are held in March and April each year to help graduate students learn how to complete their income tax return forms. Consultations are provided for graduate students registered this term (GSA-UW members) and who have paid the GSA Association Fee. Please note that the GSA-UW does not provide a tax filing service.
The Tax Aid services provided by the GSA are divided into 2 sections:
- Income Tax Seminar: The GSA puts together an informational sessions regarding the basics of filing your income tax here in Canada. We host a live session at the beginning of March for students to attend and learn about the process. We also have a pre-recorded video that can be viewed if you are unable to attend the session live. IMPORTANT: It is expected to have attended the session or viewed the video prior to attend a consultation appointment with our Accountant.
- Consultation Appointments: The GSA Accountant hosts 15-minute sessions in March and April to help answer any questions you may have regarding filing your taxes. They will also be able to review your completed tax forms to ensure you have completed them correctly. IMPORTANT: They will not be able to sit down and fill your tax return for you.
Tax returns are due to the Canada Revenue Agency on April 30, 2025.
To book your 15-minute in person/ phone session with our Tax Accountant, please scroll to the bottom of the page to book your appointment now!
FAQ
Canada Revenue Agency – Students and Income Tax Info Sheet – 2024
Canada Revenue Agency – Newcomers to Canada Info Sheet – 2023*
*This is the most up to date version of this document.
T4 – Employment income and payroll deductions. You will receive one T4 document from each employer.
T2202 – Tuition and enrolment certificate, and chartable donations
T4 – If you are employed at the University of Waterloo, you will be able to get your T4 from Workday. Other employers will provide you with your T4 in different methods.
T2202 – This can be obtained from the Finance section on Quest
T2202 will be ready no later than February 28 of each year
Yes, as long as the Canada Revenue Agency has your birthdate on file which they should have received from Service Canada when you were issued your Social Insurance Number
You will have to prorate any stated annual deductions based on the proportion of the year that we were in Canada.
No, you do not but you should keep them with the documents pertaining to your tax return, in the event the Canada Revenue Agency asks you to prove the rent you are claiming.
The calendar year. Therefore you are reporting financial information for the period January 1 through December 31. Failure to file a tax return by April 30 in the year following the time period covered by the return will result in a penalty being charged and possibly interest if there is an amount due.
Typically, it takes 2 weeks for an electronically filed return and 10 weeks for a paper based return.
Typically no, as you can only claim these expenses against the taxable portion of your scholarships and bursaries (typically these are not taxable).
Income Tax Seminar for Graduate Students
Thursday, March 13: 2:00-3:00 PM in SLC 3216 (Grad Lounge)
A Tax Seminar is held by the GSA Accountant for general information each March. This seminar will provide an overview of the Canadian income tax return submission process. No registration is required.
If you cannot attend, please see below for a video recording made by the GSA Accountant, that explains the income tax return process. With the video, refer to the attached PowerPoint Presentation that you can download, print, and use to take notes as you watch the video.