Individual income tax return statistics for the 2017 tax-filing season

The following graphs and tables provide statistics on the number of T1 tax returns received and processed at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) during the 2017 tax-filing season between February 2017 and January 2018; the total number, amount, and average refund by cheque or by direct deposit; the total number, amount, and average of the debit returns; and the total number of nil returns.

Returns received by filing method

pie chart of the table that follows

Total returns received - from 2017-02-13 to 2017-05-02
Filing method Number of returns Percentage of total
EFILE

14,296,978

 58%
NETFILE 7,568,904 31%
Total - electronic 21,865,882 89%
Paper

2,611,593

 11%
Total - all methods 24,477,475 100%

Electronic filing methods

EFILE is a service that lets authorized service providers send tax return information to us over the Internet. For more information, see EFILE for individuals.

NETFILE allows you to file your tax return directly to the CRA over the Internet. For more information, see NETFILE. There are even free certified software products available to file your income tax return online.

Returns processed by results

pie chart of the table that follows

Returns processed - from 2017-02-13 to 2017-05-02
  Number of returns Total dollar value Average amount
per return		 Percentage
of refunds
Refund - cheque

4,402,928

$6,671,588,068

 $1,650 30%
Refund - direct deposit 9,356,638 $15,831,327,124 $1,692 70%
Refunds - total 13,399,566

$22,502,915,191

 $1,679  
Balance owing 4,861,833

$21,383,395,984

 $4,398  
Nil return 3,754,850 n/a n/a  

Direct deposit

For information about setting up direct deposit, see How to start direct deposit or change your information. If you are registered for My Account, you can apply online.

Previous-year statistics

Returns assessed by filing method
  EFILE   NETFILE   TELEFILE   PAPER   TOTAL
Year Total % Total % Total % Total % T1 Returns
 2016 16,246,107 56% 8,071,902 28% - - 4,728,642 16% 29,046,651
 2015 15,720,437 55% 7,662,876 26% - - 5,397,643 19% 28,780,956
 2014 14,937,178 53% 7,197,415 25% - - 6,162,087 22% 28,296,680
 2013 13,954,472 50% 6,807,901 25% - - 7,074,741 25% 27,837,114
 2012 11,757,467 43% 5,568,847 20% 321,033 1% 9,767,536 36% 27,414,883
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