Survey shows 44 per cent of Canadians have yet to file their taxes

TORONTO, April 11, 2018 /CNW/ - The deadline for Canadians to file their personal income tax return is just around the corner but this year may be more of a time-crunch for most Canadians as recent survey results revealed that 44 per cent of Canadians have yet to file their taxes.*

The survey, conducted on April 2, 2018, found that Quebec is in the lead when it comes to filing (66 per cent have filed) while British Columbia had the largest number of people left to file (51 per cent).

Additional survey results obtained by H&R Block prior to the CRA opening this year revealed almost half of Canadians indicate they file their taxes more than a month in advance of the deadline.** So, clearly Canadians' beliefs and reality don't quite add up.

The majority of respondents considered themselves to fall under the Eager Beaver category (45 per cent), who file more than a month in advance of the deadline. They are followed by the Just-in-Timers (38 per cent), who claim to file within the month. Procrastinators, those who claim to file a week before the deadline accounted for just 11 per cent of respondents.

"You don't get bonus points for filing well in advance of the deadline but you can get your refund earlier," says Lisa Gittens, H&R Block Senior Tax Professional. "If you delay filing until the last minute, you are more likely to make mistakes. Filing early means you'll have more time to track down documents and ensure you don't miss any credits and deductions you're eligible for."

Whether you're an Eager Beaver, Just-in-Timer, or Procrastinator, ensure you file in advance of the April 30^th deadline to avoid late fees and penalties. 

About H&R Block Canada

For over 50 years, H&R Block Canada is Canada's tax leader, with over 1,100 locations across Canada, and do-it-yourself Tax Software. H&R Block's comprehensive education program, Tax Academy, trains experts and continually updates their skills. Learn more at www.hrblock.ca or 1-800-HRBLOCK.

About the Survey

* From April 2 to April 3, 2018 an online survey was conducted among 1,508 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to education, age, gender and region (and in Quebec, language) Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

**From December 27th to December 28th, 2017 an online survey was conducted among 1,522 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to education, age, gender and region (and in Quebec, language) Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

SOURCE H&R Block Canada Inc.

For more information or to arrange an interview: Vanessa Andres, Ketchum Public Relations, 416-355-7432, [email protected]