Personal tax guides for BC and Alberta
These guides explain personal income tax for people who live in British Columbia or Alberta: what to claim on your T1 return, RRSP and TFSA choices, capital gains, home office and medical travel claims, and foreign property reporting. They're for employees, retirees, families and self-employed people preparing their 2026 returns, filed in 2027.
Rated 5.0 on Google · 92 reviews
Personal tax guides
Your T1 return: claim everything you're entitled to
A checklist of slips, deductions and credits to review before you file your personal return.
Read the guide Personal taxTax credits you may be missing on your 2026 return
Federal, BC and Alberta credits people often overlook, who can claim them and the records to keep.
Read the guide Personal taxRRSP vs TFSA in 2026: which comes first?
How the two accounts differ on tax, withdrawals and contribution room, and how to think about which comes first.
Read the guide Personal taxRRSP loans: a worked example for a $135,000 BC salary
A labelled example of borrowing to contribute, with the refund, interest and risks laid out side by side.
Read the guide Personal taxCapital gains tax in Canada: 2026 guide
How gains on shares, property and other assets are taxed, the principal residence rules and how losses work.
Read the guide Personal taxHome office tax deductions in Canada: 2026 guide
Who can claim home office costs, how employees and self-employed people differ, and how to work out the share.
Read the guide Personal taxMedical expenses and travel for care: the 2026 tax credit
Which travel costs can count as medical expenses when the care you need is far from home.
Read the guide Personal taxT1135 foreign property reporting: the $100,000 rule
Who files Form T1135, what counts as specified foreign property and what is left out.
Read the guide Personal taxNew to Canada: your first tax return
When you become a resident, what income to report in your first year, and the benefits a return unlocks.
Read the guide Personal taxBC vs Alberta income tax in 2026, $50,000 to $150,000
Income tax and take-home pay in both provinces at every $10,000 of salary, and why BC is lower in the middle.
Read the guide Personal taxCrypto taxes in Canada: the 2026 guide
Trades, swaps, staking and mining, capital gain or business income, cost base and the records to keep.
Read the guide Personal taxContent creator taxes in Canada: deductions, losses and GST
Free products as income, gear and home studio costs, first-year losses, CPP and GST/HST at $30,000.
Read the guideSource standard. Each guide lists the official CRA, Government of BC, Government of Alberta, municipal or regulator pages it was checked against, with the date checked. Topic summaries are general information only.
Key dates for your 2026 return
| Date | What's due |
|---|---|
| 1 Mar 2027 | Last day for RRSP contributions you deduct on your 2026 return |
| 30 Apr 2027 | 2026 personal returns due for most people, and any balance owing due for everyone |
| 15 Jun 2027 | 2026 returns due if you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed (any balance owing is still due 30 Apr 2027) |
| 2026 RRSP limit | $33,810, or 18% of your 2025 earned income if that is less, plus any unused room. Your own limit is on your notice of assessment. |
Sources, checked 28 Oct 2026: CRA, Due dates and payment dates; CRA, Important dates for RRSPs; CRA, RRSP and TFSA limits. Details are listed under the questions below.
Personal tax, answered
When is my 2026 personal tax return due?
Most people file and pay by 30 April 2027. If you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed, the return is due by 15 June 2027, but any balance owing is still due by 30 April 2027.
Do I have to file if I had little or no income?
You may not owe tax, but the CRA uses your return to work out benefit and credit payments, such as the Canada child benefit and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. Filing also records the earned income that builds RRSP room. Our government benefits page explains who qualifies.
What should I gather before I file?
Your T4, T4A, T5 and other slips, receipts for RRSP and FHSA contributions, medical expenses, donations and child care, and any letters from the CRA. Self-employed people also need their sales and expense records. Our T1 return guide goes through them.
What's the difference between a deduction and a credit?
A deduction, such as an RRSP contribution, lowers your taxable income, so it is worth more at higher tax rates. A non-refundable credit, such as the medical expense credit, reduces your tax at a set rate and can't take it below zero. Refundable credits can be paid to you even if you owe no tax.
Can I claim something I missed on an earlier return?
Often, yes. You can ask the CRA to change a return from an earlier year, online or by sending a change request. Whether the claim is allowed depends on the rules for that year and the records you have, so keep your receipts.
Can Finvo prepare my personal return?
Yes. We prepare personal returns for people in BC and Alberta, including self-employed people, landlords and newcomers. We review your slips and records against your facts, and you approve the return before it's filed. Prices are on the personal membership page.
Sources, checked 28 Oct 2026. Rules have exceptions and can change. This page is general information, not tax advice for your situation.
- CRA, Due dates and payment dates (canada.ca, modified 17 Sep 2026): filing due dates of 30 April, and 15 June for self-employed people, with payment due 30 April. The page lists the current year; the 2027 dates follow the same rules.
- CRA, Important dates for RRSPs, HBP, LLP, FHSAs and more (canada.ca, modified 29 Jan 2026): the RRSP contribution deadline for a tax year.
- CRA, MP, DB, RRSP, DPSP, ALDA, TFSA limits, YMPE and the YAMPE (canada.ca, modified 1 Dec 2025): RRSP dollar limits of $33,810 for 2026 and $35,390 for 2027.
Questions about your 2026 return?
Book a free 15-minute call by video or phone. Tell us what changed this year, such as a new job, a move, a sale or self-employment income, and we'll tell you what to look at and what we'd do next.
Which office?
Book a free 15-minute call15-minute calls every weekday at 10 am and 2 pm Pacific (11 am and 3 pm Mountain), except holidays.
Typical next slots, confirmed when you book:
Call (236) 300-3322Email contact@finvo.caMon–Fri, 9 am – 5 pm PT/MT5.0 on Google · 92 reviews