Missed Quebec's tax deadline? You could owe way more than you think

It's every Quebec resident's favourite time of the year!

In case you were distracted by the lovely spring weather, the 2024 tax season is in full swing, and if you're one of the many Canadians still putting off your return, consider this your last-minute warning.

The deadline to file both your federal and Quebec income tax returns is April 30 at 11:59 p.m.. That's also the cut-off to pay any balance owing to Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Miss it, and you could be hit with some steep penalties.

According to Revenu Québec, if you file late, you'll face a penalty of 5% of your unpaid balance as of April 30, plus an additional 1% for every full month your return is late — up to a maximum of 12 months.

It's the same story with the CRA, which calculates late penalties similarly. And if this isn't your first time missing the deadline, it gets even worse. If you were already late in 2021, 2022, or 2023, and you're late again this year, you could face a 10% penalty on your balance, plus 2% more for each full month you delay (up to a maximum of 20 months).

Not filing your return doesn't just cost you money — it can also cut you off from government benefits and tax credits. Many provincial and federal assistance programs require updated tax info to determine eligibility.

Here are just a few programs that could be affected:

• Solidarity Tax Credit
• GST/HST Credit
• Canada Workers Benefit
• Canada Child Benefit
• Guaranteed Income Supplement

Bottom line? If you haven't filed yet, it's time to book that accountant appointment — or give your family tax helper a gentle nudge.

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