With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has just released a significant update regarding the upcoming 2025 tax filing season. On December 11, 2025, the agency announced administrative changes that will impact millions of Canadians, particularly those who prefer traditional filing methods.
The End of Automatic Mail-Outs
For decades, many Canadians—especially seniors and those with limited internet access—have relied on finding a tax package in their mailbox early in the year.
The most notable change announced is that the CRA will no longer automatically mail income tax packages to individuals who file on paper. This is a substantial push by the government to force digital adoption and electronic filing. If you or a family member have historically waited for the forms to arrive at your door, that process ends this year. You will now be required to download forms online or request specific packages, adding a layer of complexity to the manual filing process.
Streamlining the Standard Package
In addition to stopping automatic mail-outs, the CRA is "streamlining" the physical packages that are available. The standard income tax package will no longer include several previously common federal schedules.
Specifically, Schedule 3 (Capital Gains) and Schedule 9 (Donations) have been removed from the standard package due to what the CRA cites as "low usage" relative to the general population. However, for many of our clients who maintain investment portfolios or contribute to charities, these schedules are anything but "low usage"—they are essential.
What This Means for Alberta Taxpayers
These changes highlight the CRA's aggressive shift toward a fully digital tax environment. For those who file paper returns, the risk of missing a schedule or delaying filing due to lack of forms has just increased.
For example, failing to report capital gains because the form wasn't in the packet can lead to penalties, and missing the donations schedule could mean missing out on valuable tax credits that reduce your owing balance.
We Are Here to Help At JMH & Co., we utilize professional tax software that automatically includes every necessary schedule based on your unique financial situation, regardless of what the CRA includes in their standard paper packages.
If you have previously filed by paper, or are worried about how these administrative shifts affect your 2025 return, please reach out to our team. We can ensure your filing is seamless, compliant, and maximizes every credit available to you.
This blog was written using the assistance of AI.
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