Services for your Business Clients

Filing Information Returns Electronically

Do you file T4, T5 or other information returns for your clients?

Since January 2010, if you file more than 50 information slips, you must internet file them by Internet File Transfer in eXtensible Mark up Language (XML). For T4 returns, you can also use the T4 Desktop Application for up to 70 slips. You will need a WAC from your client.

The CRA suite of electronic services offers three convenient and secure Internet options for filing your clients' information returns. Each provides easy-to-use filing options and step-by-step instructions. Save time, paper, and mailing costs by choosing one of our options for Filing Information Returns Electronically.

T4 Web forms:

T4 Web forms service was designed for employers who submit 6 T4 slips or less, which represents about half of all the T4 returns processed.

T4 Web forms is an online, interactive service - meaning that no software is required to prepare or submit the T4 return. You can submit 1 to 6 original or amended T4 slips. If you realize later you have to amend or cancel slips, you can use T4 Web forms again to make submit your changes to the CRA. Even if you filed your original return on paper, you can file up to 6 amended or cancelled slips through T4 Web forms.

The T4 Web form will let businesses:

• create an electronic T4 information return
• validate data in real-time, with prompts to correct errors before filing
• calculate totals for the summary (so you don't have to manually calculate the totals for the T4 Summary)
• use the electronic data to print employee T4 slips
• securely submit encrypted returns via the Internet

For more information about filing information returns electronically and mandatory internet filing, visit www.cra.gc.ca/iref.

T4 Desktop Application:

If you file 1 to 70 original or amended slips, this convenient, downloadable application lets you create, save and submit an electronic T4 information return. You can even open the previous year's return to retrieve information from past T4 slips. This application allows you to provide electronic slips for employees, provided they have agreed to receive them electronically.

Internet File Transfer (XML):

Do you use software to prepare information returns for your clients? You can submit an XML file that contains up to 150 megabytes of information returns. You can even send more than one client's return, up to the 150 megabyte limit. Multiple types of information returns? No problem. This filing option accepts all types of information returns, original and amended. If your file is more than 150 MB, you can either compress your return or you can divide it so that each submission is no more than 150 MB - meaning 1 to approximately 160,000 slips uncompressed or 1.6 million slips compressed.

Like all of CRA's Information Returns Electronic Filing options, Internet File Transfer reduces paper, provides for faster processing of information returns, reduces postal costs, and provides convenience and flexibility for employers.

Did you know that My Business Account allows you to transmit information return (approximately 3,500 slips or 3.5 MB) over the Internet without a Web Access code. This service is used to transfer to CRA by attaching a file in the Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

For more information about filing information returns electronically and mandatory internet filing, visit www.cra.gc.ca/iref.