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T2 deadlines

T2 deadline calculator

Reviewed by EverStone CPA · July 2026

Quick answer: Your corporation has two different deadlines and most owners mix them up. Enter your fiscal year-end to see both.

Estimates for general information — not tax advice specific to your situation. Rates and rules change and your result depends on details a calculator cannot capture. We confirm the numbers for your circumstances in a free consult.

Nothing you type here leaves your browser. This calculator runs entirely on your device — no figures are sent to us or to anyone else.

What this calculator answers

Given my fiscal year-end, when is my corporate tax payment due and when is the return due?

Any incorporated business. The two dates are different, and the payment one comes first. It does not tell you whether you owe instalments through the year, which is a separate obligation.

A worked example

These are the numbers already in the calculator above, so you can follow the arithmetic against the result it is showing.

The value the page loads with: a 31 December 2026 year-end
StepFigure
Fiscal year-end31 December 2026
Balance owing31 March 2027 — three months after year-end, for a CCPC claiming the small business deduction
T2 return filing30 June 2027 — six months after year-end
The trapThe return is due three months AFTER the money is. Filing on time does not mean paying on time.

What it assumes, and where it stops

Every estimate rests on assumptions. These are the ones that would change your number most.

Where this estimate stops being reliable
AssumptionWhat it means for your number
Three months for a CCPC claiming the small business deductionOther corporations get two months to pay, not three.
Weekend and holiday shiftsA date that lands on a weekend or public holiday moves to the next business day.
A full fiscal yearA short year — the first year, or a year-end change — has its own dates measured from the actual year-end.

General information, not advice. Have a CPA confirm it for your situation

A corporation has two different corporate deadlines measured from the same fiscal year end — the balance owing falls due two months after year end for most corporations and three months for a CCPC claiming the small business deduction, while the T2 return itself is not due until six months after year end, which is where most late-payment interest comes from
The money is due months before the return is.

Why there are two dates

A Canadian corporation files its T2 return six months after its fiscal year-end, but the tax owing is due earlier — three months after year-end for a Canadian-controlled private corporation claiming the small business deduction, two months for everyone else. That gap is where most late-payment interest comes from: the owner waits for the filing deadline, not realising the money was due months before.

Interest runs from the day after the balance-due date at the CRA's prescribed rate, compounded daily, and it is not deductible. The late-filing penalty is separate again — 5% of the balance plus 1% per month, up to 12 months, doubling for repeat late filing. Full breakdown of the penalties

Choosing a year-end changes these dates

A new corporation can pick almost any fiscal year-end within 53 weeks of incorporating, and that single choice sets every date above for the life of the company. A non-December year-end also moves your work outside your accountant's busiest season. How to choose your year-end

Dates that land on a weekend or a public holiday move to the next business day. If you would rather not track any of this, we handle the T2 and the calendar as part of a fixed annual fee.

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Common questions

T2 Deadline Calculator FAQ

When is my T2 corporate tax return due?+
Six months after your corporation’s fiscal year-end. If your year-end is December 31, the T2 is due June 30 of the following year.
When is corporate tax actually payable?+
Earlier than the filing deadline. A Canadian-controlled private corporation claiming the small business deduction generally has three months after year-end to pay; other corporations have two months. Interest runs from the day after that date.
What happens if I file the T2 late?+
The late-filing penalty is 5% of the unpaid balance plus 1% for each complete month the return is late, up to 12 months. For a repeat late filer it doubles to 10% plus 2% per month. That is on top of interest on the unpaid tax.
Do I have to pay instalments too?+
Generally yes if your net federal tax owing exceeded $3,000 in the current year or in either of the two preceding years. Most corporations pay monthly; an eligible small CCPC with a clean compliance history may qualify for quarterly. A brand-new corporation is exempt in its first tax year.
How do I read the dates this calculator gives me?+
It returns two separate dates, and they are not the same deadline. The filing date is when the T2 return itself must be with CRA; the payment date is when any balance owing is due, and it comes first. Paying on time but filing late still triggers a late-filing penalty, and filing on time but paying late still accrues interest.
What does this calculator not account for?+
It does not account for instalment obligations during the year, provincial returns that a few jurisdictions require separately, information slips such as T4s and T5s with their own deadlines, or a fiscal period shortened by incorporation, amalgamation or wind-up. It also assumes your year-end is the one on file with CRA. Confirm your year-end in My Business Account before relying on the dates.
What if my corporation had a short first fiscal year?+
The same rule applies from the actual year-end date, not from a full twelve months. A corporation that incorporates mid-year and picks an early first year-end can have a T2 due much sooner than owners expect. Set the calculator to your real first year-end rather than a calendar year, and diarise the payment date separately from the filing date.

Want these numbers confirmed for your business?

A free consult with a Fraser Valley CPA — we will check the figures against your actual situation and quote a fixed fee.

Book My Free ConsultCall (604) 832-1743

Want the reasoning behind the dates rather than just the dates? See what drives your corporate filing deadline.