I Filed My Taxes—Now What? 5 Things to Do After Tax Season

You’ve gathered the paperwork, signed the forms, and filed your return. Tax season is (finally) behind you. So… now what?

While it’s tempting to toss everything in a drawer and forget about it until next year, there are a few key things you can do post-filing that’ll save you time, stress—and even money—down the line. Some are just good housekeeping, while others could help you avoid costly mistakes.

Here are five things most people overlook after they file:

1. Log into CRA My Account and check your messages

Your Notice of Assessment (NOA) will be issued once your return is processed, but it may not arrive by mail if you’ve gone paperless. The CRA posts it in your My Account portal, and they may also send time-sensitive messages there.

If the CRA selects your return for review or needs to verify your ID or income slips, those notices will appear in your inbox first. It’s easy to miss them if you haven’t set up email notifications.

Tip: If you haven’t already, enable email alerts through your My Account so you don’t miss anything important.

2. Confirm your refund (or payment) went through

Expecting a refund? Make sure your direct deposit details with the CRA are up to date—otherwise, your refund could be delayed or sent by cheque. If you owed tax this year and paid it manually (online banking, My Payment, etc.), take a moment to confirm that your payment cleared and was applied to the right account.

Payment issues are one of the most common reasons clients receive unexpected notices or interest charges, especially if a banking error or typo gets in the way.

3. Save your return and NOA somewhere secure

It’s easy to forget where your return ends up, especially if you didn’t download a copy after filing. Your NOA will also be needed for things like renewing a mortgage, applying for a loan, or confirming your RRSP contribution room next year.

Best practice: Set up a digital folder labeled by tax year and keep your return, NOA, and any other key documents (like donation receipts or T-slips) in one place.

4. Realize you missed something? Don’t panic—just amend

Late slips happen. Maybe a T5 came in after you filed, or you remembered an expense you forgot to claim. It’s more common than you think, and CRA allows you to request a change to a filed return.

You can do this online through Change My Return in your My Account, or your accountant can file a T1 adjustment on your behalf. The key is to act sooner rather than later—especially before the CRA sends a reassessment.

5. Start your system for next year—yes, now

When receipts are fresh in your mind and your inbox is still full of tax documents, it’s the perfect time to set up a system for next year. Even something simple—like a dedicated folder in your email or a spreadsheet to track charitable donations—can make a huge difference.

If you’re self-employed or a small business owner, consider using cloud-based apps like Dext, Hubdoc, or even a shared Google Drive to collect and label expenses as you go.

Bonus: If your refund was big, it might be time to adjust your withholdings

It feels great to get a refund—but if it was much larger than expected, it could mean you’ve been overpaying tax all year. You might want to speak to your employer (or your accountant) about adjusting your TD1 form so more of your money stays in your pocket throughout the year.

Tax season might be nearly over, but a few smart moves now can make next year easier and help you stay on top of your finances. Whether you have questions about your NOA, need to make a correction, or want help setting up a system that works, we’re here for that.

Still have questions after filing? Connect with us—your DMCL advisor is just a message away.