Quebec gives residents an extension on filing taxes

To ease the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, Quebec is postponing the income tax–filing deadline, delaying required tax instalments and allowing the use of electronic signatures, among other measures.

The provincial government said that it has asked Revenu Québec to allow flexibility for both individuals and businesses in Quebec during tax filing season.

Among other things, the province is pushing back the deadline for filing income tax returns to June 1 from April 30.

For individual taxpayers that pay by instalment, the June 15 instalment is suspended until July 31. For businesses, the government said the payment of instalments and taxes “due as of today is suspended until July 31.”

“The date and terms of payment of [these amounts] will be announced shortly,” the government said.

Additionally, the deadline for applying balances due related to 2019 tax returns is being postponed to July 31.

Revenu Québec will also allow tax return preparers to use electronic signatures on certain forms that their clients must sign, the government said.

“This will limit the administrative procedures to be carried out in person,” the province noted.

For organizations that are suspending tax preparation to limit travel and contact, Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will accept these decisions, the province said.

“However, this situation could change in the coming weeks, considering the postponement of the income tax return filing deadline and depending on how the situation evolves,” the province said.

“The flexibility measures announced today seek to afford taxpayers respite during this turbulent period during which priority must be given to compliance with the directives of the Direction de la santé publique. They are part of an array of economic measures that will be implemented in the coming days to help workers and businesses to get through this unprecedented crisis,” said Eric Girard, Quebec’s minister of finance.

James Langton

James is a senior reporter for Advisor.ca and its sister publication, Investment Executive. He has been reporting on regulation, securities law, industry news and more since 1994.