CRA to drop the drop box after tax-filing season

If your client is among the fewer than half a million taxpayers who submit their tax returns, payments or documents to a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) drop box, this tax-filing season represents the end of an era: The CRA is dropping the drop box.

In a release on Thursday, the agency said it will permanently close its drop boxes, available across Canada at 45 locations, on May 29. Drop boxes will accept documents until end of day May 28.

“Frankly, I didn’t know the CRA still had drop boxes,” Jamie Golombek, managing director and head of tax and estate planning with CIBC Private Wealth in Toronto, said in an email. “Given the rapid decline in paper filing, and the availability of online document submission using CRA My Account, the need to drop off something at a box has likely declined to such a level that maintaining this service was not cost effective for the agency.”

The use of drop boxes dropped by 78% — to about 430,000 taxpayers from two million — over the past six years, the CRA said.

Last tax-filing season, about 93% of tax returns were filed online. And the 2025 tax year was the first for which the CRA no longer mailed T1 income tax packages to taxpayers who file paper returns — a change that supports the agency’s shift to digital services.

The decision to close drop boxes also addresses processing delays — submitted items had to be transported — and security risks such as vandalism.

Taxpayers can file, submit documents or make payments online or via snail mail.

“Taxpayers can still mail returns and documents to the CRA using Canada Post, so the elimination of the drop box option likely won’t affect the vast majority of Canadians,” Golombek said.

Payments can also be made in-person at Canada Post (with a QR code) or at bank locations (using a remittance voucher).

Earlier this year, the CRA provided tips for T1 filers, who have a filing deadline of April 30, and also warned taxpayers about fraudulent but official-looking CRA communications.

Michelle Schriver

Michelle is a senior reporter for Advisor.ca and sister publication Investment Executive. She has worked with the team since 2015 and been recognized by the National Magazine Awards and SABEW for her reporting. Email her at michelle@newcom.ca.