How do I file a zero-income tax return?
Even with no income to report, you can still benefit from filing a zero-income tax return. You may qualify for federal or provincial credits that are available only if you file a return.
First, complete your personal tax profile in the TurboTax interview.
How to file your return using TurboTax Online
After Let’s go, at Which of these applied to you in 2025? select a box that applies to you. If there’s no box that applies, select any one.
After completing the Personal info profile, at 2024 tax return, select Tax profile > Your tax profile and complete the steps.
At 2024 tax return, select Provincial > Provincial Tax Credit profile and complete the provincial profile steps. (At Your Estimate for the Canada Carbon Rebate, you’ll see your estimated rebate amounts.)
At 2024 tax return, select Review > Start.
Continue until you reach Some items need review.
Select Errors, and under You must confirm that you have no income select Fix.
At the zero income drop-down box, select Yes and continue.
At Some items need review, select Done reviewing.
Proceed with Verification of personal information and continue.
At Let’s review your numbers, you’ll see estimated benefit amounts that will be paid to you outside of the income tax system, such as the GST/HST credit and the Canada Carbon Rebate.
At 2024 tax return, select Finish and file > Start and proceed to file your return.
How to file your return using TurboTax Desktop
From the menu, find the INCOME & EXPENSES heading and select T-slips.
At Entering your federal T-slips screen, check the box for any slips you received.
Select Continue.
To skip the remaining steps in this section, select Income summary from the menu.
Review the amounts listed, then complete the remaining sections of your return.
From the menu, select Bottom line (tax summaries).
At Bottom line, you’ll see your estimated GST/HST credit, estimated Canada Carbon Rebate, and any other applicable benefits.
