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Tax Tip – Stress-free filing starts now! Here are five easy ways to help you get ready for tax season

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OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 7, 2025 /CNW/ – Tax season is almost here and now is the perfect time to start preparing! Getting ready early can help make sure you file your income tax and benefit return on time. It can also help you avoid delays or interruptions to any refund, benefit, or credit payments you’re eligible for. Last year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) issued more than $52 billion in benefit payments because taxpayers filed their returns.

We’re here to help you so you can ease into tax season with confidence. Here are five easy ways you can get ready early.

1.  Update your personal information

Keeping your personal information up to date can help you avoid issues at tax time and ensures you continue to get the benefit and credit payments you’re eligible for. If you’ve moved, gotten married, or even changed your phone number, make sure to let us know as soon as possible and before you file your tax return.

What’s great is that you don’t need to call us to make these types of changes! My Account is an online portal that lets you manage your personal income tax and benefit information quickly and securely. Many tasks that people often call about can be done in My Account.

When registering for My Account, you can use the document verification service to verify your identity. By doing so, you’ll have full and immediate access to My Account without having to wait for a CRA security code in the mail. More than 1 million individuals have already used this service to register. Make sure to register and update your information before the tax season rush!

2.  Know where to find your tax slips

You should receive most of your tax slips and receipts by the end of February, including any T4 and T4A slips. Slips are prepared by your employer, payer, administrator, or financial institution. If your tax slips are late or lost, there’s no need to worry! You can easily view most of your tax slips online in My Account.

3.  Get familiar with digital services and online filing

Familiarize yourself with our digital services so that if you need help during tax season, you can quickly find answers without having to call us. We have services to help you file a return, change a return, get information, make payments, and more.

A new service that can help you this tax season is our online chat in My Account. You can now chat with a live agent and ask them account-specific questions about personal taxes, benefits, and registered plans. With this new service, you can quickly get the information you need and save time on the phone. If you can’t find your answers online and need to call, check the live wait times beforehand and make sure you have the information you need to validate your identity.

Also, if you’re preparing to file online this tax season, check out our list of NETFILE-certified software options; some are even free! Did you know that returns filed electronically are generally processed within two weeks, compared to eight weeks for paper returns? Almost 93% of 2023 tax returns were filed electronically! When you combine electronic filing with direct deposit, you could receive your refund within eight business days.

4.  Remember these key dates

Make sure to mark these key tax-filing dates on your calendar:

February 24, 2025 – You can start filing your 2024 return online.April 30, 2025 – Deadline for most individuals to file their return and pay any amount they owe. By filing and paying on time, you’ll avoid late-filing penalties and interest.June 15, 2025 – Deadline to file if you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed. Since this date falls on a Sunday, we will consider your return filed on time if we receive it on or before June 16, 2025. If you owe money, you’ll still need to pay by April 30, 2025, to avoid interest.

Before filing, find any deductions, credits, and expenses you may be able to claim to help reduce the amount of tax you have to pay.

5.  Be aware of scams and fraud

You can protect yourself from scams and fraud by knowing how we might contact you. Take a moment to visit our scams and fraud page. You will find information to help you recognize the signs of a scam and learn about how we may contact you, whether it’s by phone, email, or mail. The CRA scam alerts page can also help you stay up to date and avoid the latest scams that may target you.

When you register for My Account, you need to provide an email address if you don’t already have one on file with the CRA. This allows us to notify you when important changes are made to your account and to protect you from fraudulent activity. If you’re already registered but don’t have an email address on file, you will need to provide one when you sign in.

Need extra help? We’ve got you covered

If you have additional questions, try asking Charlie the Chatbot. You’ll spot Charlie on the CRA homepage and many of our other webpages on Canada.ca. If you’re new to tax filing, check out our free online tool that teaches you about taxes, where your money goes, and how to file a tax return on your own.

Contacts 

Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
613-948-8366
cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca

Stay connected 

Follow the CRA on FacebookFollow the CRA on X – @CanRevAgencyFollow the CRA on LinkedInFollow the CRA on InstagramSubscribe to a CRA electronic mailing listAdd our RSS feeds to your feed readerWatch our tax-related videos on YouTubeListen to our Taxology podcast

SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency

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HKAGE Showcases Gifted Students’ Learning Journeys at InnoCarnival 2026

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Promoting “Technology for Good” Through Innovation and Creativity 

HONG KONG, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) has been invited to participate in InnoCarnival 2026, organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission. Under the theme “Technology for Good, Innovation for All”, HKAGE will showcase the learning journeys of gifted students who have completed programmes on AI robotic arms, underwater archaeology, etc., demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to address societal needs.

Having proactively aligned its work with the education development strategies of the Education Bureau (EDB), HKAGE fully supports the EDB’s Blueprint for Digital Education in Primary and Secondary Schools, which seeks to advance the digital transformation of school education in Hong Kong. Building on its Talent Development Model, HKAGE systematically develops programmes, provides diversified learning experiences and engages in cross-sector collaborations to nurture gifted talents equipped with innovative capabilities, technological literacy, and a strong sense of social responsibility. At the exhibition this year, HKAGE will present how students applied knowledge gained through gifted education programmes and learning experiences in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, environmental science, underwater archaeology and sustainable development to design socially conscious solutions. These experiences reflect the students’ ability to serve society with knowledge and respond creatively to diverse challenges.

Among the highlights is the learning journey of students in the “Artificial Intelligence Course: Creative AI Robotic Arm for Inclusion”. After acquiring foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence, robotics and sensor applications, students designed, tested and refined intelligent robotic arm prototypes through real-time data analysis and algorithms. With the aim of improving the quality of life for the elderly and caregivers, students explored various application scenarios for intelligent robotic arms. Another showcase features the “Environmental Science Course: Bat Echoes – Voices of the Night”. Through acoustic monitoring, the exhibition demonstrates how students recorded bat voices and analysed related activity data and characteristics. The programme enabled students to gain a deeper understanding of local biodiversity and explore practical approaches to ecological conservation.

The HKAGE exhibition booth also features an interactive photo-taking device, allowing visitors to take photos with different gifted programme themes and share the joy of learning.

On the first day of the exhibition, a “Build Your Own Glider Parent-Child Workshop” is specially organised by HKAGE for the visitors. Under the guidance of instructors and assisted by HKAGE students, participants will learn the basic principles of aerodynamics, including lift, gravity, thrust and drag. They will also learn to design, assemble and decorate their own gliders by using lightweight and durable materials, experiencing the joy of science and engineering.

Mr WONG Chung Po, Acting Executive Director of HKAGE, said: “The Academy is committed to providing gifted students with diversified learning platforms and encouraging them to transform knowledge into innovative practices that generate positive social impact. Participation in this exhibition not only provides students with a valuable learning experience that helps consolidate the knowledge acquired in gifted programmes, but also enables the public to better understand how gifted education nurtures a new generation of creative and socially responsible talents to jointly advance the philosophy of ‘Technology for Good’.”

InnoCarnival 2026 – The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

Date:

24 Oct – 1 Nov

Venue:

The Hong Kong Science Park

Booth:

C08-09

Time:

10:00 – 17:00 (Mon to Fri)

10:00 – 18:00 (Sat & Sun)

 

About the HKAGE

Established in 2008 and subvented by the Education Bureau, the HKAGE offers gifted education services actively to local primary and secondary school students to unleash their potential. It also provides gifted education-related information and support for teachers, parents, and other relevant stakeholders.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hkage-showcases-gifted-students-learning-journeys-at-innocarnival-2026-302918606.html

SOURCE Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leap-group-relaunches-humanview-a-growth-intelligence-system-built-to-explain-why-customers-behave-the-way-they-do-302918557.html

SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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