Mar 31, 2026
If you owe the taxman money this year, paying on time is the best way to avoid penalties and interest. Good thing, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), makes it easy to pay your taxes using a number of different ways — including by swiping your credit card (1).
If you're thinking about using your card to make a tax payment, here's a rundown of what to consider before you do.
Can you pay taxes with a credit card?
The CRA still doesn't accept direct credit card payments. Instead, you can use services like PaySimply, which accept your credit card and forward the payment to the CRA — usually for a fee (2).
Advertisement
If you choose to use a payment service provider, you should be prepared to:
- Pay a service fee
- Share information (such as your Social Insurance Number) to ensure your payment goes to the right tax account
- Use 'My Account' to confirm your payment has been received by the CRA
But remember, you’re ultimately responsible for getting your taxes to the CRA on time. So double-check your service provider's delivery timeframe and pay well in advance.
Must Read
- Stop the leak: 5 costs Canadians (still) overpay for every single month. How many are sabotaging your 2026 budget?
- What's your worth? Here are the 3 net worth milestones that change everything for Canadians (and what they say about you)
- Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
Benefits of paying taxes with a credit card
There can be advantages to paying your taxes with a credit card. Here are some key ways you may benefit:
- Using an online service provider lets you pay your taxes from anywhere
- Depending on your card, you could earn sizeable rewards or cash back
- Timeframe between your card's statement and payment dates can give you several extra weeks to make a payment on your taxes before credit card interest kicks in
Drawbacks of paying the CRA with a credit card
There are also situations when using a credit card to pay your taxes may not make sense. Here are some drawbacks to consider:
- Your payment provider's service fee might cost more than the credit card rewards you're hoping to earn
- Interest on a balance carried on your credit card used to pay your taxes may be more than the interest charged by the CRA — given that most credit cards charge between 20% to 23% interest versus the CRA's prescribed interest rate of 8% on overdue individual taxes (3)
Read more: The ultra-rich are bailing on volatile stocks right now — these 4 shockproof assets are their new safe havens
How to pay your taxes with a credit card using PaySimply
If you do decide to swipe for the taxman, you'll be happy to know PaySimply has partnered with the CRA to make paying by credit card fast and secure. All you need to do is:
- Choose your payment type (Individual (T1) 2025 tax return, for example)
- Enter your email, Social Insurance Number (SIN), full name and payment amount
- Enter your payment information
- Review, submit and receive an email confirmation
Fees for using PaySimply
The fee for using your Visa, Mastercard or American Express to make a CRA payment through PaySimply is 2.5% of your payment amount. Keep in mind, it takes about three business days for your payment to reach the CRA when paying by credit card.
How many Canadians pay taxes with a credit card?
While the CRA doesn't track credit card payments directly, third-party services like PaySimply have reported growing usage in recent years, driven by convenience and the appeal of earning credit card rewards. The CRA processed more than 30 million individual tax returns in 2025 (4), and digital payment options continue to grow in popularity as more Canadians manage their finances online.
How to pay your taxes in Canada in 2026: Other ways to pay
If you don't want to pay the CRA with a credit card, don't worry. There are many other ways to make a tax payment including online, in person and by mail.
How to pay your taxes online
To pay taxes online, you can:
- Transfer funds from your bank account by adding the CRA as a payee
- Use 'My Account' (canada.ca) to schedule pre-authorized debit withdrawals from your chequing account
- Pay by debit card using the CRA's My Payment service
- Use a third-party service (like PaySimply) to pay by debit card, PayPal or Interac e-transfer
How to pay your taxes in person
To pay taxes in person, you can:
- Visit your bank and use a remittance voucher to pay from your account or by debit card, cheque or money order
- Visit a Canada Post retail location (canadapost-postescanada.ca) and use a QR code to pay by cash or debit card (you'll be charged a service fee)
- Drop off your cheque, remittance voucher and payment details at a CRA drop-box location
How to pay your taxes by mail
To pay taxes by mail, you can:
- Write a cheque to the Receiver General for Canada
- Include your remittance voucher or payment details
- Mail your envelope to the CRA
What if you can't afford to pay?
If you owe more than you can afford, don't rush to a high-interest credit card. The CRA offers payment arrangements. You can set up a monthly instalment plan through your CRA 'My Account' portal or by calling them directly.
Final thoughts
The deadline for paying your 2025 taxes is April 30, 2026. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to pay what you owe, including paying the CRA with a credit card. File your return on time, even if you can't pay right away. Filing late adds extra penalties. Paying late only triggers interest.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Canada Revenue Agency: Make a payment — Individual payments (1); PaySimply (2); Canada Revenue Agency: Prescribed interest rates (3); Canada Revenue Agency: 2026 tax filing season information (4)
You May Also Like
- Here’s how to retire in 10 short years no matter where you live in Canada — even if you’re starting with $0 savings
- If you’re still feeling the pinch this month — don’t panic. Here are 5 easy ways to fix your finances without a total overhaul
- How Warren Buffett’s simple buy-and-hold real estate approach offers a lesson for Canadian homeowners and long-term investors
- Approaching retirement with no savings? Don’t panic, you're not alone. Here are easy ways you can catch up (and fast)
Leanne Armstrong is a HubSpot-certified freelance content writer specializing in personal finance, business and technology. As a former entrepreneur with a background in accounting and social psychology, she writes for a wide range of globally recognized organizations, including Smarter Loans, Forbes and Huffington Post. Her work appears in various publications across Canada and North America.
