Hey everyone, just wanted to share a quick reminder that as a student in Canada, you might still need to file a tax return—even if you didn’t earn any income during the year.

I know it’s tempting to skip it if you’re not working, but filing can actually help you keep your CRA records active. Plus, you can claim your tuition fees using the T2202 form from your school. That’s not just about getting a refund—it can also count toward future benefits, like the Canada Child Benefit or even future housing support.

If you’ve been studying full-time, you might qualify for the Canada Student Grants or other education-related credits. The key is having a filed return with the T2202 attached. Even if you’re not getting a refund, this builds your tax history, which can matter later when applying for loans, rental applications, or other government programs.

There’s also the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit coming in 2026, replacing the old GST/HST credit. While it’s not active yet, having a solid tax history could help you qualify when it launches.

So here’s my real question: when you filed your first return as a student, did you forget the T2202? Or did you accidentally miss reporting a small side gig? What was the biggest hurdle for you?

Would love to hear how others handled their first student tax return—especially if you were confused about what to include or when to do it.