As the tax deadline looms just days away, many Canadians are still hitting the snooze button on their tax filings. This year's tax season is packed with new challenges, making it critical to act fast and file early.

Mark your calendars because April 30 is the drop-dead date for most Canadians to file their tax returns and settle any dues. Self-employed individuals have until June 15 to file, but they still need to ensure any taxes owed are paid by April 30.

"Timely filing is essential to avoid being flagged as a late filer," warns chartered professional accountant Daniel Toma, who also runs GoFile software. The consequences of tardiness are steep—a hefty penalty and escalating interest piled on daily.

This year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revamped its online systems to streamline document processing, but not without hiccups. Last-minute filers could be in for a shock as technical glitches risk elongating the filing process.

Toma emphasizes, regardless of system issues, the onus is on you to file punctually. "The CRA expects you to pull slips directly from your account if you're facing upload challenges," he notes.

If technology throws a wrench in your filing plans, you might need to submit documents manually. Toma advises, "The CRA recommends that you do your best to manually enter any slips you receive to ensure your return is complete."

Planning ahead is your safety net—unexpected slips may appear right before the deadline. Toma recently experienced this firsthand, revealing, "Just yesterday, my team wrapped up a return only to learn today that more slips came in."

Procrastinators need not despair. If you're waiting on slips but are racing the clock, consider sending an estimated overpayment to the CRA, which can be reconciled later. Toma suggests this as a safety measure for those anxious about omitted income.

Filing your taxes could also unlock a potential refund, adding extra motivation to get it done on time. Polls indicate that younger Canadians are particularly keen to reinvest their refunds.

Don't let penalties munch away at your hard-earned money. According to Toma, "Over half of filers will typically receive a refund. Filing your taxes is not just about compliance; it could also be a smart financial move to reclaim money owed to you!"