The six-year rule.
Read the current Guide: The Dossier Way
Filing isn't the end of a receipt's life. In Canada, you're required to keep supporting documents for six years after the end of the tax year — because the CRA can ask to see them.
What the law says
Section 230 of the Income Tax Act requires keeping records and supporting documents for six years after the end of the taxation year they relate to. If the CRA reviews a return — and routine pre- and post-assessment reviews are common — the receipt is the claim. No document, no claim.
What to keep
Anything that supports a number on the return: official donation receipts, medical and child care receipts, moving invoices, contribution receipts — plus the forms behind them (T778, T1-M, Schedule 12). Keep them per tax year, because that's how the CRA will ask.
How Dossier helps
Dossier keeps the original file — the scan, photo, or PDF — alongside the details it read, organized by year and tax line on your device. When you need to respond to a review, export a single ZIP: a CSV summary plus every original document.
Keep your originals. The CRA has rules for digital records (see digital receipts and the CRA), but you remain responsible for your records — including paper originals where required. Dossier is a filing system, not a substitute for your obligations.
Not tax advice. Retention specifics can vary (late-filed returns, objections, other statutes). Confirm your situation on canada.ca or with a qualified professional.