A Statistics Canada study revealed that skilled workers are less likely to file tax returns in their first year in Canada than refugees. The study, which examined tax-filing trends of working-age immigrants from 1993 to 2019, showed stable filing rates, with 90% of newcomers filing taxes within two years. Refugees had the highest filing rates at 95%, while economic immigrants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program had a rate of 77%. The study suggests this discrepancy is due to refugees’ awareness of financial benefits through settlement services. It also reported higher filing rates among newcomers in Quebec and French-only speakers, as well as 13% of immigrants with graduate degrees not filing a tax return for at least five years, possibly seeking opportunities outside Canada.
