After filing your income tax return each year, you will receive a Notice of Assessment. Keep this as you will need to refer to it in order to obtain your Netfile Access Code. On the top right-hand corner of your Notice of Assessment, you will see an 8-character, alphanumeric code previously referred to as your Internet Access Code (IAC). As of 2020, this code has been referred to as the NETFILE Access Code (NAC).

Key Takeaways
  1. Your unique 8-character Netfile Access Code is found on your Notice of Assessment.
  2. Include this code when netfiling your return for an added level of security.
  3. Using the code is optional, but can make the authentication process easier if you have to contact the CRA.

What is the NETFILE Access Code?

The NAC is intended to be used as an extra level of security to authenticate an individual during the NETFILE transmission process. This replaces having to provide the CRA with a specific line number of a previous year’s tax return when calling into the CRA to authenticate your account.

Where do I find it?

This code, which is made up of numbers and letters, can be found on your paper Notice of Assessment (NOA) top right corner under the “Notice Details” section ( see image below) or online in your “MyAccount” next to “Access Code”. This code is unique to each individual.

If you cannot locate your NAC on the paper copy of your NOA or online in your “My Account”, you can call the CRA, and answer a few authentication questions before they provide you with the information requested.

How do I use it with my tax software?

Once you have located your personal NAC, you will then apply this code in the field indicated in the software of your choice. To learn how to apply this to TurboTax software, please click here.

A few important aspects regarding the NETFILE Access Code (NAC):

  • You do not have to enter the NAC to be able to NETFILE, you can choose to skip that field completely and proceed to NETFILE successfully.
  • However, if you choose to enter the code, and it matches what the CRA has on file, you will be able to NETFILE and refer to that year’s tax information when discussing your tax return with the CRA.
  • If you enter your code incorrectly, you will be given 5 attempts before being locked out of your account and you will receive a NETFILE error message instead, this error message will include a phone number to contact the CRA directly. Your tax return will not be processed through NETFILE at this point.
  • This code is not applicable to the filing of your T1135, but will be applied to “Refile” if you have used the code initially when you filed your tax return. Currently, this code does not change year after year, but there may be updates to this in the future.

Exclusions:

First time filers and prior years returns will be excluded from this code.

Note: You will successfully NETFILE your tax return when you receive a confirmation number at the end of the process. If you do not receive a confirmation number, your tax return has not been transmitted to the CRA through NETFILE.

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