NETFILE Tax Returns
If you have used NETFILE to file your tax return, the CRA will issue a NetFile Confirmation Number after it does a preliminary check of your return and the return is accepted through NETFILE for processing. This step usually takes just a few seconds, but it is a CRITICAL step!
Keep the confirmation number the CRA provides you with as you may need it later.
After you receive a confirmation number, the CRA may need to contact you for clarification or to verify some information. Make sure you fill in the telephone number section of your tax return.
If the CRA has to contact you, your refund and notice of assessment will be delayed.
Once your return has been processed, the CRA will send you a Notice Of Assessment (NOA) in the mail. If you are registered for email notifications from the CRA, your NOA will no longer be printed and mailed to you. Instead, a notification will be sent to the email address you provided to CRA and available for you to view in your CRA My Account.
If you do NOT receive a NETFILE confirmation number, then your return was not received by the CRA.
How to Check The Status Of Your Income Tax Refund
Waiting for your tax refund from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can seem like an eternity. Instead of checking your mailbox daily, or looking at your bank account online every day, the CRA has other options you might want to consider. Before going through them, however, we must look at the NETFILE process to ensure you have successfully filed your tax return the first time around.
No filed return means no tax refund! You can usually expect your refund within two weeks after you successfully NETFILE, but may take longer if your return is selected for a review. For more information on your refund status, please see this CRA link: Tax Refunds: When to expect your refund.
How to Check Your Refund Status:
Online
- Use the CRA’s My Account
- Use the MyCRA mobile application
Call the CRA
- You can call the CRA’s Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS) @ 1-800-267-6999 and select Telerefund.
If you are going to use the CRA’s Telerefund, please be ready to provide them with your:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Month and year of birth
- Total income entered on line 15000 of your tax return (T1)
After you file your income tax return, the CRA strongly suggests that you wait 8 weeks to call them for an update on the receipt of your return or status of your refund if you reside in Canada.
Non-Residents of Canada
If you are a Non-Resident of Canada or reside outside of Canada please wait 16 weeks before you call the CRA’s International Tax and Non-Resident Enquiries to inquire about the receipt of your tax return and status of your tax refund.
Can you transfer your refund?
Yes, you can ask the CRA to transfer your refund to your instalment account by:
- Selecting this option when filing electronically
- Attaching a note to your paper return
The CRA will transfer your full refund to your instalment account and consider this payment to be received on the date the CRA assesses your return.
Can you transfer your refund to another person?
No, you cannot ask the CRA to transfer your refund to pay another person’s amount owing. This includes your spouse or common-law partner.
Residents of Quebec can transfer their Revenu Quebec refunds to their spouse. For more detailed information on how to proceed, please review the following link from Revenu Quebec: REFUND TRANSFERRED TO YOUR SPOUSE
Are you entitled to receive interest on your refund?
Yes, the Canada Revenue Agency will pay you compound daily interest on your tax refund. The CRA will start paying refund interest on the latest of the following 3 dates:
- the date of the overpayment
- the 120th day after the end of the tax year if the return for the year is filed on time
- the 30th day after the date the return was filed if it is filed late
What Edition of TurboTax Is Right for Me?
Answer a few simple questions on our product recommender and we can help guide you to the right edition that will reflect your individual circumstances.
You can always start your return in TurboTax Free, and if you feel the need for additional assistance, you can upgrade to any of our paid editions or get live help from an expert with our Assist & Review or Full Service. But don’t worry, while using the online version of the software when you choose to upgrade, your information is instantly carried over so you can pick up right where you left off.
(TurboTax Live™ Full Service is not available in Quebec)