The Definitive Guide to Using CRA My Account

Benefits of CRA My Account

If you haven’t already signed up, you should consider registering for CRA My Account to take advantage of what the service has to offer you. Having a CRA My Account is: 

• Convenient: Available 21 hours a day 7 days a week
• Fast: You can access many services right away online instead of having to call the CRA and wait to speak to a representative
• Accurate: Info is always up to date and transactions are processed immediately
• Secure: Your account is secure with unique security questions and multi-factor authentication

We put together a short video to show you how CRA My Account works:

How to register for CRA My Account

Make sure you have the following personal information handy before registering:

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Your two most recent tax returns or notice of assessments

You can set up your CRA My Account in a few steps:

1. Visit the “CRA My Account” registration page and click “CRA Register”
2. Enter your SIN and the other required fields (Postal Code, Date Of Birth, Tax Information from previous year’s tax return) to verify your identity
3. Choose a user ID you will remember or set up your account using a sign in partner
4. Create your security questions and answers

Now you’re all set! Your CRA My Account is created. You’ll have limited access to your My Account at first, but the CRA will mail you a security code within 1–2 weeks to give you full access to all of its services.

Things you can do with CRA My Account

Once you get full access to your account, you’ll have a big range of online services at your fingertips. Here’s a full list of all CRA My Account services.

1. View CRA mail
2. View the detailed status of a tax return
3. View detailed notice of assessment or reassessment
4. View account balance and statement of account
5. Change my return
6. Submit documents
7. Address and telephone numbers (view, update)
8. View and update children in my care
9. Change my marital status
10. View authorized representative
11. Authorize my representative
12. View tax information slips: T4, T4A, T4A(P), T4A(OAS), T4E, T4RSP, T4RIF, T5007, T3, T5, T5008, RRSP Contribution Receipt, T1204, T5013, RC210, RC62, Rent Assist and tax-free savings account (TFSA)
13. View Proof of income statement (option ‘C’ print)
14. View detailed RRSP deduction limit and TFSA contribution room
15. View Home Buyers’ Plan and Lifelong Learning Plan
16. View carryover amounts
17. View installments
18. Arrange my direct deposit (start, update, stop)
19. Pay by pre-authorized debit (create new agreement, manage active agreements, view inactive agreements)
20. Benefits and credits overview
21. Apply for the new Canada Dental Benefits (CDB)
22. Apply for child benefits
23. View Canada Child Benefit and related provincial and territorial programs payments, account balance, and statement of account
24. View GST/HST credit and related provincial programs payments, account balance, and statement of account
25. View Working Income Tax Benefit advance payments
26. View disability tax credit
27. Canada Workers benefit advance payments application
28. Personal Identification Number (PIN)
29. Notification and online preferences
30. File a GST/HST rebate
31. Request a CPP/EI ruling
32. Claim uncashed cheques
33. Request relief of penalties and interest
34. Register my formal dispute
35. Audit enquiries
36. Open a non-resident account
37. Request a remittance voucher
38. Trust account registration

How to set up direct deposit on CRA My Account

CRA My Account allows you to set up or change direct deposit banking information for the following payments:

• Income tax refund
• GST/HST credit 
• Canada child benefit
• Canada workers benefit
• Deemed overpayment of tax
• COVID-19 benefits such as Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, Canada Recovery Benefit, Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

This means you can get your payments faster, directly to your bank account so you don’t have to wait a couple of business days to receive a cheque in the mail. 

Here’s how to set up direct deposit:

1. Log in to your CRA My Account and click “Arrange My Direct Deposit” (under Quick Links)
2. Click Start or Update and enter your banking information

How to set up online mail on CRA My Account

With CRA My Account, you can sign up to receive electronic documents rather than waiting for the physical mail, including:

• Notices of assessment or reassessment
• Benefit notices
• T1 adjustment notices
• Installment reminders
• Letters asking for information and documentation

There are three ways to register for online mail:

1. Enter your email address directly on your tax return
2. Call 1-800-959-8281 to register by telephone
3. Log in to My Account and click on your Personal profile, scroll down to Notification preferences, and click “manage” to add your email address

Email notifications from the CRA let you know when you have mail to view in My Account and when important changes are made on your account.

How to update your personal info on CRA My Account

If there have been any changes to your personal info (e.g. address, phone number, marital status), you can inform the CRA and update your details online. Here’s how:

1. In the Related Services section, click on “Change my address and phone number(s)” or “Change my marital status”
2. Enter your new information

Connect your CRA My Account to a NETFILE certified tax software

When you file your return online you can connect your CRA My Account to a NETFILE certified tax software such as TurboTax, which can make tax filing faster in different ways:

• Your tax information is pulled automatically through Auto-fill my return
• You get immediate confirmation when the CRA receives your return
• You don’t have to send receipts unless the CRA asks for it
• If you have a direct deposit you may get your refund in as early as 2 weeks