How to Use CRA My Account in Canada: Sign In, Check Your Refund and Manage Your Benefits

CRA My Account is the Canada Revenue Agency’s online portal for individual taxpayers, and it is the fastest way to deal with your taxes without phoning or mailing anything. You can check your refund, view your notices of assessment, update your address and direct deposit details, and see your benefit payments, all in one place. Setting it up takes a few days because of a mailed security code, so here is how to do it.

What you can do in CRA My Account

Once you are signed in, you can see your tax return status, your notice of assessment and any balance you owe. You can check the status of your refund and the date it is expected. You can view your RRSP deduction limit and your TFSA contribution room, which saves you from guessing before you make a deposit.

The portal also covers benefits. You can see your GST/HST credit payments, Canada Child Benefit amounts and payment dates, and other benefit and credit information. You can change your address, update your direct deposit banking details, view tax slips such as T4s that employers have sent to the CRA, and send secure messages to the CRA.

Step 1: Register for CRA My Account

Go to the CRA My Account page on the Government of Canada website and choose the register option. You will need your Social Insurance Number, your date of birth, your postal code and an amount from a recent tax return, such as a line from your notice of assessment, to prove your identity.

There are two ways to sign in. The first is a CRA user ID and password, which you create during registration. The second is a sign-in partner, which lets you log in through your online banking credentials with a participating bank or credit union. Either option works, so pick whichever you find easier. If you already use a sign-in partner for another government service, you can use the same one here.

Step 2: Wait for your security code

After you register, the CRA mails a security code to the address it has on file for you. This usually takes 5 to 10 business days, and it is the reason you should set up the account before you actually need it. Enter the code in the portal when it arrives and your account becomes fully active.

Step 3: Sign in and check your dashboard

Once your account is active, sign in and take a few minutes to look around the dashboard. The home page shows your current balance, any refund in progress and recent mail from the CRA. Check the overview page first. It shows your account balance, your latest notice of assessment and any benefits you receive. If anything looks wrong, such as a missing tax slip or a balance you do not recognize, that is the place to spot it early.

Step 4: Check your refund and tax return status

After you file your tax return, you can follow its progress in the portal. The return status page shows whether the CRA has received your return, whether it is being processed and when your refund is expected. Most online returns are assessed within about two weeks, though the exact timing varies, especially during the busy spring filing season.

Your notice of assessment appears in the mail section once the return is processed. It confirms your refund or balance owing, your RRSP room for the next year and your TFSA room. Save a copy each year so you always have your numbers handy.

Step 5: Update your address and direct deposit

Keeping your details current is one of the most useful things the portal does. If you move, update your address in CRA My Account right away so refunds, benefit payments and notices reach you. A wrong address is one of the most common reasons payments get delayed.

Direct deposit is worth setting up if you have not already. Add your bank account details in the direct deposit section and your refund and benefit payments will go straight into your account instead of arriving as a cheque in the mail.

Step 6: Review your benefits and credits

The benefits section shows what you are receiving and when the next payment arrives. Check your GST/HST credit and Canada Child Benefit amounts after any big life change, such as a new child, a change in marital status or a move, because these can change what you are entitled to. If a payment seems wrong, the portal shows the calculation details so you can see how the amount was worked out.

Step 7: Keep your account secure

Your CRA My Account holds your SIN, your income details and your banking information, so protect it carefully. Use a strong, unique password and turn on multi-factor authentication if the CRA offers it for your sign-in method. Never share your login details, and never click a link in a text message or email that claims to be from the CRA. The CRA does not send links asking you to log in or confirm personal details by text or email, and a message that does so is a scam.

Check the mail section regularly, even outside tax season, so you do not miss a notice. If you receive a letter asking for documents or a payment, confirm it in the portal before acting. Setting up email notifications helps, because the CRA will tell you whenever new mail arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to set up CRA My Account?

Registration itself takes a few minutes, but the CRA mails you a security code that usually arrives in 5 to 10 business days. Enter the code to activate your account. Set it up well before you need it, for example before tax season, so the wait does not hold you up.

Can I sign in to CRA My Account with my online banking?

Yes. The CRA offers a sign-in partner option that lets you log in using the credentials of a participating bank or credit union. You can also create a CRA user ID and password instead.

What should I do if my CRA My Account is locked?

If your account is locked after too many failed sign-in attempts, wait and try again later, or use the account recovery options on the sign-in page. If you still cannot get in, contact the CRA by phone and have your SIN and a recent notice of assessment ready.