Published: November 5th, 2015 • Last Updated: June 24th, 2024
Author: Ross Taylor on AskRoss.ca

Last updated June 24, 2024

Why Everyone Needs An Account With CRA, and How To Open One

These days dealing with the Canada Revenue Agency is so much easier if you take advantage of their online services.

They have a portal called Your Account, which contains an incredible amount of your personal past and current tax related information, all in one place.

It’s crucial for keeping on top of your finances.

Now more than ever it is easy to check your status at CRA. Now you do not have to wait ten days for a validation code to arrive by snail mail. You can log in immediately, providing you have your last tax return and notice of assessment in hand.

Now, you can access both My Account and My Business Account instantly. But if you’re old school and still want to wait for the code by mail, that option’s still available too.

In the mortgage industry we often tell our clients to create their CRA online account, because lenders often want to see their most recent Notice of Assessment, and you’d be surprised how many people have no idea where theirs is.

But there are many other reasons why you would want to access your CRA account. For example,

• You can see your prior years’ tax returns going back several years. (I can see back to 2004 in my account)
• You can see all tax slips filed in your name. T4’s, T5’s etc.
• You can track your HST, Trillium and other tax credits
• You can readily make claims for CERB
• You can arrange direct deposit to your bank account – this will soon be mandatory so don’t wait any longer
• You can check your RRSP and TFSA contribution limits and carryover amounts
• You can read all correspondence from CRA using their online email system
• You can track disputes etc.

Rob Carrick from the Globe and Mail advised in 2024:

**Here are some things you won’t have to wonder about if you have a My Account set up with the Canada Revenue Agency:**

– Has the CRA assessed my 2023 tax return and confirmed my refund amount or balance owing?
– How can I make changes to my tax return?
– How much contribution room do I have for my registered retirement savings plans (RRSP) and tax-free savings accounts (TFSA) in 2024?
– How do I set up or change the financial institution where my tax refund is direct deposited?
– When are my next Canada Carbon Rebate, GST tax credit, and Canada Child Benefit payments due, and how much will they be?
– How do I apply for the Canada Dental Benefit?

And the list goes on and on – see the bottom of this article for the full list as originally published on the CRA website

To get started the easy way use one of their “Sign-in partners”. That means you can login using your online banking info. It does not work for all banks, but TD, Scotia, BMO RBC and Tangerine are included.

The first time you login, your view is restricted. You cannot see everything. For that privilege, you apply for a Web Access Code, which you can apply for by calling 1-877-322-7849. Or you can apply for it online. WAC online service

Accessing the My Account services

To get access, you will need:

• your social insurance number;
• your date of birth;
• your current postal code or ZIP code and;
• an amount you entered on your income tax and benefit return, so have your return on hand (the line requested will vary and it could be from the current tax year or the previous one).

For step-by-step instructions on setting up your CRA user ID and password, go to Registration process to access the CRA login services.

Here is a comprehensive list of information available at Your CRA Account:

Services in My Account

List of services
Services	Limited service (no security code needed)	Full service (security code needed)
View status of tax return	Yes	Yes
View detailed status of tax return	No	Yes
Manage online mail	Yes	Yes
Request a remittance form	Yes	Yes
View notice of assessment or reassessment	Yes	Yes
View detailed notice of assessment or reassessment	No	Yes
View RRSP	No	Yes
View Home Buyers’ Plan and Lifelong Learning Plan	No	Yes
View Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)	No	Yes
Arrange my direct deposit (start, update, stop)	No	Yes
View carryover amounts	No	Yes
View tax information slips: T4, T4A, T4A(P), T4A(OAS), and T4E	No	Yes
View disability tax credit	No	Yes
View account balance and statement of account	No	Yes
Change my return	No	Yes
Address and telephone numbers (view, update)	No	Yes
Apply for child benefits	No	Yes
Benefits and credits overview	No	Yes
View Canada Child Tax Benefit and related provincial and territorial programs payments, account balance, and statement of account	No	Yes
View GST/HST credit and related provincial programs payments, account balance, and statement of account	No	Yes
View Universal Child Care Benefit payments, account balance, and statement of account	No	Yes
View and update children in my care	No	Yes
View Working Income Tax Benefit advance payments	No	Yes
Submit documents	No	Yes
View authorized representative	No	Yes
Authorize my representative	No	Yes
Pay by pre-authorized debit	No	Yes
Register my formal dispute	No	Yes
View installments	No	Yes
Change my marital status	No	Yes

In summary, there are many benefits why you should open an account with CRA, and no downside as far as I can see.

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