How do I update my address with CRA after moving provinces?

You can update your address with CRA through: (1) My CRA Account at canada.ca/my-cra-account — fastest method, takes effect immediately; (2) By phone at 1-800-959-8281 (individuals) or 1-800-959-5525 (businesses); (3) By mail to your tax centre; (4) On your next annual tax return in the address fields. For most people, My CRA Account is the fastest and most reliable method. The change updates your mailing address for all CRA correspondence including GST credits, CCB, and assessment notices.

What happens if I don't update my address with CRA after moving?

If CRA sends your GST credit, Canada Child Benefit, or other payments to your old address, they may be returned or lost. Cheques returned to CRA result in payments being held until you update your address — they are not automatically re-issued. Direct deposit payments continue regardless, but correspondence such as assessments, audit letters, or account balance notices will go to the old address and you may miss them. There is no penalty for a late address update, but there is a real risk of missing CRA communications.

Does the CRA automatically get notified of a provincial move?

No. CRA does not receive automatic notification from provincial registries, Canada Post, or health departments when you move. You are responsible for updating your address. Your employer will update payroll tax deductions when you notify them of your new address, which CRA sees via T4 slips, but this happens annually — not immediately. Update CRA directly rather than relying on your employer or indirect channels.

How does moving provinces affect my GST credit and Canada Child Benefit?

Federal benefits like the GST/HST credit and Canada Child Benefit are recalculated when CRA updates your province of residence. The federal portion is the same across all provinces, but if you move from a province that charges HST to Alberta (GST only), your GST credit calculation may change slightly since it compensates for sales taxes paid. CCB amounts are federally uniform. However, provincial benefit supplements (Ontario Trillium, BC Child Opportunity top-up, Alberta Child Benefit, etc.) stop or start based on province — these require separate action or are triggered by CRA updating your province.

Do I need to notify Service Canada separately from CRA?

Yes. CRA and Service Canada are separate agencies with separate systems. Updating CRA does not update Service Canada (which administers EI, CPP, OAS). Update Service Canada separately through My Service Canada Account at canada.ca/en/employment-social-development, by phone at 1-800-206-7218, or at a Service Canada office. If you receive OAS, CPP, or EI, updating Service Canada ensures payments and correspondence go to the right address.

What else do I need to update when I change provinces?

Beyond CRA and Service Canada: driver's licence and vehicle registration (within 90 days in most provinces), provincial health insurance (register in new province immediately; notify old province), your employer (affects provincial tax withholding on paycheques), financial institutions (bank accounts, RRSP/TFSA providers — for accurate tax slip province), Canada Student Loans (if applicable), NSLSC, and your provincial health benefits insurer. For most programs, your CRA province update flows downstream — but registry, health, and employer updates are independent.

How to Update CRA After Moving Provinces in Canada

Short Answer

Update CRA as soon as you move provinces — through My CRA Account at canada.ca, by phone, or on your next tax return. CRA does not get automatic notification from any other agency. Also update Service Canada separately for EI, CPP, and OAS. Missing these updates delays benefit payments and puts you at risk of missing CRA correspondence.

Step-by-Step: Updating CRA

Method 1: My CRA Account (Fastest)

Go to canada.ca/my-cra-account
Log in with your CRA account (or via banking sign-in or GCKey)
Navigate to Profile → Personal Information → Manage Address
Update your address and province
Submit — takes effect immediately

Method 2: Phone

Who you are	Phone number	Hours
Individual taxpayer	1-800-959-8281	Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm local
Business	1-800-959-5525	Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm local

Have your SIN, date of birth, and details from a recent tax return ready.

Method 3: Next Tax Return

The address section of your T1 return is updated by CRA when processed. This is the slowest method — tax returns filed in April cover the prior year, creating a multi-month lag.

Step-by-Step: Updating Service Canada

Action	How
Online	My Service Canada Account at canada.ca/my-service-canada-account (linked to My CRA Account login)
Phone	1-800-206-7218 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–4:30pm local)
In person	Service Canada office — bring ID

Update Service Canada if you receive or expect to receive: EI benefits, CPP payments, OAS/GIS, or any correspondence from ESDC.

Master Checklist: All Agencies and Organizations to Notify

Government Agencies

Agency	What they manage	How to update
CRA	Taxes, GST credit, CCB, tax correspondence	My CRA Account / phone
Service Canada / ESDC	EI, CPP, OAS, GIS	My Service Canada Account / phone
Provincial health insurance (old)	Notify of departure date	Contact old province’s health authority
Provincial health insurance (new)	Register for new coverage	Contact new province’s health authority
Elections Canada	Voter registration	Vote.ca or during tax filing

Private / Financial

Organization	What they manage	Why it matters
Employer	Payroll, provincial income tax	Update immediately so correct province’s tax is withheld
Banks	Accounts, address for statements	Affects provincial tax slips (T3, T5)
RRSP/TFSA/FHSA provider	Account address	Ensures T4RSP, T4FHSA slips go to right address
Private pension plan	Pension statements	Compliance and communication
Life/home/auto insurance	Policies	Province affects rates and coverage terms
Canada Student Loans (NSLSC)	Loan account	nslsc.canlearn.ca

Provincial Services (New Province)

Action	Province	How
Driver’s licence	All	Provincial registry office within 90 days
Vehicle registration	All	Provincial registry office within 90 days
Health card	All	Register at new province’s health authority
Provincial benefit programs	New province	Apply directly (Alberta Works, AISH, BC social assistance, etc.)

What Happens to Your Benefits When CRA Updates Your Province

Benefit	What changes
GST/HST Credit	Minor recalculation if moving between HST and non-HST province
Canada Child Benefit	No change to federal amount; province-specific supplements stop/start
Ontario Trillium Benefit	Stops when no longer Ontario resident
Alberta Child and Family Benefit	Starts when CRA recognizes Alberta residency
BC Child Opportunity Benefit	Stops when no longer BC resident

Provincial supplemental benefits are often triggered automatically by CRA’s province update — but check with the new province’s program directly if you expect to qualify.

Timeline: When to Update vs When Changes Take Effect

Action	When to do it	When it takes effect
Update CRA address	Day of move or first day in new province	Immediately (address only)
Province updated for tax purposes	Filed on Dec 31 of move year	At next tax return
Employer payroll withholding	Notify employer promptly	Next pay period
Provincial benefits (old) stop	When CRA processes province change	Can vary by program
Provincial benefits (new) start	When new province program verifies residency	Varies — some require separate application

What Happens If You Don’t Update CRA

Risk	Consequence
Missing GST/CCB cheques	Payments returned, held until address corrected
CRA audit notices go to old address	You miss deadline to respond
Balance owing notices missed	Interest and penalties accumulate
RRSP contribution limit letter missed	You rely on wrong room calculation
Wrong province on payroll T4	Employer files incorrect slips; causes tax discrepancy

Bottom Line

Update CRA the week you move — it takes five minutes through My CRA Account. Also notify Service Canada separately for EI, CPP, and OAS accounts. Then update your employer, provincial health authorities, and financial institutions. The most common mistake is assuming a Canada Post mail forward or a single address change in one system is enough — it is not. Each agency maintains its own records independently.