Most Canadians file online and receive their refund in about two weeks. But several factors (how you filed, whether CRA selects your return for review, and whether you have direct deposit) can push that timeline out considerably. This page covers the wait and how to track it; the filing itself is in the guide to filing a tax return.
Typical Refund Timelines
| Filing Method | Typical Refund Timeline |
|---|---|
| NETFILE (online, e-tax software) | 2 weeks |
| EFILE (through a tax professional) | 2 weeks |
| Paper return (mailed) | 8 weeks |
| International return (outside Canada) | Up to 16 weeks |
| Paper return selected for review | 16+ weeks |
These are CRA’s published guidelines. During peak season (March to April), processing can take slightly longer due to high volume.
Electronic vs Paper: Why the Gap Is So Large
When you file online through NETFILE or EFILE, CRA receives structured data that flows directly into their processing systems. An automated check confirms basic math and eligibility, and if no issues arise, the refund is issued quickly.
Paper returns must be manually keyed into CRA’s systems by staff, a much slower process. CRA has been encouraging electronic filing for years, and now approximately 93% of Canadian returns are filed electronically. NETFILE vs paper filing explains who still has to file on paper.
How to Check Your Refund Status
Before a refund can be issued, the return has to be received and accepted; how to know if your tax return was accepted covers that first step.
CRA My Account
- Log in at canada.ca/my-account
- Go to Accounts and Payments → Tax refund
- If processing is complete, CRA will show the refund amount and expected payment date
The rest of the account’s features are in how to use CRA My Account.
CRA Phone Line
Call 1-800-959-8281 and choose option 4 (automated, every day from 6 am to 3 am ET) with your:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Date of birth
- Total income from line 15000 of your current or most recent return
Mobile app
The MyCRA mobile app (available on iOS and Android) provides the same refund status information as My Account.
If a deposit you don’t recognize appears in your bank account, what the CANADA RIT deposit is explains one of the common CRA labels.
What Slows Down a Refund
1. Pre-Assessment Review
CRA randomly selects a percentage of returns for pre-assessment review, a request for supporting documents before releasing your refund. Common triggers include:
- Medical expense claims
- Charitable donation amounts above average
- Large tuition or education credits
- Work-from-home deductions
- Business income or rental income
If selected, CRA will send a letter specifying what documents they need and giving you 30 days to respond. Responding promptly and with complete documentation typically resolves the review in 4 to 6 weeks.
2. Unpaid CRA Debts
If you have an outstanding balance from a prior year, student loan default, or EI/CERB overpayment, CRA may apply your refund against the debt automatically. You’ll receive a notice explaining the offset.
3. Direct Deposit Not Registered
Without direct deposit, CRA mails a cheque to your address on file. Cheques take 1 to 2 additional weeks and can be delayed if your address is outdated.
Set up direct deposit: CRA My Account → Profile → Direct deposit. You’ll need your bank’s transit number, institution number, and account number (found on a blank cheque or through online banking).
4. Late Filing During Peak Season
Returns filed in April, close to the deadline, enter CRA’s queue at the busiest time. Early filers (February to March) tend to receive refunds faster.
5. Errors on the Return
Mismatched SINs, math errors, or conflicting T-slip data can cause CRA to pause processing. CRA My Account will show if your return is “in progress” versus “assessed.”
Refunds From a Changed Return
If you change a prior year’s return to claim forgotten credits, the refund follows the processing time of the method you used; changing a filed return compares the methods and how long each takes. If the CRA takes more than 30 days to process an adjustment, it pays interest on the refund at the CRA prescribed rate.
Once the Refund Arrives
What to do when you get a tax refund looks at the options for the money. If the CRA’s assessment shows a balance owing instead, why you owe taxes this year goes through the usual causes.