How do I set up CRA My Account?

Go to canada.ca and search "CRA My Account." You can register using your social insurance number, date of birth, and your current or prior year tax return. CRA will mail a security code to your address on file, which you enter to complete registration. Alternatively, you can log in directly using your bank credentials if your bank (TD, RBC, CIBC, BMO, Scotiabank, and others) is a Sign-In Partner.

What can I see in CRA My Account?

CRA My Account shows your tax return status and Notice of Assessment, RRSP and TFSA contribution room, benefit payment dates and amounts (CCB, GST/HST credit, CAIP), direct deposit information, previous filed returns, tax slips submitted by employers and institutions, instalment payment history, and outstanding balances or refunds.

What is Auto-fill my return?

Auto-fill my return is a feature in most Canadian tax software (TurboTax, Wealthsimple Tax, H&R Block) that connects to CRA My Account and pre-populates your T1 with all tax slips CRA has on file — T4s, T5s, T3s, RRSP receipts, and more. It saves significant time and reduces manual entry errors. You must authorize the tax software to access your account.

Is CRA My Account safe to use?

CRA My Account uses multi-factor authentication and the government's secure GCKey infrastructure. However, CRA accounts have been targeted by credential stuffing attacks in the past (2020 breach). Use a unique, strong password, enable multi-factor authentication, and never access your account on a public Wi-Fi network without a VPN. Sign in via your bank's Sign-In Partner option for added security.

How long does it take to get access to CRA My Account after registering?

If you register using the CRA security code option, CRA mails your code to your address on file. This typically takes 5–10 business days. Once you receive and enter the code, you have immediate full access. If you use a Sign-In Partner (bank login), access is immediate — no mail code required.

How to Use CRA My Account in Canada (Step-by-Step)

CRA My Account is your central hub for everything tax and benefit-related in Canada. From checking your RRSP room to updating direct deposit, most Canadians should set it up and check it at least annually. Here is a complete walkthrough.

What is CRA My Account?

CRA My Account (formerly called “My Account for Individuals”) is the Canada Revenue Agency’s secure online portal. It gives you direct access to your personal tax information — no waiting on hold with CRA, no guessing your benefit payment dates.

How to register for CRA My Account

Option 1: Register directly with CRA (security code method)

Go to canada.ca → search “My Account” → select “My Account for individuals”
Click “Register” under the CRA login option
Enter your Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, and your current or most recent postal code
Enter information from your most recent tax return to verify your identity (CRA will ask for a line amount from your T1)
Create a CRA user ID and password
CRA will mail a security code to your address on file — this takes 5–10 business days
Log in and enter the code to activate full access

If your bank is a participating Sign-In Partner, you can log in to CRA My Account using your online banking credentials — no separate CRA password needed and no mail code waiting period.

Participating Sign-In Partners include:

TD
RBC (Royal Bank)
CIBC
BMO
Scotiabank
National Bank
Desjardins
ATB Financial
Several credit unions

How to use:

Go to CRA My Account → click “Sign-In Partner” option
Select your bank from the list
You are redirected to your bank’s secure login
After logging in, you are redirected back to CRA My Account with full access

This is the fastest way to register and the recommended option for most Canadians.

The most useful features in CRA My Account

1. Registered account room

Under “RRSP and savings plans”:

Your current RRSP deduction limit (contribution room available)
Your TFSA room (contribution room available including room from previous years)
Your FHSA room (if you have opened an FHSA)
HBP and LLP balances (Home Buyers’ Plan and Lifelong Learning Plan repayments outstanding)

This is the authoritative source for your registered account room — more reliable than any third-party tool.

2. Tax return and Notice of Assessment status

Under “Tax returns”:

Status of your most recently filed return (received, assessed, under review)
Your Notice of Assessment (NOA) for each year
Your Explanation of Changes if CRA changed your return
Your Express NOA — you can get it instantly after filing if your software links to My Account

3. Benefit payments

Under “Benefits and credits”:

Payment dates and amounts for CCB (Canada Child Benefit), GST/HST credit, CAIP (Climate Action Incentive Payment), and other benefits
Current eligibility status
Change marital status or update number of children to recalculate benefits

4. Tax slips

Under “Tax information slips (T-slips)”:

All T4s, T5s, T3s, T4As, T2202s, and other slips submitted to CRA by your employers, banks, investment firms, and institutions
Available from February onward for the prior tax year
Use Auto-fill my return in your tax software to import all slips in one step

5. Direct deposit

Under “Direct deposit”:

View or update your bank account for CRA payments (refunds, CCB, GST credits, etc.)
Changes typically take effect within 1–5 business days

6. Address and personal information

Under “Personal information”:

Update your mailing address
View phone numbers on file
See your correspondence preferences (paper vs. online mail)

7. Outstanding balance or refund

Under “Account balance and activities”:

See if you owe CRA money or have a refund pending
View payment history and any interest charges
Set up a payment plan if applicable

8. CRA mail (My Account online mail)

You can elect to receive CRA correspondence electronically rather than by paper mail. This means NOAs, letters, and benefit notices are sent to your My Account inbox — faster than the postal service and reduces the risk of mail being lost.

Using Auto-fill my return

Auto-fill my return connects your tax software to CRA My Account and imports all your available tax slips automatically.

How to activate:

Start your return in any CRA-authorized tax software (TurboTax, Wealthsimple Tax, H&R Block, UFile, TaxTips, etc.)
Look for the “Auto-fill my return” or “Import from CRA” option
You will be redirected to log in to your CRA account or Sign-In Partner
Authorize the software to access your slips
The software pulls all available slips into your return

What gets imported:

T4 (employment income)
T4A (pension, other income, CERB, etc.)
T5 (investment income)
T3 (trust income — note: T3 slips can be late and may not appear until March)
T2202 (tuition)
RRSP contribution receipts
T4RSP / T4RIF (RRSP/RRIF withdrawals)
And more

Important: Always review what was imported. If a T3 for an ETF is late, it may not appear until after your initial filing, requiring an amendment.

Security best practices

CRA accounts have been targeted by fraudsters using stolen passwords from other data breaches. Protect yours:

Use a unique password — never reuse a password from another site
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) — go to Profile → Security settings in My Account to enable it
Use the Sign-In Partner option — bank-level 2FA protects your CRA access
Never share your CRA credentials — CRA will never ask for your password
Check your account after tax season — verify no unauthorized changes were made to your direct deposit or address
Review your NOA carefully — if it shows income you did not earn, report potential fraud to CRA immediately

What to do if you are locked out

If you forget your password: use the “Forgot password” link on the CRA login page — a reset link or code is sent to your email or phone.

If your account is locked due to suspicious activity: call CRA at 1-800-959-8281 and request an account unlock. You will need to verify your identity.

How to Set Up CRA Direct Deposit — Get refunds and benefits faster
How to Change Address With CRA — Update your mailing info
How to Pay CRA Online — Pay a balance owing through My Account
How Much RRSP Room Do I Have? — Using My Account to check your limit