Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with CRA

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Return or repay a payment

Status: Ended

Retroactive applications

The CRA is continuing to accept and process retroactive applications until December 2, 2020.

You can apply for periods 5 to 7 through the CRA’s My Account or automated toll-free phone line at 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041.

You can apply for periods 1 to 4 by speaking to one of our agents at 1-800-232-1966. Please note that you may be required to provide additional documentation to the CRA prior to your application being approved.

Why you would send the CERB back

The CRA has provided convenient ways for you to get the CERB as quickly as possible. But we need to ensure that the CERB is kept only by people who are eligible. Your situation may have changed since you first applied, or you may have made an honest mistake when applying.

Payments made to anyone who is later found to be ineligible will need to be returned. Any individuals who mistakenly received multiple payments or payments they did not apply for can also begin the repayment process below, in How to return or repay the CERB.

Determine if you need to repay the CERB to the CRA

Choose the situation that applies to you

Earned more income than expected during the time you received the CERB payment
Choose the eligibility period you may need to repay
- March 15 to April 11, 2020
  For the period of March 15 to April 11, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
  Do you still meet this criteria?
  
  Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
  - Yes
  - No
  - Unsure
- April 12 to May 9, 2020
  In addition to the period April 12 to May 9, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period March 15 to April 11, 2020?
  - Yes
    
    During the period of April 12 to May 9, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    
    For the period of April 12 to May 9, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- May 10 to June 6, 2020
  In addition to the period May 10 to June 6, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period April 12 to May 9, 2020?
  - Yes
    
    During the period of May 10 to June 6, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    
    For the period of May 10 to June 6, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- June 7 to July 4, 2020
  In addition to the period June 7 to July 4, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period May 10 to June 6, 2020?
  - Yes
    
    During the period of June 7 to July 4, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    
    For the period of June 7 to July 4, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- July 5 to August 1, 2020
  In addition to the period July 5 to August 1, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period June 7 to July 4, 2020?
  - Yes
    
    During the period of July 5 to August 1, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    
    For the period of July 5 to August 1, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- August 2 to August 29, 2020
  In addtion to the period August 2 to August 29, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period July 5 to August 1, 2020?
  - Yes
    
    During the period of August 2 to August 29, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    
    For the period of August 2 to August 29, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- August 30 to September 26, 2020
  In addition to the period August 30 to September 26, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period August 2 to August 29, 2020?
  - Yes
    
    During the period of August 30 to September 26, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    
    For the period of August 30 to September 26, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
Applied for and got the CERB from both Employment Insurance/Service Canada and from the CRA for the same eligibility period
Applied for the CERB but later realized you’re not eligible
None of the above

Alternative format: Determine if you need to repay the CERB to the CRA

Repayment scenarios

This could happen if:

you earned employment or self-employment income earlier than expected
you applied for the CERB but later realize you’re not eligible
you receive a CERB payment from both Service Canada and the CRA for the same period

If you applied for the CERB twice in one period

If you applied for the CERB or EI with Service Canada, and then later applied for the CERB with the CRA for the same eligibility period, you applied twice. If this happens, you will have to return or repay the overpayment.

Do I have to repay my CERB if I get rehired or find a new job?

You are required to repay the CERB if you no longer meet the eligibility requirements for the 4-week period in question. For example, you applied for the 4-week period of April 12 to May 9. At the time you applied, you expected to have little or no work or income for that 4-week period. But you have just found out your employer has rehired you and will give you back-pay for that same 4-week period. In this situation, you will need to repay the CERB for that 4-week period of April 12 to May 9.

Repayment conditions

The conditions around paying back the CERB are different if you’re paying back your first eligibility period, or a subsequent period.

For your first eligibility period

If your employment or self-employment income was $1,000 or less (before deductions) for at least 14 days in a row during this 4-week period, you do not need to repay the CERB.

For subsequent eligibility periods

You will need to repay the $2,000 for an eligibility period if you earned or will earn more than $1,000 (before deductions) from employment or self-employment income during that period.

Recognize CERB repayment scams

Beware of fraudulent emails, texts or calls claiming to be from the CRA about repaying the CERB or requesting personal information.

For more on what to expect when we contact you, and what information we ask for, go to Protect yourself against fraud.

How to return or repay the CERB

Send back your payment to the department where you applied for it

Where did you apply for the CERB?

CRA
Service Canada
Not sure where I applied
Read the descriptions below to determine where you applied.

You applied through the CRA if:
- the application you filled out was very short
- you applied through CRA My Account or applied with an automated phone service
- you were asked what period of eligibility you were applying for and then had to certify that you met the eligibility requirements
Note: It is possible you may have logged in to My Service Canada Account and then switched to CRA My Account to apply.

You applied through Service Canada if:
- you applied online and did not need to enter a user ID or password.
- applying by telephone was not available
- you were asked several questions, similar to an employment insurance (EI) application, including the type of EI benefits you were applying for and the name of your former employer
Where did you apply for the CERB?
- CRA
- Service Canada
- I'm still not sure

If you were paid by direct deposit or don't have the original CERB cheque

To repay the CERB, choose one of the following options:

Online:

Online banking:

With your financial institution:

Sign in to your financial institution's online banking service
Under "Add a payee" look for an option such as: CRA (revenue) – tax instalment
Enter your 9 digit social insurance number (SIN) as the CRA account number

By mail:

Mail a cheque or money order to the CRA:

Make the payment out to "Receiver General for Canada"
Indicate it is for "Repayment of CERB"
Indicate which eligibility period you are repaying
Include your Social Insurance Number (SIN) or your Temporary Tax Number (TTN)
Mail your payment to:
Revenue Processing – Repayment of CERB
Sudbury Tax Centre
1050 Notre Dame Avenue
Sudbury ON P3A 0C3

If you still have the original CERB cheque

You can return the cheque by mail.

Be sure to include:

the reason for returning the cheque (not entitled or overpayment)
your Social Insurance Number (SIN) or Temporary Tax Number (TTN)

Mail the cheque to:

Revenue Processing – Repayment of CERB
Sudbury Tax Centre
1050 Notre Dame Avenue
Sudbury ON P3A 0C3

Send your EI/ Service Canada payment back to Service Canada

If you received your CERB from Service Canada (EI), you must send it back to Service Canada.

Impact on tax slips

The CERB is taxable. You will receive a T4A tax slip on the amount of CERB you receive.

If you repay the CERB, the CRA won’t issue a T4A for that payment. To ensure that we don’t issue slips improperly, you need to repay your CERB before December 31, 2020.

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