Register for a CRA account

Register to access My Account, My Business Account, and Represent a Client.

1. Decide if you need to register

   If you have already registered for My Account, My Business Account or Represent a Client using a CRA user ID and password or a Sign-In Partner, you cannot register again. You must use the same sign-in information you already registered with to access your CRA account.

   Already registered

   Use your existing credentials

   If you have already registered for a CRA account, sign in with your existing credential.

   If you have forgotten your CRA user ID or password, go to: Lost or forgotten CRA user ID or password.

   Change the option you sign in with

   If you registered with a provincial partner, you can also create a CRA user ID and password or use a Sign-In Partner.

   If you registered with a CRA user ID and password, you can sign in with your CRA user ID and password and revoke your credential so you can register with a different sign-in option or create a new CRA user ID and password.

   If you registered with a Sign-In Partner, you can sign in with your current Sign-In Partner and switch to a different Sign-In Partner.

   Access another portal for the first time

   My Business Account

   To access My Business Account:

   1. Sign in to your CRA account
   2. From the Welcome page, select Add account
   3. Select Business account
   4. Select Add business number
      • You cannot use a 10-digit Québec Enterprise Number (NEQ)
      • If you don’t have a business number, select Business Registration Online (BRO) to get one first
      • If you have forgotten your business number, you will have to contact us
   5. Enter your 9-digit business number and select Add
   6. After getting your confirmation, return to the Welcome page and select the Business panel to access My Business Account

   Represent a Client

   To access Represent a Client for the first time, you will have to register yourself or your business as a representative:

   1. Sign in to your CRA account
   2. From the Welcome page, select Add account
   3. Select Representative account
   4. Select Register with Represent a Client
   5. Select Register your business or Register yourself
   6. After getting your confirmation, return to the Welcome page and select the Representative panel to access Represent a Client

   You will also have to request authorization to access someone else's tax information.

2. Gather your documents

   When you register with a CRA user ID and password or a Sign-In Partner, you will need all of the following:

   • Your social insurance number (SIN)
     
     If you do not have a SIN

     If you don't have a SIN, we will also accept:

     • A temporary tax number (TTN)
     • An individual tax number (ITN)
     • A non-resident representative number (NRRN), if you are registering for a CRA account to access Represent a Client
       
       Applying for a non-resident representative number (NRRN)

       If you are a non-resident representative living in the United States, you can register for a CRA account to access Represent a Client with a NRRN to access information and services on behalf of individuals and businesses.

       1. Submit Form RC391, Application for a Canada Revenue Agency Non-Resident Representative Number (NRRN) and provide supporting documentation to prove your identity
       2. Wait until you receive a letter in the mail with your NRRN
       3. Register for a CRA account to access Represent a Client with your NRRN instead of a SIN
   • Your date of birth
   • Amounts you reported on your most recent tax return
     Which tax return you can use

     The income tax and benefit return you use must meet both of the following conditions:

     • It was filed and assessed
     • It is your most recent tax return in the last 2 years

     Use only the amounts that you reported on your return, even if your return was reassessed and the amounts have changed.

   For faster access to your CRA account, you will also need a mobile device with a working camera and one of the following:

   • Your Canadian passport
   • Your Canadian driver's license
   • Your provincial or territorial photo ID card

   When you register with a provincial partner, you only need your SIN.

   Have your documents ready before you begin

   During registration, your session will expire after 18 minutes of inactivity. Gather your documents before you begin to avoid your session timing out.

3. Choose a sign-in option to register with

   The option you register with will be the same option you use each time you sign in. Make a selection below to begin.

   Find the best option for your situation

   Learn more about the sign-in options:

   Sign-In Partner

   This option lets you use the same banking sign-in information you use with other online financial accounts. You must already have an online account with one of our Sign-In Partners.

   CRA user ID and password

   This option lets you create a username and password that you use with your CRA account.

   Provincial partner

   If you already have a BC Services Card or an Alberta.ca Account, you can use them to immediately access your CRA account.

   GC Key

   You cannot use GC Key to sign in to a CRA account.
   You can use GC Key with other Government of Canada departments and agencies.

   Your sign-in information is anonymous

   The Government of Canada uses anonymous credentials to allow users to communicate securely with online Government of Canada services. An anonymous credential is one that does not contain any personally identifiable information.

   Register with one of these options

   Sign-In Partner: Registration

   Help with Sign-In Partners

   You must have an online account with one of our Sign-In Partners:

   • Affinity Credit Union
   • ATB Financial
   • BMO Financial Group
   • Caisse Alliance
   • CIBC Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
   • Coast Capital Savings
   • connectFirst Credit Union
   • Conexus Credit Union
   • Desjardins Group (Caisses Populaires)
   • Libro
   • Meridian Credit Union
   • National Bank of Canada
   • RBC Royal Bank
   • Scotiabank
   • Servus Credit Union
   • Simplii Financial
   • Steinbach Credit Union
   • Tangerine
   • TD Bank Group
   • UNI
   • Vancity
   • Wealthsimple

   Contact your bank for assistance with registering for online banking.

   Your banking and tax information is never shared

   • Your banking information and the identity of your financial institution are not shared with the Government of Canada.

   • None of your personal tax information will be shared with your financial institution.

   Learn more about our commitment to your privacy: Privacy Statement

   More help with Sign-In Partners

   Do not use autofill on a shared device

   Do not use autofill for your online banking information if you are on a shared device. When you are on your Sign-In Partner's website, ensure it is your information that is entered and not that of somebody else.

   If you register with someone else's banking credentials by mistake and link your SIN to them, the other person will have access to your tax information.

   CRA user ID and password: Registration

   Help with CRA User ID and password

   Choose memorable security questions

   You will be asked to choose 5 security questions that we will use to validate your identity in different situations, for example, if you forget your CRA user ID.

   Remember your answers

   Your answers should be easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess. Answers that can change over time or questions that have more than one answer can be hard to remember.

   More help with CRA user ID and password

   Provincial partner (BC, AB): Registration

   Help with provincial partners

   To use this option, you must have an account with one of our provincial partners:

   • BC Services Card
   • Alberta.ca Account

   Provincial partner

   The first time you sign in, you will need to enter your SIN to verify your identity. You will not need to use the document verification service or a CRA security code to verify your identity.

   You can register with your provincial partner even if you have not filed your taxes in the last 2 years.

   More help with provincial partners

4. Verify your identity

   Choose an option to verify your identity:

   • Submit a photo of yourself and your ID document Option 1 of 2

     You can use the document verification service to verify your identity immediately.

     Use a mobile device to take a real-time picture of yourself and an accepted identification document.

     You must be 16 years of age or older to use this service.

   • Wait for your CRA security code Option 2 of 2

     If you can't use the document verification service, a CRA security code will be sent to you by mail within 10 business days.

     We will send your CRA security code to the address we have on file. Make sure your address is up to date. You will need to sign in and enter your CRA security code before it expires.

   For My Account only: Get limited access before completing your identity verification

   Services in My Account with limited and full access

5. Enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA)

   You will be required to enter a one-time passcode in addition to your password to sign in.

   Choose an option to get your one-time passcode:

   • With an authenticator app Option 1 of 3

     You can use a third-party authenticator app to generate your time-based one-time passcode.

     When prompted, use the app downloaded on your mobile or desktop device to either scan a QR code or manually enter the setup key provided by the CRA. The app can then be used to generate your one-time passcode.

   • By phone Option 2 of 3

     You will need to provide at least one cell or landline number so we can send you a one-time passcode by phone. You must enter this number to access your CRA account.

   • With a passcode grid Option 3 of 3

     The system will generate a unique passcode grid that you will need to save or print. You will use this grid every time you access your CRA account.

     Your passcode grid will expire after 18 months. Make sure you sign in and generate a new one before the expiry date.

   Avoid getting locked out of your account

   More help with multi-factor authentication

6. Complete your identity verification

   Complete the verification option that you chose in step 4:

   • The document verification service Option 1 of 2

     Follow the instructions to complete this process on your mobile device.

     Avoid losing your progress

     During registration, your session will expire after 18 minutes of inactivity. Complete your document verification within that time to avoid your session timing out.

   • CRA security code Option 2 of 2

     After you receive your CRA security code in the mail, sign in to your CRA account and enter your code before it expires.

     Get a new CRA security code

     If your CRA security code expired, sign in to request a new CRA security code to be sent by mail.

     If your code gets lost, or has not arrived after 10 business days, you can contact us to get a new one.

7. For Represent a Client only:
   Get authorized to access someone else's information

   You must request authorization from your client, family member or friend to access their information.

   Request authorization for your business

   If you would like to access someone else's tax information through your business, you must register your business in Represent a Client and then request authorization with your business number (BN).

   Learn more: Manage how your business uses Represent a Client