Using My Account

Available sign-in options

There are 3 different ways to sign in to your CRA account. Whichever option you choose, you will access the same information and services.

The 3 options are:

1. Using one of our sign-in partners
   This option lets you sign in or register with the same sign-in information you use for other online services (for example, online banking).
2. Using a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) user ID and password
   This option lets you create a CRA user ID and password just for online services with the CRA.
3. Using a provincial partner (residents of Alberta and British Columbia only)
   This option lets you use your MyAlberta Digital ID or BC Services Card to sign in to your CRA account.

Note: Before you can register using sign in options 1 or 2, you must have filed your income tax and benefit return for the current tax year or the previous one.

Income tax and benefit return

Income tax and benefit return

Below is an example of the CRA account sign-in page:

What you need to register

Registering for a CRA account is a 2-step process.

1. Step 1: Entering your personal information
2. Step 2: Choose a verification option

Once you complete Step 1, you will have limited access to My Account. This means that you can see only certain information. You will need to complete your registration if you want to use all the available services.

To complete Step 1 of registering for a CRA account, you will need:

• your social insurance number (SIN)
• your date of birth
• your current postal code or ZIP code
• the amount on line 15000 from the tax return you filed for the current year or the previous year
• an amount you entered on your tax return
  • Be sure to have your tax returns on hand as the system won’t always ask for the same line and it could be from the current tax year or the previous one.
• your email address

Social insurance number (SIN)

Social insurance number (SIN)

Tax year

Tax year

Follow the onscreen instructions to complete Step 1 of the registration process, as they vary slightly depending on which option you choose.

Note: As of February 2022, the CRA requires that My Account users have an email address on file to help protect their online accounts from fraudulent activity.

Choosing a verification option

Step 2 of the registration process is to verify your identity in order to gain full access to all the services available in My Account.

You choose one of the 2 verification options:

• the Interac document verification service
• a CRA security code

Note: If you registered using a provincial partner, this option does not require a CRA security code.

Interac document verification service

This option validates your identity in real-time so you do not need to wait for a CRA security code to be mailed to you. This service can only be used by persons age 16 or older. To use this service you will complete the following steps:

• use a mobile device to take a picture of your government-issued photo identification (ID)
• take a picture of yourself to validate your identity

Accepted government-issued photo identification:

• Canadian passport
• Canadian driver’s license
• Provincial or territorial photo ID card

CRA security code by mail

If you choose this option, once you complete Step 1 of the registration process for your CRA account, the system automatically issues you a CRA security code. The CRA sends this code by mail and it should arrive within 10 business days.

This code has an expiry date. Enter the code before it expires, or you will have to contact the CRA to have a new code issued to you.

If you decide to register for a CRA account using another sign-in option, you can still reuse the security code that was mailed to you until it expires.

If you receive a security code in the mail when you did not recently register for any of the CRA’s online services, contact the CRA right away.

Where do you enter your CRA security code

After receiving your CRA security code, go to the CRA account sign-in page. Choose the option you chose in Step 1 of the registration process and sign in. Follow the instructions and enter your security code when prompted.

Using multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication is an enhanced security measure used throughout the CRA’s sign-in services. It helps to ensure the safety and protection of your information. It involves verifying your identity more than one way.

You choose how to verify your identify when you register for My Account.

You can choose to use either:

• a one-time passcode
• a passcode grid

Using a one-time passcode

If you choose this option, you will need to provide at least one cell or landline phone number. When you sign in to your CRA account, the system will send you a one-time passcode.

Using a passcode grid

If you choose this option, the system will create a unique passcode grid for you. The grid is a table made up of numbered rows and lettered columns, like a bingo card.

It is important to either save or print this passcode grid.

Protecting your sign-in information

When you register for a CRA account, your sign-in information allows you to access your own personal information.

You should be careful not to share your:

• social insurance number
• personal tax information
• CRA security code
• CRA user ID or password
• sign-in partner information

Someone could use this information to change your personal information on file with the CRA. This could cause significant problems like fraud or identity theft. Also, you could miss out on payments you’re entitled to and have to go through many steps to correct your account.

Letting someone access your tax information

If you want to give someone else (like a friend or a family member) access to your tax information, you can authorize them as your representative. This gives them access to your account with the CRA. You can also cancel this access whenever you feel it is necessary.

If your authorized representative wants to see your information online, they have to use the CRA’s Represent a Client portal.

My Account explained

My Account is the secure online portal for individuals in the CRA account. It lets you view your own personal income tax and benefit information and manage your own tax account.

My Account is:

• convenient
  My Account is available 21 hours a day (from 6 am to 3 am Eastern standard time), 7 days a week, so you can pick a time that works for you
• easy to use
  It takes only a few clicks to see your information and request changes
• fast
  Your information is available in real-time and you can process some actions like a change of address, immediately
• secure
  The CRA has multiple security features in place to protect your information

What you can do using My Account

My Account lets you see your income tax and benefit information online. You can also make changes to your CRA account yourself.  

Once the CRA has assessed your taxes, you can see the details online. However, you cannot do your taxes using My Account. If you want to do your taxes online, you need to use certified tax software.

You can access many different services in My Account.

Viewing your tax information

Services	Limited service (no security code needed)	Full service (security code needed)
Verify the status of your tax return
View your detailed notice of assessment or reassessment
View your proof of income statement
View your information slips
View your carryforward amounts
View the deduction limit for your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)
View detailed information about your tax-free savings account (TFSA)
View account balance and statement of account
View the status of files that you have submitted to the CRA (Progress tracker)

Information slip

Information slip

Carryforward amounts

Carryforward amounts

Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)

Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)

Tax-free savings account (TFSA)

Tax-free savings account (TFSA)

Managing your tax account

Services	Limited service (no security code needed)	Full service (security code needed)
Change your tax return
Pay by pre-authorized debit (create new agreement)
Pay by pre-authorized debit (manage active agreements, view inactive agreements)

Managing your benefits and credits

Services	Limited service (no security code needed)	Full service (security code needed)
Apply for the Canada child benefit (CCB)
Check your benefit and credit payments
View your disability tax credit (DTC) information
View and update children in your care

Canada child benefit (CCB)

Canada child benefit (CCB)

Updating your personal information

Services	Limited service (no security code needed)	Full service (security code needed)
View or update your address
Arrange your direct deposit (start, update, stop)
Change your marital status

Communicating with the CRA

Services	Limited service (no security code needed)	Full service (security code needed)
Submit documents to the CRA online
Get your CRA mail online
Create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to quickly confirm your identity when you call the CRA

Providing an email address in My Account

To make your account more secure, email addresses in My Account are now required

As of February 2022, the CRA requires My Account users to have an email address on file to help protect their online accounts from fraudulent activity.

Receiving CRA mail electronically

If your correspondence preferences are set to “Electronic mail,” you will get an email letting you know that you have mail in My Account when it’s available. The only way to read your online mail, like your notice of assessment, is by using My Account. You will not receive a paper copy of most CRA mail.

Notice of assessment

Notice of assessment

If you still want to receive your mail from the CRA by paper, make sure “Electronic mail” is not ticked in your correspondence preferences. Your mail will still be available to view in My Account, but you will not receive an email notification about it.