Update your personal information with the CRA – Change your language of correspondence

Processing time: Immediate

Change your language of correspondence online using your CRA account.

CRA sign in

1. Sign in your CRA account
2. Select the Individual panel to access My Account
3. Select Profile
4. Scroll to Language of Correspondence
5. Select Edit
6. Follow the instructions

If you can't sign in to your CRA account

If your phone number has changed and you can't receive your multi-factor authentication (MFA) passcode to sign in, you will have to update your information by phone.

For more help with My Account, go to: Help with using your CRA account

Make a change for someone else

To change the language of correspondence online for someone else, including a spouse or family member, you must be an authorized representative and use Represent a Client in your CRA account.

Processing time: Immediate

Before you call

Have all of the following information ready to verify your identity:

• Social insurance number (SIN)
• Full name and date of birth
• Complete address
• Assessed tax return, notice of assessment or reassessment, or other tax document

You can also be signed in to your CRA account to access your tax information.

Make a change for someone else

You can only call on behalf of someone else in the following 2 situations:

• The person is present on the call to verify their identity in English or French and provides verbal authorization for you to speak for them

• You are the person's legal representative with full legal authority to act as them

  For details: Authorize a representative

Telephone numbers

1-800-959-8281 (opens up phone application)1-800-959-8281

Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut:
1-866-426-1527 (opens up phone application)1-866-426-1527 (toll free)

Outside Canada and the United States (operates in Eastern Standard Time):
1-613-940-8495 (opens up phone application)1-613-940-8495 (collect)

The CRA only accepts collect calls made through a telephone operator. After your call is accepted by an automated response, you may hear a beep and notice a normal connection delay. This service operates in Eastern Standard Time.

Teletypewriter (TTY) or Canada VRS

Teletypewriter (TTY):

1-800-665-0354 (opens up tty application) 1-800-665-0354

Canada VRS (Video Relay Service):

Register with Canada VRS to download the app and call the VRS line

If you use any other operator-assisted relay service, call our regular telephone numbers on this page instead of the TTY or Canada VRS numbers.

Hours

CRA’s Business Enquiries line hours

Day	Hours
Mon to Fri	6:30 am to 11:00 pm ET
Sat	7:30 am to 8:00 pm ET
Sun	Closed
Closed on public holidays

Processing time: 4 to 6 weeks after we receive your documents

Mail or fax a letter to your tax centre with the following information:

• Request to change your preferred language of correspondence (English or French)
• Your social insurance number (SIN)
• Your signature

Processing time:

• If you file electronically, at the same date and time your return is processed
• If you file a paper return, approximately 8 weeks after receiving your return

You can change the language of correspondence when filing your return using one of the following methods:

• On your paper tax return
• Filing electronically using NETFILE
• Filing electronically through a tax preparer or authorized service provider using EFILE

However, you should not wait for tax filing season to update your information. In some cases, identification changes could have a direct impact on your eligibility for benefits.