How to change your return

Avoid delays by submitting adjustment requests electronically

For faster service, submit your request electronically using Change my Return in My Account or ReFILE.

For more information, see Check CRA processing times.

You can request a change to your income tax and benefit return by amending the amount entered on specific lines of your return. Wait until you receive your notice of assessment before asking for changes to your return.

Do not file a new return for that year unless the return you want to amend was assessed under subsection 152(7) of the Income Tax Act.

Change your return online

My Account

My Account is a secure portal that lets you view your income tax and benefit information and manage your tax affairs online.

Change my return

Change my return is a secure My Account service that allows you to make online adjustment requests for the 10 previous calendar years. For example, a request made in 2023 must relate to tax year 2013 or later to be considered.

The CRA has improved features in Change my return to make it easier to change your return online. These new features guide you through common adjustments such as adjustments to add tax information slips and claiming the disability tax credit.

The enhancements to Change my return include questions and messages when:

For information on processing times, see Processing times.

New options in Change my return

You can now make an online request to apply certain losses:

You can also make an online election to split pension income.

Note

Before a request can be allowed, both the transferring spouse or common-law partner and the receiving spouse or common-law partner must ask for an adjustment if the elected split-pension amount was not previously claimed. For more information, see How do you split your pension income.

You can now use Change my return to change certain non-resident returns, such as those for:

For more information on filing a non-resident return, see Non-residents of Canada.

You cannot use Change my return to change any of the following:

In any of these cases, make your request By mail.

ReFILE

ReFILE is an online service that lets individuals and EFILE service providers send online adjustment requests for income tax and benefit returns with certified NETFILE software and EFILE software.

To use ReFILE, your income tax and benefit return must have been filed electronically.

Individuals who used NETFILE can use ReFILE to make adjustment requests for 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 returns.

EFILE service providers can send adjustment requests for 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 returns. If you have questions about the functionality available in your software package, contact your software provider.

The CRA has improved features in ReFILE to include questions and messages when:

New options in ReFILE

You can now:

You cannot use ReFILE to do any of the following:

To learn more about ReFILE and the exceptions, go to ReFILE.

After you have made online changes to your income tax and benefit return, keep all your receipts and supporting documents in case the CRA asks to see them later. Only provide supporting documents when asked to do so and using the method of submission requested in the CRA's letter.

Change your return by mail

For faster service, submit your request for changes electronically using Change My Return in My Account or ReFILE.

If you have to make your adjustment request by mail, send the following to your tax centre:

Send your current year return separately from any request to change your return for another year.

Processing times

The CRA's goal is to send you a notice of reassessment as well as any refund, or a letter explaining why the CRA did not make the changes you asked for, within:

For more information, go to Service Standards in the CRA.

Complex adjustment requests

Processing time frames apply to routine adjustment requests. Some change requests are considered complex and will take longer to process due to the additional verification required. They include adjustments related to:

Processing your request is the CRA's highest priority. The time required to complete a complex adjustment request varies with the type of adjustment and the circumstances involved. The CRA continually strives to find the right balance between processing timeliness and the need to protect the integrity of the self-assessment tax system.

When the review is done

The CRA will send you one of the following:

To change your address, go to Update your CRA information: Change your address.

Forms and publications

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