Authorize a representative: How to give authorization
Process for confirming a representative
In October 2022, we expanded the Confirm my Representative service, which helps individual taxpayers and business owners to protect their tax information using My Account or My Business Account, to include authorization requests received using certified tax software (EFILE) for business. To learn more about this service, go to Confirm my representative's authorization request.
4. How to give authorization
You are authorizing a representative for a:
- personal tax account
- business tax account
- non-resident tax account
- trust tax account
- Online:
-
Fastest way. Authorizing a representative online gives them immediate access to your CRA account. You must already be registered with My Account for Individuals.
- Alternative online methods:
-
Second fastest way. Your representative submits an authorization request via EFILE.
Your representative must be a registered electronic filer in good standing. EFILE must be used with CRA certified professional tax software. This gives your representative instant access to your CRA accounts.
Authorization requests can be submitted 21 hours a day, except between the hours of 3:00 am and 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time.
Before submitting an authorization request via EFILE, your representative will ask you to sign a signature page and will keep it in their records. It must be kept for six years following the date that the return was electronically filed. It is a good idea to keep a copy for your records too. Do not send the signature page to the CRA unless we ask to see it. Signature pages sent to the CRA that we have not requested will not be processed or returned.
For more information or to apply for EFILE, go to EFILE for electronic filers.
Third fastest way. Your representative submits an authorization request in Represent a Client.
Your representative can submit an authorization request electronically. You need to be registered for My Account to use this option.
If your representative has a RepID, they can log in to Represent a Client.
After they complete the authorization request, you will need to confirm or deny the request in My Account.
Important: A signature page will no longer be generated as it is no longer required for this option.
Note: If you cannot register for My Account, you will need to provide your representative with information from your notice of assessment from a previous return that was processed at least six months ago. For more information, go to Alternative process for individuals.
To learn more about how you can easily and securely authorize and verify new authorization requests, go to Confirm my representative's authorization request.
Note: A representative cannot submit an authorization request in Represent a Client for a deceased client until we receive and process a copy of the deceased person's last will and testament. For more information, go to Legal representative for a deceased person.
- By mail:
-
Slowest way. Mail a form to authorize a representative for offline access only.
Mailing a form will only authorize your representative for access to your tax information over the phone, by mail, by fax, or in person.
You must fill in and sign a separate authorization form for each representative. By signing Form AUT-01, Authorize a Representative for Offline Access, you are authorizing the representative to have access to information regarding your accounts by phone, by mail, by fax, and in person. Note that this does not provide online access.
Send the form to the appropriate CRA tax centre listed on the form within six months of the date it is signed.
- Online:
-
Fastest way. Authorizing a representative online gives them immediate access to your CRA account. You must already be registered with My Business Account.
- Alternative online methods:
-
Your representative submits a business authorization request via EFILE.
Your representative must be a registered electronic filer in good standing. EFILE must be used with CRA certified professional tax software. This gives your representative instant access to your CRA accounts.
Authorization requests can be submitted 21 hours a day, except between the hours of 3:00 am and 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time.
Before submitting an authorization request via EFILE, your representative will ask you to sign a signature page and will keep it in their records. It must be kept for six years following the date that the return was electronically filed. It is a good idea to keep a copy for your records too. Do not send the signature page to the CRA unless we ask to see it. Signature pages sent to the CRA that we have not requested will not be processed or returned.
After your representative submits an authorization request using EFILE, you will need to confirm or deny the request in My Business Account.
To learn more about how you can easily and securely authorize and verify new authorization requests, go to Confirm my representative's authorization request.
For more information or to apply for EFILE, go to EFILE for electronic filers.
Your representative submits a business authorization request in Represent a Client.
Your representative can submit business authorization requests electronically. You need to be registered for My Business Account to use this option, unless there is an exclusion. For more information, go to Exclusions to the Confirm my Representative service.
If your representative has a RepID, they can log in to Represent a Client.
After they complete the authorization request:
- You will need to sign the certification page before they can submit it to us.
- Your representative will need to submit the signed certification page using "Submit documents" in Represent a Client. Do not mail or fax a copy of the certification page to the CRA. These copies will not be processed or returned to you.
- You will need to confirm or deny the request in My Business Account (unless there is an exclusion).
To learn more about how you can easily and securely authorize and verify new authorization requests, go to Confirm my representative's authorization request.
- By mail:
-
Slowest way. Mail a form to authorize a representative for offline access only.
Mailing a form will only authorize your representative for access to your tax information over the phone, by mail, by fax, or in person.
You must fill in and sign a separate authorization form for each representative. By signing an authorization form, you are authorizing the representative to have access to information regarding your accounts by phone, by mail, by fax, and in person. Note that this does not provide online access.
To authorize a representative to have offline access to your:
- Business account information, use Form AUT-01, Authorize a Representative for Offline Access, and mail the form to the appropriate CRA tax centre listed on the form within six months of the date it is signed.
- Selected Listed Financial Institutions with Quebec sales tax account information, use Form RC7259, Business Consent for Certain Selected Listed Financial Institutions, and mail the form to the CRA tax centre listed on the form within six months of the date it is signed.
- By mail:
-
Mail a form to authorize a representative.
You must fill in and sign a separate authorization form for each representative. By signing Form AUT-01, Authorize a Representative for Offline Access, you are authorizing the representative to have access to information regarding your accounts.
Send the form to the following tax centre within six months of the date it is signed:
Sudbury Tax Centre
Post Office Box 20000, Station A
Sudbury ON P3A 5C1
Canada - By fax:
-
Fax a form to authorize a representative.
You must fill in and sign a separate authorization form for each representative. By signing Form AUT-01, Authorize a Representative for Offline Access, you are authorizing the representative to have access to information regarding your accounts.
Fax the form within six months of the date it is signed to 1-705-671-4559.
- Online:
-
You can apply for a trust account number online by using the Trust account registration service available on the CRA's secure online portals My Account, My Business Account and Represent a Client.
Fastest way. The primary trustee must log in to Represent a Client and complete the primary trustee registration. The primary trustee can then authorize a representative or additional trustees online that gives them immediate access to My Trust Account. For more information visit: About My Trust Account.
Second fastest way. Representatives can submit an authorization request electronically in Represent a Client. The primary trustee needs to be registered for My Trust Account within Represent a Client to use this option.
After the representative completes the authorization request, the primary trustee will need to confirm or deny the request in My Trust Account.
To learn more about how you can easily and securely authorize and verify new authorization requests, go to Confirm my representative's authorization request.
- By mail:
-
Slowest way. Mail a form to authorize a representative.
Mailing a form will only authorize your representative for access to your tax information over the phone, by mail, by fax, or in person.
You must fill in and sign a separate authorization form for each representative. By signing Form AUT-01, Authorize a Representative for Offline Access, you are authorizing the representative to have access to information regarding trust accounts.
Send the form to the appropriate CRA tax centre listed on the form within six months of the date it is signed.
Report a problem or mistake on this page
- Date modified: