Having access to your CRA My Account is one of the most important steps you can take to make tax season smoother and faster. It allows you to view your tax information online, track refunds, access benefits, and avoid common delays when filing your return.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to sign up for CRA My Account, what you’ll need, and why it matters.
What Is CRA My Account?
CRA My Account is an online portal provided by the Canada Revenue Agency that allows individuals to securely manage their tax information.
With CRA My Account, you can:
- View and download tax slips (T4s, T5s, RRSP slips, etc.)
- Check your Notice of Assessment
- Track refunds and balances owing
- Update personal information (address, direct deposit)
- View and manage benefits and credits (CCB, GST/HST credit, etc.)
- Authorize a tax professional to act on your behalf
Why You Should Set It Up Before Tax Season
Each year, we see tax delays caused by:
- Missing slips
- Locked or inaccessible CRA accounts
- Outdated personal information
- Delayed benefit payments
Setting up CRA My Account before tax season helps:
✔ Speed up filing
✔ Avoid refund delays
✔ Reduce document requests
✔ Ensure benefits are calculated correctly
What You’ll Need Before You Start
To register, make sure you have:
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Your date of birth
- Your current postal code
- Information from your last filed tax return (line 15000 / total income)
Step-by-Step: How to Sign Up for CRA My Account
Step 1: Go to the CRA Website
Visit the official CRA website and select CRA My Account under “Individuals.”:
Choose “Sign in to CRA My Account.”
Step 2: Choose How You Want to Sign In
You have two options:
- Sign-In Partner (your bank login)
- CRA User ID and password
Both options are secure. Many people find the bank sign-in faster.
Step 3: Enter Your Personal Information
You’ll be asked to confirm:
- SIN
- Date of birth
- Postal code
- Amount from a prior year tax return (used for identity verification)
Step 4: Receive Your Security Code
For first-time users, CRA will mail you a one-time security code to your home address.
📬 This usually arrives within 5–10 business days.
Once received:
- Log back into CRA My Account
- Enter the security code to unlock full access
Setting Up Direct Deposit (Highly Recommended)
Inside CRA My Account, you can set up or confirm direct deposit. This ensures:
- Faster tax refunds
- Timely benefit payments
- Fewer cheque delays or lost mail
How to Authorize Us as Your Tax Representative
Authorizing a representative allows us to retrieve most of your tax slips directly from CRA — saving you time.
How to authorize:
- Log in to CRA My Account
- Go to “Manage Profile”
- Select “Authorize a Representative”
- Enter:
- REP ID: B79P46B
- Access level: Level 2
- Expiry: No expiry
Once authorized, we can securely access the information needed to prepare your return.
Common Issues (and How to Avoid Them)
Account locked or inaccessible
→ Set up access early, not during peak tax season
Address doesn’t match CRA records
→ Update your address before registering
No prior tax return filed
→ New residents may need alternative verification
If you run into issues, CRA support or professional assistance can help resolve them.
Final Thoughts
CRA My Account is one of the most useful tools available to Canadian taxpayers — but only if it’s set up and working properly. Taking a few minutes now can prevent weeks of delays later.
If you need help registering, authorizing access, or understanding what you see inside your account, we’re here to help.
📩 Have questions? Reach out anytime — we’re happy to guide you through it.