Contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Help with common topics

Answers to top questions

• Access a CRA account

  What problem are you having?

  I need a CRA security code to sign in

  If you don’t have your code yet

  It may take up to 10 business days to get a CRA security code by mail.

  If you don’t want to wait, you may be able to use the document verification service to get your full access immediately.

  If you have received your code

  If you cannot find your CRA security code, or if your code has expired, you may be able to use the document verification service to get your full access immediately.

  Otherwise, you can request a new CRA security code to be sent by mail.

  If you lost your code and can't use the document verification service

  You will need to call the CRA to receive another CRA security code by mail.

  Before you call:

  1. Have your tax documents ready to validate your identity
  2. Call 1-800-959-8281
  3. Select option 1 for online services

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  I can’t remember my CRA user ID or password

  You can recover your CRA user ID or password online.

  For My Account

  To recover your ID or password:

  1. Go to Sign in to My Account
  2. Select CRA user ID and password
  3. Choose Forgot your user ID or Forgot your password
     • If you forgot your CRA user ID, you will need your:
       • Social insurance number (SIN)
       • Date of birth
       • A copy of your assessed individual tax return from this year or last year
       • Answers to 4 security questions you set up during registration
     • If you forgot your CRA password, you will need your:
       • CRA user ID
       • Answers to 4 security questions you set up during registration

  If you still can't recover your user ID or password

  1. Have your tax documents ready to validate your identity
  2. Call 1-800-959-8281
  3. Select option 1 for online services

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  For My Business Account

  To recover your ID or password:

  1. Go to Sign in to My Business Account
  2. Select CRA user ID and password
  3. Choose Forgot your user ID or Forgot your password
     • If you forgot your CRA user ID, you will need your:
       • Social insurance number (SIN)
       • Date of birth
       • A copy of your assessed individual tax return from this year or last year
       • Answers to 4 security questions you set up during registration
     • If you forgot your CRA password, you will need your:
       • CRA user ID
       • Answers to 4 security questions you set up during registration

  If you still can't recover your user ID or password

  1. Have your tax documents ready to validate your identity
  2. Call 1-800-959-8281
  3. Select option 1 for online services

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  I’m having trouble with my Sign-In Partner

  Contact your financial institution if you have issues with your sign-in information.

  To change your Sign-In Partner

  If you still have access to the Sign-In Partner you previously used, you can change your Sign-In Partner at any time in your CRA account:

  1. Sign in using CRA sign-in services
  2. Select Sign-In partner
  3. Look for Switch My Sign-In Partner on the top of the Interac sign-in service page and follow the instructions
  4. After completing the switch, you will then continue to your CRA account

  If you can't access your previous Sign-In Partner

  You will have to register with your new Sign-In Partner:

  1. Have your tax documents ready to validate your identity
  2. Call 1-800-959-8281
  3. Select option 1 for online services

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  I’m having trouble accessing my provincial partner

  For help accessing your Provincial partner sign-in, refer to:

  • BC Services Card
  • MyAlberta Digital ID

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  I am locked out

  To unlock your account, you must validate your identity with the CRA by phone.

  1. Have the error code available
  2. Have your tax documents ready to validate your identity
  3. Call 1-800-959-8281
  4. Select option 1 for online services

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  I need to register for an account

  If you don't have a CRA account, you may register for one using CRA sign-in services.

  For more details:

  How to register an account

• Check the status of your tax refund

  How you file your personal income tax return can affect when you get your refund.

  Standard processing times

  The CRA aims to send you a notice of assessment, as well as any refund, within the following timelines:

  • Online filing: 2 weeks
  • Mailed paper return: 8 weeks
  • Non-resident return: 16 weeks

  These timelines apply only to returns we receive on or before the due date.

  Check the status of your return

  You may check the status of your return online using your CRA My Account.

  Sign in to My Account

  For other options: Check the status of your return

  Why you may not have received your refund

  If you have another government debt, the CRA may have kept all or part of your refund.

  How benefits and credits can be applied to your debt

• Find out why your benefit payment is missing

  Why benefit payments stop

  Your payments may stop if you did not:

  • File your tax return
  • Respond to a letter from the CRA about your situation
  • Inform the CRA of a change in:
    • Your address
    • Your banking information
    • Marital status
    • Child custody

  Your payments may stop if your spouse or common-law partner did not:

  • File their tax return
  • Inform the CRA of a change in:
    • Marital status
    • Child custody

  Check your benefit information

  Check CRA My Account to ensure that all information is up to date and there are no pending communications that need a response.

  Sign in to My Account

  Review dates for CRA benefits: Benefit payment dates

  For details about what can affect specific payments:

  • GST/HST credit: How much you can expect to receive
  • Canada child benefit: Keep getting your payments
  • Canada Carbon Rebate: When to expect your payments
• Change your contact or banking details

  You can change your information online using CRA sign-in services.

  Change your personal information

  Edit your Profile in your CRA My Account to change the following items:

  • Address
  • Direct deposit and banking
  • Marital status
  • Phone number
  • Email and correspondence options
  • Multi-factor authentication settings

  If you cannot access CRA sign-in services, check above if you can resolve your issue in Access a CRA account.

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  Change your business information

  Edit your Business profile in CRA My Business Account to update the following items:

  • Business address
  • Direct deposit and banking
  • Operating name

  For more information, refer to Changes to your business and CRA program accounts.

  If you cannot access CRA sign-in services, check above if you can resolve your issue in Access a CRA account.

• If you can’t get through to us by phone

  We are redirecting some calls to the automated phone line

  Due to the volume of calls, we may redirect your call to the automated service line. We’re trying to keep our average wait times to about 30 minutes.

  What you can do using the automated line

  The automated service line can help you:

  • Check the status of your tax return
  • Get an estimate on your refund amount
  • Find out your CRA account balance

  The automated service line is available all day except from 3 am to 6 am eastern (ET).

  Try calling at another time

  If you’re not able to address your concerns using the automated line, try calling again:

  • At a different time of day
  • On a different day of the week

  Check if a representative is available

  • If a wait time is provided, service representatives are available
  • If a wait time is “--”, your call will be redirected to the automated line

  Find a phone number and call again

  CRA service hours are listed in ET.

  Try other CRA online resources

  You may also find the information you need online.

  • Check the other “Common topics” on this page
  • Check your CRA account using CRA Sign-in Services
  • Find forms you need at Ordering forms and publications
  • Chat with a live representative using CRA Online chat
  • Review the topics on the CRA web pages
• Understand Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) payments

  For individuals

  Choose the option that applies to your payment:

  Check the status of your payment

  You can check your payment status using My Account.

  Sign in to My Account

  You can also check your bank statements if you receive payments by direct deposit.

  For more information, go to Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) for individuals.

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  Your payment amount is different than expected

  Increase to the rural supplement in October

  If you receive the rural supplement, your October payment amount may be more than usual. This payment includes the adjustment for the 10% increase, including the retroactive increase from April and July.

  All CCR recipients in Prince Edward Island are eligible for the rural supplement and the 10% increase has already been included in their payment amount since April 2024.

  If your rural supplement was impacted by the Census change

  Specific municipalities were impacted by the rural supplement change. The eligibility area has been reverted to the 2016 Census area

  Review affected municipalities

  Review affected municipalities

  Province	Municipality
  Alberta	Red Deer
  New Brunswick	Fredericton
  Nova Scotia	East Hants Holyrood Indian Brooks Niverville
  Ontario	Arnprior Beckwith Carleton Place Essex Kingsville Leamington McNab Braeside Mississippi Mills St. Charles
  Saskatchewan	Craven

  If you live in one of the affected municipalities, your April and July payments did not include the rural supplement amount. These amounts will be included with your October payment.

  Other factors affecting your payment amount

  Check your payment details

  You can check your payment status using My Account.

  Sign in to My Account

  You can also check your bank statements if you receive payments by direct deposit.

  For more information, go to Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) for individuals.

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  You did not receive a payment

  You may live in a province or territory where the Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) is not available.

  View provinces or territories not eligible for the CCR

  Other reasons why you may not have received your payment:

  1. Your 2023 tax return was not assessed in time to calculate your CCR amount
  2. You have a spouse or common-law partner who receives the payment (only one of you can receive the CCR for the family)
  3. Your payment was applied to an existing debt

  Check your benefit information

  Check My Account to ensure your information is up to date.

  Sign in to My Account

  For more information, go to Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) for individuals.

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  For small businesses

  Eligible Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) do not need to apply for this rebate. The rebate amount will be calculated automatically based on the number of employees you had in the designated provinces between 2019 and 2023, multiplied by a payment rate for each of those provinces and years.

  To be eligible, CCPCs must have filed their 2023 T2 corporation income tax returns no later than July 15, 2024.

  Payment date: we plan to issue the retroactive rebate payments for 2019 to 2023 to most eligible CCPCs by the end of December 2024.

  For details: Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses