Update your personal information with the CRA - Change your marital status
You must tell the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) about your new marital status by the end of the following month after your status changed. For example, if your status changed in March, you must tell us by the end of April. You should not wait for tax filing season to update your information.
Update your marital status
You must tell the CRA that your marital status has changed if:
- You got married
- You became common-law
- You are separated for more than 90 days (due to a breakdown in the relationship)
- You got divorced
- You became a widow
Recalculation of benefit and credit payments
Your marital status has an impact on the amount(s) you receive since your benefit and credit payments are calculated based on your adjusted family net income (AFNI), which includes your income and that of your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable). Therefore, if your AFNI changes as a result of your marital status being updated, the CRA will recalculate your benefits and credits to determine if you were paid too much or too little. The adjustment, if any, will start the month after your marital status changed.
Benefit and credit overpayments
If a recalculation shows that we paid you too much, the CRA will send you a notice with a remittance voucher attached to inform you of the balance owing. If you receive a repayment notice, go to Payments to the Canada Revenue Agency.
You can use the Child and family benefits calculator to estimate what benefits you may be eligible to receive, and how much, based on your new marital status.
Ways to update your marital status
Online
Processing time: Immediate
Change your marital status online using your CRA account.
- Sign in to your CRA account
- Select your Individual account to access My Account
- Select Profile
- Scroll to Marital status
- Select Edit
- Follow the steps to update your marital status
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 a marital status online for someone else, including a spouse or family member, you must be their legal representative and use Represent a Client in your CRA account.
By phone
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 documents
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
- Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut:
1-866-426-1527 (toll free) - Outside Canada and the United States (operates in Eastern Standard Time):
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
-
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
By mail or fax
Processing time: 4 to 6 weeks after we receive your documents
Mail or fax your request to your tax centre using one of the following options:
-
Complete a form: Option 1
Complete Form RC65, Marital Status Change
-
Write a letter: Option 2
Your letter must include your:
- Name
- Phone numbers
- Social insurance number (SIN)
- New marital status
- Date of change
- Signature
If your new status is Married or Living in common-law, you must also include your partner's:
- Name
- Social insurance number (SIN)
- Address, if different from yours
Make a change for someone else
To change the marital status of another individual, such as your spouse or common-law partner, you must be their legal representative. The letter must include all of the above, along with the name of the legal representative clearly mentioned with a signature.
On your tax return
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 your marital status when filing your return using one of the following methods:
- On your paper 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.
Change your marital status with other government departments
You need to contact each government organization that provides services to you to give them your new information.
The CRA will not share your new marital status or other personal information, including direct deposit, with other government departments.
Contact another Government of Canada department or agency
Update other information
Change your other personal details with the CRA, including your address, phone number or email address.
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