Available sign-in options

You register for a CRA account to access My Account, My Business Account, and Represent a Client.

There are 3 different ways to sign in to your CRA account. Whichever option you choose, you will access the same information and services.

1. Using a Sign-In Partner
   Use the same sign-in information you use for online banking.
2. Using a CRA user ID and password
   Use your CRA user ID and password.
3. Using a provincial partner (residents of Alberta and British Columbia only)
   Use your Alberta.ca Account or BC Services Card.

Below is an image of the CRA account sign-in page:

Select register for a CRA account if you don’t already have existing credentials.

Choose a sign-in option to register with and follow the onscreen instructions to complete your registration. The sign-in option you choose will be the one you use each time to sign in to your CRA account.

What you need to register

To register for a CRA account, you will need:

• your social insurance number (SIN)
• your date of birth
• the amount you reported on line 15000 of your most recent tax return
• another amount you entered on your most recent tax return

Social insurance number (SIN)

Social insurance number (SIN)

The amounts you enter during the registration process must be from your current or previous year’s tax return. Have your assessed tax returns on hand as the system won’t always ask for the amounts from the same line.

To get immediate access to your CRA account, you will need a mobile device with a working camera and one of the following:

• your Canadian passport
• your Canadian driver’s license
• your provincial or territorial photo ID card

Using multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication is an enhanced security measure used throughout the CRA’s sign-in services. It helps to ensure the safety and protection of your information. It is also an additional way to verify your identity.

When you register for a CRA account you can choose to get the one-time passcode on:

• a third-party authenticator app
• a phone
• a passcode grid

Using a third-party authenticator app

To use a third-party authenticator app, you will need to download an app that is compatible with a CRA account. Using the app, scan the provided QR code or manually enter the setup key the CRA provides you in the app. The app will then generate a one-time passcode for you to sign in with.

Using a phone

To receive the one-time passcode by phone, you will need to provide a cell or landline phone number. When you sign in to your CRA account, the system will send you a one-time passcode through voice or text message.

Using a passcode grid

The system will create a unique passcode grid for you. The grid is a table made up of numbered rows and lettered columns, like a bingo card. It is important to either save or print this passcode grid.

Choosing a verification option

The next step of the registration process is to verify your identity to gain full access to all the services available in My Account.

Choose one of the 2 verification options:

• the document verification service
• a CRA security code

The document verification service

Validate your identity in real-time so you do not need to wait for a CRA security code to be mailed to you. This service can only be used by persons aged 16 or older.

To use this service you will complete the following steps:

• use a mobile device to take a picture of your government-issued photo identification (ID)
• take a picture of yourself to validate your identity

Accepted government-issued photo identification:

• Canadian passport
• Canadian driver’s license
• Provincial or territorial photo ID card

CRA security code by mail

If you choose this option, you will be asked to enter your postal code for the mailing address you currently have on file with the CRA. The CRA will send you this code by mail and it should arrive within 10 business days. This is the only time you will have to enter this code.

The CRA security code has an expiry date. Enter the code before it expires or you will have to contact the CRA to have a new code issued to you.

If you decide to register for a CRA account using another sign-in option, you can still use the CRA security code that was mailed to you (until it expires).

Once you request a CRA security code, you will have limited access to My Account. This means that you can only see certain information. You will need to complete your registration if you want to use all the available services .

Where do you enter your CRA security code

After receiving your CRA security code, sign in to your CRA account with the sign-in option you chose when you registered. Follow the instructions and enter your CRA security code when prompted

Protecting your sign-in information

When you register for a CRA account, your sign-in information allows you to access your own personal information.

You should be careful not to share your:

• social insurance number
• personal tax information
• CRA security code
• CRA user ID or password
• sign-in partner information

Someone could use this information to change your personal information on file with the CRA. This could cause significant problems, like fraud or identity theft. You could also miss out on benefit payments you’re eligible for and have to go through many steps to correct your account.

Letting someone access your tax information

If you want to give someone else (like a friend or a family member) access to your tax information, you can authorize them as your representative in your CRA account. This gives them access to your account with the CRA. You can cancel this access whenever you feel it is necessary.

If your authorized representative wants to see your information online, they have to use the CRA’s Represent a Client portal.

What is My Account

My Account is the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) online portal for individuals inside your CRA account. It lets you view your personal income tax and benefit information and manage your tax account. Everyone who registers for a CRA account has access to My Account.

My Account is:

• convenient
  My Account is available 21 hours a day (from 6 am to 3 am Eastern standard time), 7 days a week, so you can pick a time that works for you
• easy to use
  It only takes a few clicks to see your information and request changes
• fast
  Your information is available in real-time and you can process some actions like a change of address, immediately
• secure
  The CRA has multiple security features in place to protect your information

What you can do with My Account

My Account lets you view and manage your personal income tax and benefit information online.

Once the CRA has assessed your tax return, you can see the details online. However, you cannot file your taxes using My Account. If you want to file your taxes online, you need to use NETFILE-certified tax software.

NETFILE-certified tax software

A tax preparation software is “certified” when the developer has gone through a process with the CRA to make sure its software is compatible with the CRA’s systems.

You can use many different services in My Account.

Viewing your tax information

Services	Limited service	Full service
Verify the status of your tax return	Yes	Yes
View your detailed notice of assessment or reassessment	No	Yes
View your proof of income statement	No	Yes
View your information slips	No	Yes
View your carryforward amounts	No	Yes
View the deduction limit for your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)	Yes	Yes
View detailed information about your tax-free savings account (TFSA)	No	Yes
View account balance and statement of account	No	Yes
View the status of files that you have submitted to the CRA (Progress Tracker)	No	Yes

Information slip

Information slip

Carryforward amounts

Carryforward amounts

Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)

Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)

Tax-free savings account (TFSA)

Tax-free savings account (TFSA)

Managing your tax account

Services	Limited service	Full service
Change your tax return	No	Yes
Pay by pre-authorized debit (create new agreement)	Yes	Yes
Pay by pre-authorized debit (manage active agreements, view inactive agreements)	No	Yes

Managing your benefits and credits

Services	Limited service	Full service
Apply for the Canada child benefit (CCB)	No	Yes
Check your benefit and credit payments	No	Yes
View your disability tax credit (DTC) information	No	Yes
View and update children in your care	No	Yes

Canada child benefit (CCB)

Canada child benefit (CCB)

Updating your personal information

Services	Limited service	Full service
View or update your address	No	Yes
Arrange your direct deposit (start, update, stop)	No	Yes
Change your marital status	No	Yes

Communicating with the CRA

Services	Limited service	Full service
Submit documents to the CRA online	No	Yes
Get your CRA mail online	No	Yes
Create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to quickly confirm your identity when you call the CRA	No	Yes

Providing an email address in My Account

The CRA requires My Account users to have an email address on file to help protect their account from fraudulent activity.

Receiving CRA mail electronically

If your correspondence preferences are set to “Electronic mail,” you will get an email letting you know that you have mail in My Account when it’s available. The only way to read your online mail, like your notice of assessment, is by using My Account. You will not receive a paper copy of most CRA mail.

Notice of assessment

Notice of assessment

If you still want to receive your mail from the CRA by paper, make sure “Electronic mail” is not ticked in your correspondence preferences. Your mail will still be available to view in My Account, but you will not receive an email notification about it.