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Having an online CRA account makes it easier to manage your income taxes and government benefits at tax time and year-round. Here’s how to open a CRA account right.
Do you have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) online account? While it’s not mandatory to have one, a CRA account can make managing your personal and tax information much more convenient.
The CRA is Canada’s main federal taxing authority. It administers taxes, social and economic government benefits, and related incentive programs for the Government of Canada and most provinces and territories.
CRA accounts are referred to as “CRA sign-in services.” These services can save you time and hassle. Let’s look at what you can do with a CRA account and how to open one.
With a CRA account, you can check or manage your personal and tax information online instead of phoning or writing to the CRA to inquire.
The CRA has three types of online accounts: My Account for individuals, My Business Account for Canadians with a side hustle or small business, and Represent a Client for individuals to manage information on someone else’s behalf. Together, these three accounts are referred to as “CRA sign-in services.” There is no cost to open one or more CRA accounts.
To create a CRA account, you will need to gather the necessary IDs and documents beforehand. You will need:
Then, go to the registration page for CRA sign-in services. Start by determining which account you want to register for: My Account for individuals, My Business Account or Represent a Client.
Next, you will choose from a few sign-in options to register. The option you pick will be used each time you sign in.
If you’re registering for My Account as an individual and you live in Alberta or British Columbia, you can open the account through the provincial partner. You will need an Alberta.ca Account or a BC Services Card, which can be used for immediate access to My Account. Note that you can register for a CRA account with your provincial partner even if you have not filed your taxes in the last two years.
The next step is to verify your identity. You can wait for the CRA to mail you a security code, which takes up to 10 business days. When you receive it, enter it on the CRA sign-in services page before it expires. In the meantime, you will have limited access to account services.
Or, to get full access to your account sooner, you can use the CRA’s recently introduced document verification service by submitting a photo of yourself holding an accepted ID document. (You must be 16 or older to use this service.)
Lastly, you can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security. With MFA, you’ll be asked to enter a one-time passcode along with your password each time you sign in. You can choose to receive a passcode by phone or email, with a passcode grid or with an authenticator app.
Creating a strong user ID and password is crucial for keeping your CRA account and personal information secure. It should be easy to remember but difficult for others to guess. Avoid using personal information such as your name or SIN. Always use unique passwords for different accounts, and keep your credentials secure. Never share your password with anyone to maintain the safety of your account.
If you have lost or forgotten your CRA user ID or password, you can recover either or both online. For your user ID, go to the CRA sign-in services page and select your sign-in service. Choose the “CRA user ID and password” sign-in option, then click “Forgot your user ID?” You will need to provide your SIN, date of birth, and the amounts reported on your filed and assessed income tax and benefit return from the current or previous tax year. Additionally, you will need to answer the security questions you set up back when you registered for the account.
If you forget your CRA password, go to the CRA sign-in services page and select your sign-in service. Choose “CRA user ID and password” from the sign-in options, then click “Forgot your password?” Enter your CRA user ID and answer the security questions you set up during registration to update your password to a new one.
Opening a CRA account can significantly simplify how you manage your taxes and government benefits. And, if you also set up direct deposit to your bank account, you may get that tax refund or government benefit payment faster. Remember the recent Canada Post strike? Those with direct deposit were happy they didn’t have to wait to receive things like Canada Child Benefit payments or Old Age Security cheques in the mail.
From viewing your tax return status to managing your business accounts, having a CRA account provides a convenient, secure and efficient way to handle your financial matters online. Make a CRA account today to take advantage of these online services and make taxes convenient and easy.
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