CRA My Account is arguably the most important free tool available to Canadian taxpayers, yet millions of Canadians still haven’t set it up. In under 15 minutes, you get instant access to your RRSP and TFSA contribution room, past Notices of Assessment, refund tracking, and the Auto-fill feature that imports your T4 and T5 slips directly into tax software. If you do nothing else after reading this, register today — it will save you time every tax season and help you avoid costly over-contribution mistakes.
What Is CRA My Account?
Online Portal Features
Feature
Benefit
View tax info
Returns, assessments
Track refunds
Real-time status
Check contribution room
RRSP, TFSA
Update info
Address, direct deposit
Authorize reps
Accountant access
Why You Need It
Reason
Details
Instant access
No waiting for mail
Auto-fill returns
Slips imported
Direct deposit
Faster refunds
Track everything
All tax history
How to Register
Option 1: Sign-In Partner
Step
Action
1
Go to canada.ca/my-cra-account
2
Click Sign-In Partner
3
Choose your bank
4
Log in with bank credentials
5
CRA verifies identity
6
Complete registration
Participating Banks
Institution
Available
TD Canada Trust
Yes
RBC Royal Bank
Yes
BMO
Yes
Scotiabank
Yes
CIBC
Yes
National Bank
Yes
Desjardins
Yes
Tangerine
Yes
Option 2: CRA User ID
Step
Action
1
Go to canada.ca/my-cra-account
2
Click CRA user ID
3
Choose Register
4
Create user ID and password
5
Set up security questions
6
Verify identity
Identity Verification
Information Needed
Item
Details
SIN
Social Insurance Number
Date of birth
As on file with CRA
Current postal code
As on file
Tax return info
From prior return
From Prior Return
Info
Why Needed
Line from return
Verifies identity
Amount
Specific dollar amount
Year
Which tax year
If Can’t Verify Online
Alternative
Process
Security code by mail
5-10 business days
In-person
Service Canada office
Call CRA
Sometimes possible
Setting Up Your Account
After Registering
Task
Why
Set up direct deposit
Faster refunds
Verify address
Correct information
Review tax history
Check accuracy
Check contribution room
RRSP, TFSA
Direct Deposit Setup
Step
Action
1
Log into My Account
2
Navigate to Direct Deposit
3
Enter bank account info
4
Confirm details
5
Save
Bank Info Needed
Field
Details
Institution number
3 digits
Transit number
5 digits
Account number
7-12 digits
Features Overview
Tax Returns and Assessments
Feature
What You Can Do
View returns
Past submissions
Notice of Assessment
View/print
Tax slips
T4, T5, etc.
Reassessments
If any changes
RRSP/TFSA Information
Feature
Details
Contribution room
Current room
Prior contributions
History
Deduction limit
RRSP
Participation
TFSA since 2009
Refund Status
Status
Meaning
Received
CRA has return
Processing
Being reviewed
Assessed
Process complete
Sent
Refund issued
Benefits and Credits
Feature
What You See
GST/HST credit
Amounts/dates
Canada Child Benefit
Payments
Climate Action Incentive
If applicable
Auto-fill My Return
What It Is
Feature
Details
Tax slip import
CRA sends to software
Slips available
T4, T5, T3, etc.
Time saver
No manual entry
How to Use
Step
Action
1
Use certified tax software
2
Connect to CRA account
3
Authorize software
4
Slips auto-import
5
Verify accuracy
Auto-fill is the single biggest time-saver in CRA My Account. Instead of manually entering every T4, T5, T4A, and RRSP receipt, your tax software pulls the data directly from CRA’s records. This dramatically reduces data entry errors — one of the most common tax mistakes — and ensures you don’t miss slips from banks or employers you’ve forgotten about. Just note that not all slips are available on the first day of tax season; waiting until mid-March gives CRA time to collect all third-party data.
What Auto-fills
Slip
Information
T4
Employment income
T5
Investment income
T4A
Other income
T4E
EI benefits
T4RSP
RRSP withdrawals
RRSP receipts
Contributions
Security Features
Protecting Your Account
Feature
Details
Logout automatic
After inactivity
Security questions
Additional verification
Alert messages
For activity
Two-factor
If enabled
Tips
Tip
Why
Don’t share login
Security
Use strong password
Protection
Monitor alerts
Catch fraud
Log out when done
Public computers
Authorize a Representative
Allow Access
Who
Why
Accountant
Tax preparation
Spouse
Joint management
Family member
Assistance
How to Authorize
Step
Action
1
Log into My Account
2
Go to Authorize a representative
3
Add representative info
4
Specify access level
5
Rep accepts on their end
Access Levels
Level
What They Can Do
Level 1
View only
Level 2
View and request info
Level 3
View, request, make changes
Common Tasks
Change Address
Step
Action
1
Log into My Account
2
Go to Personal Information
3
Update address
4
Save changes
View TFSA Room
Step
Action
1
Log into My Account
2
Go to RRSP and TFSA
3
Click TFSA
4
View contribution room
View RRSP Room
Step
Action
1
Log into My Account
2
Go to RRSP and TFSA
3
Click RRSP
4
View deduction limit
Track Refund
Step
Action
1
Log into My Account
2
Go to Returns
3
View status
4
Check refund issued date
Troubleshooting
Locked Out
Issue
Solution
Forgot password
Reset online
Too many attempts
Wait and retry
Revoked ID
Create new or call
Verification failed
Call CRA
CRA Contact
Method
Details
Phone
1-800-959-8281
Hours
Mon-Fri 9am-9pm
Wait times
Can be long during tax season
Common Issues
Problem
Solution
Slips not showing
Wait until mid-February
Wrong information
Contact employer/issuer
Room seems wrong
May take time to update
Can’t link software
Re-authorize
Mobile Access
CRA Mobile App
Platform
Available
iOS
Yes
Android
Yes
Features
Most My Account features
App Features
Feature
Available
View benefits
Yes
Track refund
Yes
View slips
Yes
Update address
Yes
Summary
Why Set Up Now
Benefit
Details
Ready for tax season
Auto-fill ready
Track refund
Real-time
Know your room
RRSP, TFSA
Direct deposit
Faster money
Quick Start
Priority
Action
1
Register online
2
Verify identity
3
Set up direct deposit
4
Link to tax software
The Bottom Line
Setting up CRA My Account takes about 15 minutes and pays dividends every tax season. Use the Sign-In Partner option (your bank login) for the fastest registration, set up direct deposit immediately for faster refunds, and take advantage of Auto-fill when filing through certified tax software. Check your RRSP and TFSA room at least once a year to avoid penalties.