How do I sign up for CRA My Account?

You can access My Account using a Sign-In Partner (your bank — CIBC, RBC, TD, BMO, Scotiabank, Desjardins, etc.) or by registering for a CRA user ID and password. With a Sign-In Partner, you use your existing online banking credentials — no separate CRA registration required. If you register directly with CRA, you''ll need your SIN, date of birth, current postal code, and an amount from a recent tax return result. First-time filers (no previous return on file) must register directly with CRA and complete identity verification by mail.

Is CRA My Account secure?

CRA My Account uses multi-factor authentication — when you sign in, you must verify your identity via a security code sent by text, voice call, or an authenticator app. You should enable two-factor authentication (2FA), use a strong unique password, and never access My Account from a shared or public computer. CRA will never email, text, or call asking for your My Account password or SIN. Legitimate CRA contact always uses official mail or your My Account inbox. If you see unauthorized activity, call 1-800-959-8281 immediately.

What can I do in CRA My Account?

In My Account you can: view T4s, T5s, and other slips filed by your employer or financial institutions; check your RRSP contribution room and TFSA room; view your Notice of Assessment; track your refund; sign up for direct deposit; change your address, name, or marital status; file a T1 Adjustment to correct a past return; authorize a tax preparer or accountant to access your file; view GST/HST credit and Canada Child Benefit payment schedules; check past tax returns (last 10 years); and submit documents to CRA.

What should I check in My Account every year before filing?

Before filing your return, verify: your RRSP deduction limit (to avoid over-contributing), your TFSA room (to avoid the 1% monthly penalty), slips filed on your behalf by employers and institutions (to ensure you report all income), your carry-forward amounts (capital losses, tuition credits, non-capital losses), and your personal information (address, direct deposit info). CRA''s Auto-fill my return (AFR) uses this data to pre-populate your return — so errors found before filing are easier to resolve.

Does CRA My Account show TFSA contribution room?

Yes, but with a lag. My Account shows your TFSA room as of January 1 of the current year based on transactions reported by your financial institution for the prior year. It may not reflect contributions or withdrawals made in the current calendar year. Do not rely solely on My Account for real-time TFSA room — also track contributions and withdrawals yourself, especially if you use multiple institutions. TFSA over-contribution penalty is 1% per month on the excess balance.

What Is CRA My Account in Canada?

Q: What is CRA My Account?

CRA My Account is the Canada Revenue Agency''s secure online portal for individual taxpayers. It lets you view your tax return status, RRSP and TFSA room, benefit payment details, carry-forward balances, and notices of assessment. You can also make changes to your return, set up direct deposit, sign up for online mail, update your address, and authorize a representative — all without calling CRA. It is free to use and available 24/7 at canada.ca/my-cra-account.

Short Answer

CRA My Account is the federal government’s online portal for managing your tax and benefit information. Sign in using your bank credentials (Sign-In Partner) or a CRA user ID, and you can view slips, check RRSP/TFSA room, track refunds, update your information, and file corrections — all without waiting on hold.

During filing season, use My Account alongside how to file taxes in Canada and how to read your T slips so your inputs match CRA records. After filing, use how to read your Notice of Assessment to manage next steps.

Method	How it works	Who it suits
Sign-In Partner (bank)	Use your existing online banking login to authenticate	Most Canadians with one of the major banks
CRA user ID and password	Create a separate CRA login	Anyone who prefers not to link banking credentials
MyKey	Government-wide digital identity credential	Those who already have a MyKey account

Sign-In Partners include: RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank, Desjardins, National Bank, Affinity Credit Union, ATB Financial, and others.

Bank	Supported
RBC Royal Bank	✅
TD Bank	✅
BMO	✅
CIBC	✅
Scotiabank	✅
Desjardins	✅
National Bank	✅
ATB Financial	✅
Tangerine	✅
EQ Bank	❌ (use CRA user ID)
Simplii Financial	❌ (use CRA user ID)

Key Features of My Account

Feature	What you can do
View filed slips	T4, T4A, T5, T3, T2202, and other slips submitted by payers
RRSP room	Current RRSP deduction limit and unused contribution room
TFSA room	Room as of January 1 of the current year
Notice of Assessment	View NOAs from 2004 onward
Refund tracking	Track status: received, assessed, refund issued
Direct deposit	Set up or change refund/benefit direct deposit
Online mail	Go paperless — NOAs and correspondence delivered electronically
Change my return (T1-ADJ)	Correct a filed return for past 10 years
Authorize a representative	Grant an accountant or authorized representative access to your file
Upload documents	Respond to CRA requests or submit supporting documents
Canada Child Benefit	View payment schedule and amounts
GST/HST credit	Payment dates and eligibility
Home Buyers’ Plan	View repayment balance
Lifelong Learning Plan	View repayment balance

Auto-Fill My Return (AFR)

Auto-fill my return is one of the most useful My Account features — it automatically imports slips and data directly into NETFILE-certified tax software:

Data auto-filled	Source
T4 employment income	Employer’s filed T4
T4A pension/contract income	Payer’s filed T4A
T5 investment income	Financial institution
T3 trust income	Fund/trust manager
RRSP contribution receipts	Financial institution
RRSP carry-forward room	Previous NOA
Tuition-related slips (T2202)	Educational institution
Home Buyers’ Plan repayment	CRA records

To use AFR, your tax software must be NETFILE-certified and you must authorize the data download when logging in to file.

Security Best Practices

Action	Why it matters
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)	Prevents unauthorized access even if password is compromised
Use a unique password for CRA	CRA credential stuffing attacks use email/password combos from data breaches
Never use public Wi-Fi	Man-in-the-middle attacks can intercept sessions
Check your account regularly	Catch unauthorized address changes or direct deposit changes early
Register for online mail	Receive NOAs and correspondence quickly — limits mail interception fraud
Review authorized representatives	Remove any you no longer use

What CRA Will Never Do

CRA fraud has increased significantly. Know the warning signs:

CRA will NEVER…	If someone does this, it’s fraud
Email asking for SIN or banking info	Hang up / delete the email
Text a link to “verify” your account	Do not click — it’s phishing
Demand payment by gift card or cryptocurrency	Legitimate tax debt is paid through banking, online, or cheque
Threaten immediate arrest for tax debt	CRA uses civil collections, not immediate arrest threats
Call without sending a prior letter	Unsolicited CRA calls without prior correspondence are suspicious

If in doubt, hang up and call CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 to verify.

First-Time Filing Without a Prior Return on File

If you have never filed a Canadian tax return, you cannot use Sign-In Partner login — CRA has no prior-year data to verify your identity. Instead:

Register for a CRA user ID at canada.ca/my-cra-account
CRA mails a security code to your address within 5–10 business days
Enter the code to complete your account setup
File your first return through NETFILE-certified software

Bottom Line

CRA My Account is essential for every Canadian taxpayer. Set it up before tax season, enable two-factor authentication, and check it annually before filing to verify slips, RRSP room, and TFSA room. Use Auto-fill my return to pre-populate your tax software and reduce errors.

→ Back to: Complete Canadian Tax Guide