Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
To call Revenue Canada about your personal taxes, dial 1-800-959-8281. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern, and closed on weekends. The name is a bit old, since it’s the Canada Revenue Agency now, but people still search for “call revenue canada” and the CRA still answers.
Which number do you dial?
That comes down to whose account you’re asking about. Individuals and trusts have one line, businesses have another. Business enquiries cover payroll, GST/HST and corporation tax. If you’re in Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, the numbers are different, and there’s a collect number for callers outside Canada and the United States.
| Who is asking | Number |
|---|---|
| Individuals, most of Canada | 1-800-959-8281 |
| Individuals in Yukon, NWT, Nunavut | 1-866-426-1527 |
| Individuals outside Canada and the U.S. (collect) | 1-613-940-8495 |
| Businesses, most of Canada | 1-800-959-5525 |
| Businesses in Yukon, NWT, Nunavut | 1-866-841-1876 |
| Businesses outside Canada and the U.S. (collect) | 1-613-940-8497 |
Hours for both lines are 8 am to 8 pm Eastern on weekdays, per the CRA’s contact page. We couldn’t confirm typical wait times, so we won’t guess.
Can you skip the phone call?
Often, yes. A lot of what people ring about, such as their own tax details and payment questions, sits behind the sign-in to your CRA account, and looking there costs you no time on hold, no matter how busy the lines are in the last week of April. There’s also an online chat, but the CRA says it covers only some questions, mainly account access and updates to your personal information.
One rule of thumb: if you only want a number, look before you call. Work out roughly what you should be owed first. Say you earned $60,000 in Ontario and had $9,000 withheld. The tax refund calculator shows $8,320.50 of tax and a refund of $679.50. If the CRA’s notice says something far off, you have a specific question to ask, and that call goes faster.
What should you have in front of you?
Your social insurance number, your last notice of assessment and the letter or reference you’re calling about. Have a pen too, because an agent won’t wait while you hunt for one. Write down the agent’s name and the date, because if it turns into a dispute you’ll want a record.
Calling about instalments? Have last year’s tax and this year’s income estimate ready, then check the tax instalments calculator so you know what you expect to hear. Calling about a return you haven’t finished? The income tax calculator gives a quick figure to compare.
How do you tell a real CRA call from a scam?
This is the part people get wrong, and scammers count on it. A real CRA agent gives you a name and a callback number. Don’t trust the number your caller ID shows. Never give personal information on the call. Instead, hang up, then check the callback number with the CRA’s phone number verification tool.
The CRA says its agents don’t threaten arrest, deportation or police action. They don’t demand immediate payment by e-transfer, cryptocurrency, prepaid cards or gift cards. And they don’t ask for a credit card, health card or passport number. Text messages are used only for multi-factor sign-in codes, if you chose that option.
Not sure? Hang up and call 1-800-959-8281 yourself (1-800-959-5525 for a business). They can tell you whether anyone from the CRA tried to reach you. Also, never email your SIN or return details to anyone, since the CRA says not to.
What if the call doesn’t get you anywhere?
Then call back if you have to, and keep your notes from the first call so you can say what you were told and when. If the answer still looks wrong, the next step is to put your point in writing or file a formal objection, and for that the deadline printed on your notice is the one to watch. We didn’t check the objection rules for this page, so read that notice closely.
Where the numbers come from
Phone numbers, hours and the scam guidance come from the Canada Revenue Agency’s contact and scams pages, read on 30 September 2026. Numbers can change, so use the CRA’s contact page if a call doesn’t connect. This site isn’t connected to the CRA.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CRA phone number for personal taxes?
1-800-959-8281 from most of Canada. Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut callers use 1-866-426-1527.
What number do businesses call?
1-800-959-5525 for payroll, GST/HST and corporation accounts. In the three territories it is 1-866-841-1876.
When are the CRA phone lines open?
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern, and closed on weekends, according to the CRA contact page.
How do I know a caller is really the CRA?
Ask for a name and callback number, hang up, and check the number with the CRA's verification tool. Never give personal details during the call.
Can I get answers without calling?
Many are in your CRA account. The online chat handles only some questions, such as account access and changes to personal information.
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Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.