Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Your CRA account (the one most people still call My Account) is the online portal where you see your notice of assessment, your refund status and the benefit payments the CRA has on file for you. You can register with a CRA user ID and password, with online banking through a sign-in partner, or, in British Columbia and Alberta, with a provincial account. The catch is the setup, which takes some patience the first time.
How do I register for my CRA account?
Have three things in front of you before you start: your Social Insurance Number, your date of birth and an amount from a return you filed recently. The CRA says that return has to be from the last two years, and its page expects you to type the amount exactly as it appears on the return. Alberta and BC residents who register through a provincial partner are the exception to the tax return rule.
You’ll then set up two ways to receive a one-time passcode, and the CRA now asks for a backup method too (a passcode grid or an authenticator app). Last comes identity. You either verify a government photo ID with your phone camera and get in straight away, or you ask for a security code by mail. The mailed code is sent to the address the CRA has on file and can take up to 10 business days. Plan around that if you need access before a deadline.
One thing that trips people up: sessions on the registration page expire after 18 minutes. Find the numbers first, then start. The CRA’s CRA account sign-in and registration page is where the process begins.
Which sign-in option should I pick?
It doesn’t change what you can see afterwards, so pick the one you’ll remember in April.
| Option | What you use | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| CRA user ID and password | Credentials you create on the CRA site | Another password to keep track of |
| Sign-in partner | Your online banking login | Nothing new to remember, but you depend on your bank’s login |
| Provincial partner | BC Services Card or an Alberta.ca account | Only for residents of those two provinces |
If you use a password manager, the CRA credentials are fine. If you don’t, banking sign-in saves you a lost password later. Either way, turn on the backup passcode option when you’re asked.
What can I actually do in the portal?
The CRA describes it as a place to view and manage your personal income tax and benefit information. In practice that means checking your balance, looking at benefit details and pulling a statement of income when a benefit or credit application asks for one. It’s also where you authorize a representative, such as a tax preparer or a family member helping with your taxes.
The full list of services isn’t printed on one page, so treat the list above as a sample and look at the CRA’s own menu once you’re inside. The layout has changed before.
Why does my access say limited?
How you prove who you are decides how much you see. According to the CRA, document verification with a photo ID gives full access right away, and so does signing in through a provincial partner. If you ask for a mailed security code instead, you get limited access until you finish registering with that code. So if some menus look thin, check whether your code letter is still sitting in the mailbox.
How do I let my tax preparer see my account?
Preparers get access through a service called Represent a Client. According to the CRA, that’s the only way to request authorization for an individual since 15 July 2025, and the old EFILE route no longer works for it. You can add the preparer yourself from your CRA account. The other route is to hand over details from a notice of assessment dated at least six months ago, after which the preparer requests access and, the CRA says, gets it instantly.
Give that access only to someone you’d trust with your whole tax history. You can look at who’s authorized from time to time and remove people you no longer work with. If you’re getting help with the numbers rather than the filing, the income tax calculator shows a rough yearly bill before anyone touches your account.
What should I do with the numbers once I’m in?
Use them to check your own work. If your notice of assessment shows a refund, the tax refund calculator lets you compare it to your T4 figures, and if the amounts don’t match, look for a slip you missed. Self-employed and owe tax during the year? The tax instalments calculator gives you payment amounts to compare against what the CRA has recorded. Wondering which credits you may be missing? Try the tax credits calculator, which is federal only, so Ontario, Quebec and other provincial credits aren’t in it.
Update your direct deposit and mailing address before you file. The CRA says to allow time for changes to process, so do it early, not on filing day.
What if I’m locked out or forgot my sign-in?
Don’t spend an hour guessing passwords. The CRA says you can simply register again to get a new credential and get back in, without phoning anyone. Have the same details ready as the first time: your SIN, birth date and an amount from a recent return. If you used your bank to sign in and the bank login is the problem, sort that out with the bank first.
Mistakes that lock people out
The usual one is typing the wrong return amount, often from the wrong year. Use the line the CRA asks for, not your take-home pay. The second is registering with an old address on file, because the security code goes there. If you moved, fix that first, or use photo verification instead.
And be careful with links. Type the address yourself or use the official sign-in page, since texts and emails claiming to be from the CRA are a common way to steal logins. The CRA doesn’t ask for your banking password by email, so if a message wants it, leave it alone.
How we checked the figures
The registration steps, identity checks and preparer access rules come from Canada.ca pages published by the Canada Revenue Agency, which we last read in October 2026. The process may change again. No level of government runs or endorses this site.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to register for a CRA account?
Your SIN, your date of birth and an amount from a tax return filed within the last two years. You also set up two passcode options and verify your identity.
How long does the mailed security code take?
The CRA says up to 10 business days to the address it has on file. Photo ID verification on a phone can get you in the same day.
Can I use my bank login for the CRA?
Yes, through a sign-in partner, which uses your online banking credentials. Alberta and BC residents can also use a provincial account.
How does my tax preparer get access?
Through Represent a Client. You can add them from your CRA account, or give details from a notice of assessment that is at least six months old.
Why does the CRA ask for a backup passcode option?
The CRA requires a backup multi-factor method, either a passcode grid or an authenticator app, so you can still sign in if your first method fails.
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