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You can set up or change CRA direct deposit online in your CRA account or through your bank or credit union. The CRA says either change takes effect the next business day. Phone enrolment is no longer available, and the paper form can take up to 3 months or longer. Businesses use My Business Account or their bank.
What is CRA direct deposit and who can use it?
CRA direct deposit sends tax refunds and benefit payments straight into an account at a Canadian bank or credit union. The CRA page describes it as faster than other payment methods and says payments are made securely. It also says direct deposit helps payments arrive on time in an emergency or unexpected situation.
To use it you need a Canadian bank or credit union account. Without one, the CRA page for individuals says you can receive payments by cheque. If you live in a country that does not accept Canadian cheques, that page says you can request a wire transfer.
The CRA has separate pages for individuals, businesses, trusts and Part XIII non-resident withholding tax. This guide covers individuals and businesses. The CRA also says it does not administer CPP, OAS or EI, so those are updated through Government of Canada direct deposit instead. For other CRA basics, see How to Find Things on the CRA Website.
How do you set up or change direct deposit in your CRA account?
You can set up or change direct deposit online in your CRA account (My Account). The CRA lists these steps for individuals:
- Sign in to your CRA account and select your Individual account.
- Go to Profile.
- Scroll to Direct deposit and select Edit.
- Update your information.
The CRA says that once you give consent through your CRA account, your direct deposit information is updated the next business day. The page does not describe a separate confirmation step.
If your phone number changed and you do not receive your multi-factor authentication passcode, the CRA says you will need another way to sign in. Its page links to sign-in help but does not list the alternatives.
Can you sign up through your bank or credit union?
Yes, you can enrol through the online banking of a Canadian bank or credit union that offers the service. The CRA says that once you consent through your financial institution, your CRA direct deposit information is updated the next business day.
The CRA gives one condition for individuals: make sure you have already filed a tax return before you register. Its page names banks such as ATB Financial, BMO, CIBC, Desjardins, National Bank, RBC, Scotiabank, Simplii Financial, Tangerine and TD Canada Trust. It also links to many credit unions and trust companies, each with its own sign-up page.
The CRA gives a warning for both online methods: do not close your old bank account until your first payment has been deposited into the new one.
For what refunds look like once they are paid, see Tax Refund in Canada: How Long It Takes and Why.
Can you still use a paper form or the phone?
You can use a paper form by mail, but you can no longer sign up for or update direct deposit by telephone. The CRA page states the phone rule in plain words and repeats it, so a call to the CRA will not start or change your enrolment.
Because the mail route is so much slower, the online options are the ones the CRA describes with a next-business-day update. The mail form is the route for people who do not use a CRA account or online banking.
The mail option is the Canada direct deposit enrolment form. The CRA gives the processing time as up to 3 months or longer. Compare that with the next business day for changes made online through your CRA account or your financial institution.
| Method | Where it happens | Timing stated by the CRA |
|---|---|---|
| CRA account | Profile, then Direct deposit | Next business day after consent |
| Bank or credit union | Online banking of your institution | Next business day after consent |
| Direct deposit enrolment form | Up to 3 months or longer | |
| Telephone | Not available | Not applicable |
Changing details for another person is different. The CRA says you must be their legal representative and use Represent a Client in your CRA account.
What if a payment does not arrive or the details are wrong?
If you believe a payment went to the wrong account or came back to the CRA, the CRA says to call it once 10 business days have passed since the payment date. That is the only instruction the individuals page gives for a misdirected payment. Keep the payment date in mind, because the 10 business days are counted from it.
The CRA page does not describe what happens to a payment sent to a closed account, and it does not set out a way to confirm your enrolment. It only warns you not to close the old account until the first payment lands in the new one. For benefit payment timing, read GST Credit in Canada: Amounts and Payment Dates and Canada Child Benefit: How It Works and How Much You Get.
The CRA business page adds that the CRA may call to confirm information. If you have questions about a call, it directs you to its Recognize a scam page. See also Answered a CRA Scam Call? What to Do Next.
How does a business set up direct deposit with the CRA?
A business can set up or change direct deposit online in its CRA account or through a Canadian bank or credit union, and it needs a Canadian bank or credit union account either way. The CRA lists what to have ready:
- Proper authority to make the request for the business, usually an owner, partner, director or someone with delegated authority.
- Your banking information, found at the bottom of business cheques. Without cheques, you can use company online banking or ask your bank for a printed copy of the account information.
- A 15-digit CRA program account number from an eligible program account.
Online, the steps are to sign in, select your Business account (My Business Account), go to Profile, scroll to Direct deposit, select Manage direct deposit and update your information. Through a bank or credit union, the CRA updates the information the next business day after you consent.
The eligible program accounts differ by method. Online, the CRA lists accounts such as RC (corporation income tax), RP (payroll deductions) and RT (GST/HST), along with several others. Through a bank or credit union, it lists RC, RP, RT and ZA (CERS). The same rule applies to the old account: do not close it until the first payment arrives. If the phone number changed and the MFA passcode does not arrive, the CRA says to update through the bank or credit union instead.
For business tax basics, see CRA Business Tax: What to File and When in 2026.
Where does this information come from?
The facts in this guide come from the CRA pages named in the sources below, checked on 7 November 2026. This is an independent information site. It provides no services, does not represent the CRA or any organization, and collects information from open sources. It does not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current, and it accepts no liability for how you use it. Check the official CRA page before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a CRA direct deposit change take?
The CRA says changes made online through your CRA account or your bank or credit union are updated the next business day after you consent. The mail-in enrolment form takes an estimated up to 3 months or longer.
Can I set up CRA direct deposit by phone?
No. The CRA page for individuals says you can no longer sign up for or update your direct deposit information by telephone. You can use your CRA account, your bank or credit union, or the paper enrolment form by mail.
Do I need to file a return before enrolling through my bank?
The CRA says to make sure you have already filed a tax return before you register for direct deposit through your Canadian bank or credit union. The page does not give further detail on why.
Should I close my old bank account right away?
No. The CRA says not to close your old bank account until your first payment has been deposited into your new bank account. This applies to both online methods for individuals and for businesses.
What if my payment went to the wrong account?
The CRA says that if you believe a payment went to the wrong account or was returned to the CRA, and 10 business days have passed since the payment date, you should call the CRA.