My Account is the CRA's online account for individuals. Once it is set up, you can go online at any time to:
- Check the status of your return, and see your notices of assessment (NOA) and CRA mail
- See your RRSP deduction limit and TFSA contribution room
- See your benefit and credit payments, such as the GST/HST credit and the Canada child benefit (CCB)
- See balances and payments, change your address and set up direct deposit
Once you have My Account, you can also authorize us to deal with the CRA for you.
Before you start
- You need to have filed a personal return in the last two years, and it must already be assessed (you received a notice of assessment). If you have never filed, you can register once your first return has been assessed. Residents of British Columbia and Alberta who register through a provincial partner don't have this requirement.
- Have these ready:
- Your social insurance number (SIN) and date of birth
- Your most recent assessed return or notice of assessment — you will enter an amount from one of its lines. Use the amount you originally reported, even if the return was reassessed later
- A phone that can receive text messages or calls, for multi-factor authentication
- For instant access: a mobile device with a camera and a valid original photo ID (Canadian driver's licence, permanent resident card, provincial or territorial photo ID card, or a Canadian, Australian, British or New Zealand passport). Provincial health cards are not accepted
- The registration page times out after 18 minutes of inactivity and does not save your progress, so gather everything before you start.
Steps
- Go to the CRA sign-in page and click Register for a CRA account.
- Choose how you will sign in. You will use the same option every time:
- CRA user ID and password: create your own CRA user ID and password — the most common choice
- Sign-In Partner: sign in with your Canadian online banking account; your banking information is not shared with the CRA
- Provincial partner (AB, BC): use your Alberta.ca Account or BC Services Card
- Enter your SIN and date of birth, then the amount the page asks for from your return (for example, line 15000, total income).
- If you chose CRA user ID and password, create your user ID, password and security questions, and remember the answers.
- Set up multi-factor authentication: each time you sign in you will enter a one-time passcode. Choose a phone (text or call), an authenticator app or a passcode grid. Adding a backup option helps if you change phones.
- Verify your identity — choose one:
- Document verification service: take pictures of your ID and yourself with a mobile device for immediate full access. You must be 16 or older
- CRA security code by mail: enter the postal code of your current mailing address, and the CRA mails a code to the address on file within 10 business days. Sign in and enter it when asked. The code expires — if it does, sign in to request a new one, or use the document verification service instead
Before choosing the mailed code, make sure the CRA has your current address. If it doesn't, contact the CRA to update it first.
What you can do before your identity is verified
While you wait for the code, some services already work, such as checking your return status, viewing notices of assessment, and seeing your RRSP limit and TFSA room. Applying for benefits and changing your personal information become available once your identity is verified.
Good to know
- Never sign in with someone else's online banking or account, and don't let a shared computer save your password — anyone signed in can see your tax information.
- The CRA will never call to ask for your one-time passcode or your passcode grid.
- If the CRA has locked your account, registering again will not unlock it — contact the CRA.
Tip: if you can't find the amount the page asks for, contact us. If we prepared your return, we can look it up for you.