Tax Tip – Don’t wait until tax time to take action in your CRA account
OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 29, 2026 /CNW/ — The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is moving toward a digital future–one that reflects how Canadians increasingly access services in their everyday lives. Your CRA account is central to how we deliver our services, helping you access the information and support you need more easily and conveniently.
An easy and important step to take before tax season begins is to register for, or confirm that you can sign in to, your CRA account.
Why your CRA account matters
Having a CRA account–that you can successfully sign in to–can help you:
- Access a simpler and faster tax filing method: Eligible individuals can access a simpler and faster filing method using pre-filled tax returns. You’ll need a CRA account to access this service.
- Manage your authorized representatives: Sign in to your CRA account to manage who is authorized to represent you for your personal, business, non-resident, trust, or registered plan related tax matters.
- Complete parts of your tax return more easily: Use the Auto-fill My Return service in tax software to automatically fill in parts of your tax return.
- File a tax return more securely: Authenticate your identity when filing a 2026 tax return via NETFILE or EFILE.
With a CRA account, you can also track the progress of your files, view your deduction limits and contribution room, check refund amounts, view your benefit and credit payments, submit documents, and so much more.
Take action today
Get your CRA account ready now to prevent delays, avoid disruptions, and ensure a smoother tax filing experience.
Register for a CRA account
- To register for a CRA account, you need to file a Canadian tax return and receive a notice of assessment from the CRA.
- You can use the document verification service when registering. It’s a secure way to validate your identity in real-time, allowing full and immediate access to your online account, without having to call or wait for a CRA security code by mail.
We have expanded our list of accepted government-issued photo IDs that you can use when registering for a CRA account using the document verification service.
Confirm you can sign in to your CRA account
- Sign in using your CRA user ID and password, Sign-In Partner, or provincial partner.
- If you have forgotten your sign-in information or the answers to your security questions, you may be able to regain access to your CRA account by completing the online registration process again.
Keep your account secure and up-to-date
- Use a strong and unique password
- Add a backup multi-factor authentication (MFA) option
- Note: You may be prompted to do this before accessing your account
- Update your personal details (e.g., address, marital status, phone number)
- Set your correspondence preference to “Electronic mail” in My Account
- Regularly monitor your CRA account
- Stay informed about the latest scams
To sign in to or register for a CRA account, go to Canada.ca/my-cra-account.
Contacts
Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
613-948-8366
[email protected]
Stay connected
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SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency
