How to Register for CRA My Account

What Is CRA My Account?

CRA My Account is your personal online hub for all things tax and benefits in Canada. Think of it like an online banking portal, but for your relationship with the federal government.

From My Account, you can:

• View all your T4, T5, and other tax slips filed by employers and financial institutions
• Check your RRSP contribution room and TFSA contribution room
• See your Notice of Assessment for past years
• Track benefit payments (GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit)
• Set up or change your direct deposit for tax refunds and benefits
• File a tax return (via NETFILE-certified software linked to your account)
• Request a change to a previously filed return
• Authorize a tax representative (e.g., accountant) to access your account

What You Need to Register

You will need:

• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Your date of birth
• Your current postal code
• Either:
• A previous year's Canadian tax return (the CRA will ask you to confirm a number from it), OR
• A CRA security code mailed to your address (takes 5–10 business days)

If this is your very first year in Canada and you have not filed a return yet, you will need to wait for the mailed security code option or file your first return and then register afterward.

Step-by-Step Registration

1. Go to the CRA website: canada.ca/cra-my-account
2. Choose "CRA register"
3. Enter your SIN, date of birth, and postal code
4. Authenticate:

• If you have a previous return: enter a line item from it (e.g., Line 15000 — total income)
• If you do not: request a security code by mail

1. Create a username and password (or link to a Sign-In Partner — see below)
2. Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) — required for security
3. You are in

Sign-In Partner Option (Faster)

If you bank with one of Canada's major banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, Desjardins, etc.), you can use your online banking credentials to sign into CRA My Account via the "Sign-In Partner" option. This skips the security code step and provides immediate access.

What to Do First After Registering

Once logged in, your immediate priorities as a newcomer:

1. Set up direct deposit — Go to "Manage direct deposit" and enter your Canadian bank account info. This ensures any refunds or benefit payments go directly to your account rather than arriving by cheque.
2. Go paperless — Under "Notification preferences," sign up for email notifications so the CRA emails you when new correspondence is available. This prevents important notices from being missed in paper mail.
3. Check your TFSA and RRSP room — Under "RRSP and savings plans," you will see your available contribution room for each account.
4. Review your tax slips — Under "Tax information slips," you can see all slips on file, useful for cross-referencing with what your employer or bank sent you.

Troubleshooting Registration

"The information you entered does not match our records" Double-check your SIN, date of birth, and current postal code. If you recently moved, the CRA may have your old address — use the postal code on file with the CRA (from your last return or immigration record).

"Your account is locked" Too many failed login attempts locks the account. Call CRA at 1-800-959-8281 to unlock.

Security code not arriving Allow 10–15 business days. If it still has not arrived, call CRA to request a new one or try the Sign-In Partner option.