CRA My Account: How to Set It Up and Everything You Can Do With It

If you are still calling CRA by phone to check your tax refund or RRSP room, you are doing it the hard way. CRA My Account is the most powerful free financial tool available to Canadian taxpayers — and most people are not using half of what it offers.

Here is how to set it up and what you can actually do with it.

How to Register for CRA My Account

There are two ways to sign in to My Account:

Option 1: Sign-In Partner (fastest)

Use your existing online banking login from a participating financial institution (TD, RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, Desjardins, and others). No new password to create — CRA validates your identity through your bank.

Go to canada.ca/my-cra-account
Click “Sign in with a sign-in partner”
Choose your bank and log in
CRA will ask you to verify your identity using information from your most recent tax return (SIN, postal code, date of birth, and a line amount from your return)

Option 2: CRA User ID and Password

Create a standalone CRA login. This is useful if you do not want to link a bank account. The registration process takes about 10 minutes and requires your SIN, date of birth, and a line from your most recent tax return. After registering, CRA mails an activation code to your address on file (arrives in 5–10 business days).

Step 2: Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA is now mandatory for CRA My Account. You will set up a device or authenticator app for persistent verification. This is not just a one-time SMS code — CRA supports authenticator apps, phone call, and SMS codes, with optional passkey support for some users — your trusted device is remembered after first verification.

What You Can Do in My Account

Tax and Refund Information

Check your tax refund status in real time
View your Notice of Assessment (NOA) and reassessments
See your balance owing or overpayment history
Access your tax returns from prior years

RRSP, TFSA, and FHSA Room

See your exact RRSP contribution room (including carry-forward)
Check your TFSA contribution room and lifetime limit used
View your FHSA contribution room and account history

Auto-Fill My Return (AFR)

Download your T4, T5, T4A, RRSP slips directly into most certified tax software
CRA uploads slips as they are filed by employers and financial institutions — available from mid-February onward
Note: T3 slips (mutual funds and trusts) are often delayed until late March or even April — do not rely on auto-fill for those in February

Benefits and Credits

View your Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment dates and amounts
Check GST/HST credit payments
See Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) payment history
Update direct deposit information for all benefit payments

Address and Personal Information

Update your mailing address (important — CRA uses this for benefit payments and correspondence)
Change your marital status
Add or update direct deposit banking information

Representative Authorization

Authorize your accountant or tax preparer as your “representative” so they can access your account on your behalf
Important: this must be done proactively by you — your accountant cannot add themselves
Use the “Confirm my representative” feature if your accountant has requested access

Business Accounts

If you are self-employed or a business owner, My Business Account (separate from My Account) lets you manage GST/HST, payroll, corporate tax, and business registration

Common Issues and Fixes

Cannot register because CRA doesn’t have my info on file: If you are a newcomer to Canada or this is your first tax return, you may need to paper-file your first return before CRA has enough information to verify your identity online.

Wrong TFSA room showing: TFSA room in My Account is typically updated to the current year in January. If you contributed or withdrew recently, it may not yet reflect those changes — institutions report to CRA after year-end.

Activation code never arrived: You can request a new code from within My Account if you used the CRA User ID route. Alternatively, switch to the sign-in partner method.

Need help navigating CRA My Account for your tax situation, or looking to authorize your accountant? Book a consultation with us — we will walk you through it step by step.