How to Apply for CRA My Account (2026 Step-by-Step)

CRA My Account is the Canada Revenue Agency’s online portal — and it’s the single most useful financial tool the government has built. With it you can see every tax slip from the past 10 years, your RRSP and TFSA contribution room, your Notice of Assessment, the status of any refund, your Canada Child Benefit and GST/HST credit history, and authorize a tax preparer in 30 seconds. Without it, you’re calling the CRA‘s 1-800 line every time you need anything.

What you need before you start

• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Your date of birth
• Your current postal code (must match what’s on your tax records)
• The specific amount from line 15000 of your most recent tax return (the “total income” line). If you haven’t filed yet — you can’t register through this path; file your first return first.

The 6 registration steps

1. Go to canada.ca/cra-my-account. Click the green “Sign in to My Account” button, then choose “Register.”
2. Pick a sign-in method. Two options: (a) “Sign-In Partner” — use your existing bank login (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, etc.) which is faster, or (b) “CRA user ID and password” which you create from scratch. Bank sign-in is significantly easier for most people.
3. Enter your SIN + DOB + postal code. If any of these don’t match the CRA’s records (e.g., you recently moved and didn’t update CRA), the page will reject you.
4. Enter the line 15000 amount from your most recent NOA. Find the exact dollars-and-cents number on your Notice of Assessment from last year. The CRA uses this as proof you’re you.
5. Wait 5-10 business days for the security code letter. The CRA mails (physical mail, no email) a one-time security code to your address on file. This is the slowest part — you can’t skip it. The code expires in 90 days.
6. Enter the security code on the CRA site. Log back in via the same sign-in method, enter the 6-character code, and you’re fully verified. Full access unlocks immediately.

What you get once you’re in

• All your tax slips (T4, T5, T3, T2202, etc.) — the CRA receives copies from employers and institutions. You can view + download. Useful for re-filing or recovering a lost slip.
• RRSP, TFSA, and FHSA contribution room updated for the current year.
• Notice of Assessment (NOA) for every year you’ve filed — full PDF download.
• Refund status — real-time tracking after you NETFILE.
• Direct deposit setup — link your Canadian bank account in 30 seconds so refunds and benefits arrive in days instead of weeks.
• Benefit history — Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST credit, climate action incentive payments, EI, CPP, OAS.
• Authorize a representative — give an accountant or family member temporary access to your file (handy if you’re helping aging parents file).
• Change personal info — address, marital status, direct deposit, language preference. Used to require phone calls.

Common problems + how to fix them

• “Your information does not match our records.” Almost always means your postal code or address has changed since you last filed. Call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 to update first, then try again.
• You never received the security code letter. If 14+ days have passed, log back in and request a new one. They’ll re-mail. Make sure the address on file is your current one.
• You don’t remember your line 15000. Pull your last NOA from your records, or call CRA to verify — they’ll ask 2-3 security questions.
• You’re a newcomer who hasn’t filed yet. File your first return (paper or NETFILE through software that doesn’t require My Account), wait for the NOA, then register.

Related guides

• The Complete Guide to Filing Taxes in Canada
• Filing Your First Tax Return (Newcomer Walkthrough)
• What Is the CRA? Understanding Their Letters