CRA My Account for Newcomers: Register and Set Up

Key takeaways

You need a SIN and, for most sign-in options, a return filed in the last 2 years
Three ways to sign in: a CRA user ID and password, your online banking, or a BC or Alberta provincial account
New users set up 2 multi-factor options, such as an authenticator app and a passcode grid
Verify your identity with Canadian photo ID for instant full access, or wait for a code by mail
Then set up direct deposit and online mail, and use Auto-fill My Return next year

What is CRA My Account and why does it matter?

My Account is the part of your CRA account for individuals. In it you can see your tax returns, notices, slips, benefits and savings room. You can also change your address and banking details.

For newcomers, it helps in four ways:

Refunds and benefits arrive faster with direct deposit.
Your notice of assessment appears online, usually right after processing.
Your slips can flow into your tax software with Auto-fill My Return.
You can see your RRSP and TFSA room.

When can a newcomer register?

You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). If you do not have one yet, see how to get a SIN. For the CRA user ID and Sign-In Partner options, the CRA also accepts a temporary tax number (TTN) or an individual tax number (ITN).

For the CRA user ID and Sign-In Partner options, you also need amounts from a tax return you filed in the last 2 years. The CRA uses these to check it is you. This means most newcomers register after their first return has been assessed.

Arrived in 2026: file your 2026 return in spring 2027, wait for the notice of assessment, then register.
The provincial partner option (BC Services Card or Alberta.ca Account) does not need a filed return. It does not work with Auto-fill My Return, though.

Your first return is filed without a CRA account. The CRA says first-time filers cannot use the new optional sign-in step when they file online. See how to file your first return.

Which sign-in option should you use?

Option	How it works	Good to know
CRA user ID and password	You create a user ID (8 to 16 characters, no spaces, up to 7 numbers) and a password	Works with Auto-fill My Return; not tied to a bank
Sign-In Partner	You sign in with the online banking login of a participating Canadian bank or credit union	You must already bank online with a partner. Never use someone else’s banking login.
Provincial partner	BC Services Card or Alberta.ca Account	Only in British Columbia and Alberta; no filed return needed; does not work with Auto-fill My Return

The CRA warns that if you register with someone else’s banking login, that person could get access to your tax information. If you forget your login, you can register again without calling the CRA.

How do you register, step by step?

Gather: your SIN, date of birth and amounts from your most recent assessed return (filed in the last 2 years). Have photo ID ready if you want instant access.
Choose an option on the CRA sign-in page and create your login.
Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA). First-time users enroll in 2 options: an authenticator app, a passcode grid, or a phone number.
Verify your identity. Pick one way:
- Document verification service: take live photos of yourself and your ID with a phone camera. You must be 16 or older. The CRA lists a Canadian passport, a Canadian driver’s licence and a provincial or territorial photo ID card as accepted. You get full access right away.
- CRA security code by mail: the CRA mails a code to the address it has on file within 10 business days. Enter it before it expires.
Sign in again with full access.

Foreign passports and PR cards are not on the CRA’s list of accepted ID for the document check. Many newcomers will use the mailed code, or the document check once they have a provincial driver’s licence or photo ID. Make sure the CRA has your current address first.

Before you verify, you have limited access. Full access adds services such as applying for benefits and updating your personal information.

How do you keep your CRA account secure?

Add a backup MFA option. In February 2026, the CRA said it will require a backup multi-factor option: an authenticator app or a passcode grid. During tax season, users can skip this step when they sign in.
Never share your SIN, CRA user ID, password or security code with anyone, including a tax preparer. People who sign in for someone else must use the CRA’s Represent a Client service.
Do not use autofill for your banking login on a shared device. Sign out when you finish, and clear the browser cache on a public computer.
Check your account often for changes you did not make.
Know what the CRA will not do. The CRA will never ask for personal information by email, ask you to pay with gift cards or prepaid cards, or threaten arrest. See CRA scams.

New for 2027: when you file a 2026 return online from February 22, 2027, you can choose to sign in to your CRA account as an extra security step. The CRA says this step is optional for now.

How do you set up direct deposit?

Sign in and open My Account.
Select Profile, then scroll to Direct deposit.
Select Edit and enter your Canadian bank account details.

The CRA says changes made this way are updated the next business day. You can also sign up through most Canadian banks and credit unions. A mailed form can take up to 3 months or longer. You can no longer set up direct deposit by phone.

The account must be at a Canadian bank or credit union.
Do not close your old account until your first payment reaches the new one.
If a payment is 10 business days late, call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281.

Direct deposit covers refunds and CRA benefits. See how long refunds take.

How do you get CRA mail online?

Select Correspondence, then Notification preferences, and choose Electronic mail. Add an email address you check often.

The CRA then emails you when new mail is ready. You sign in to read it. Online mail includes:

notices of assessment and reassessment
benefit notices
instalment reminders
letters asking for information or documents

You stop getting most paper mail. Some letters still come on paper. Real CRA emails come from “Canada Revenue Agency / Agence du revenu du Canada”. They never ask for personal or financial information.

What does Auto-fill My Return do?

Auto-fill My Return sends information the CRA already has into your certified tax software. You start it from the software and sign in to your CRA account.

It can fill: slips such as T4, T4A and T5, and your RRSP deduction limit. It also fills Home Buyers’ Plan repayments, capital gains and losses, tuition carried forward and your NETFILE access code.
It cannot fill: anything the CRA has not received, such as receipts you keep yourself or a late slip. Foreign income is not on a Canadian slip, so you enter it yourself.
Timing: the CRA says most information is in by the end of February and ready by mid-March.

You are still responsible for checking every amount. Auto-fill does not work with the provincial partner sign-in. Compare software in best tax software for newcomers.

Where to find common tasks in My Account

Task	Where to look
Notice of assessment and other CRA letters	Your online mail in My Account
Online mail settings	Correspondence, then Notification preferences
RRSP deduction limit	Savings and pension plans, or your latest notice of assessment
TFSA contribution room	Savings and pension plans, then View TFSA details
Update world income for benefits (Statement of Income)	Benefits and credits, then Statement of Income
Direct deposit	Profile
Fix a filed return	Change my return
Ask to cancel penalties and interest	Taxpayer relief request (online in My Account)

Menu names can change. If you cannot find something, use the search box in My Account.

Common questions

Can I register for CRA My Account before I file my first return?

Usually not with a CRA user ID or a Sign-In Partner, because the CRA checks amounts from a return filed in the last 2 years. In BC and Alberta, the provincial partner option has no filing requirement.

Can I use my foreign passport for the document verification service?

The CRA lists a Canadian passport, a Canadian driver’s licence and a provincial or territorial photo ID card. Foreign passports are not on that list. You can use the CRA security code by mail instead.

How long does the CRA security code take?

The CRA says it mails the code to your address on file within 10 business days. The code has an expiry date.

Do I need My Account to file taxes?

No. You can file with certified software, at a free tax clinic or on paper without an account. My Account makes later years easier.

Can I sign in with my bank login?

Yes, if your bank or credit union is a CRA Sign-In Partner and you already bank online with it. Only use your own banking login. The CRA warns that using someone else’s could give them access to your tax information.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

CRA My Account: how to register, sign in and set it up