How to Check the Status of an Income Tax Return in Canada

Canadians can check the status of their tax returns.

Canadian income tax returns are processed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The CRA does not begin to process returns for the current tax year until mid-February, no matter how early they receive a particular return. Paper returns sent by mail usually take four to six weeks to process, while returns filed electronically or by phone usually take two weeks. The deadline for filing your tax return each year is April 30.

Instructions

My Account

1. Go to the CRA website (see Resources).

2. Click on "My Account." Registering for My Account allows you to see your tax return and benefits status in great detail and make changes to your return, apply for benefits or change your personal information online.

3. Click on "Register." To register, you must enter your social insurance number and the exact dollar figure of an amount you reported in your last filed and processed tax return, so have a copy of that tax return handy. You also need to enter your date of birth and postal code and create a user ID and password.

4. Wait for your CRA security code. Once you complete the first registration steps, you will be sent a CRA security code in the mail. You need this code to complete the registration. It should take about five business days for your code to arrive.

5. Go to the My Account page.

6. Click on "Log in." Enter the user ID and password that you created in the initial registration and your CRA security code. You now have access to all of your My Account services.

Quick Access

1. Go to the CRA website (see Resources).

2. Click on "My Account."

3. Click on "Quick Access." Quick Access allows you to see limited information about your tax return without having to wait for a CRA security code as required with the My Account service. With Quick Access, you can see whether your return has been processed, when your refund was sent and the status of your benefit payments.

4. Click on "Sign In." To sign in, you must enter your social insurance number, date of birth and the dollar amount of the total income you entered on your previous year's tax return. Once you have entered this information, you will be registered to use Quick Access services.

By Phone

1. Call 800-267-2999. This is the Tax Information Phone Service. This service allows you to check the status of your refund and is available from February to December.

2. Identify yourself. You must enter your social insurance number, your birth date and the total income you reported on your previous year's tax return with your telephone's keypad.

3. Follow the prompts to hear the status of your refund.

References

• Canada Revenue Agency: How Can I Verify the Status of My Refund
• Canada Revenue Agency: My Account for Individuals
• Canada Revenue Agency: Quick Access

Resources

• Canada Revenue Agency