Recently I discovered that I have made a small reporting error on my T2125s for the last 10 years. It’s a factual typographical error, not an error in my taxes, thank goodness. Still, I want to get it corrected. I knew I could submit a bunch of T1-ADJ forms by mail but I thought it might be cheaper to do it online. To submit the changes to my tax returns online, though, I need to use my CRA My Account which I don’t have access to yet. This is how I got started; if you need to adjust your taxes or want to check your TFSA contribution and withdrawal history etc, you might want to apply for access to your CRA My Account files too.

The Two Levels of Access to a CRA My Account File

You can get almost immediate access to the first level of your CRA My Account file. You’ll need to know some basic information about yourself and about your last assessed tax return.

To get full access, though, you’ll have to wait for the CRA to mail you a CRA Security Code. It takes 3-5 Canada Post delivery days for the code to arrive in your mailbox.

Setting up Your CRA My Account Id and Password

To get any access at all, you need to perform the following steps.

1. Go to the Canada Revenue Agency My Account for Individuals page at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/esrvc-srvce/tx/ndvdls/myccnt/menu-eng.html
2. Click on the CRA Register button.
3. Type your Social Insurance Number in the text box.
4. Click on the Continue button.

The Validate Your Identity Screen

1. From the drop-down lists, select your Date of Birth.
2. In the text field, type your Postal Code.
3. In the Tax information field, type the amount requested from the line specified from your last assessed income tax return. For example, they may ask you to type in the amount you reported on Line 120.
4. Click on the Continue button.

The Postal Code/ZIP Code Verification Screen

1. If your postal code is correct, click on the Yes button.
2. The CRA will then mail you your CRA Security Code.

The Create Your CRA User ID and Password Screen

1. In the User ID field, type the id you want to use when accessing your CRA My Account.
   It has to be 8-16 characters long, with no spaces and no more than 7 numbers.
2. In the Password field, enter the password you want to use with the id.
3. In the Confirm Password field, re-type the new password.
4. Click on the Continue button.

The Create Your Security Questions and Answers Screen

1. From the drop-down list, select Question 1.
2. Type the answer in the Answer 1 text field.
3. From the drop-down list, select Question 2.
4. Type the answer in the Answer 2 text field.
5. From the drop-down list, select Question 3.
6. Type the answer in the Answer 3 text field.
7. From the drop-down list, select Question 4.
8. Type the answer in the Answer 4 text field.
9. From the drop-down list, select Question 5.
10. Type the answer in the Answer 5 text field.
11. Keep selected the option: Ask me a security question each time I login (recommended).  It’s safer to use the site with this option.
12. Click on the Continue button.

The Review My Security Questions and Answers screen
If everything looks fine, click on the Continue button.

The Terms and Conditions of Use Screen

1. In the Password field, type in your new password.
2. Click on the “I agree” button.

The CRA Security Code Notification screen
Click on the Quick Access button.

The Terms and Conditions of Use Screen
Read the terms and if you can accept them, click on the I Agree link.

What Information is Available Before I Get My CRA Security Code in the Mail?

While waiting for your CRA Security Code letter to arrive in the mail, you can use the CRA My Account website to see a bit of information. This includes:

• For which year your last return was assessed, and, if applicable, when a refund was deposited into your bank account.
• How much you can contribute to your RRSP for the current year
• How much you could contribute to your TFSA on January 1 of the current year. This information is not always accurate. I urge you to keep your own up-to-date records as the CRA records are only updated once a year.
• The benefit payment status for your CCTB, GST/HST credit, UCCB

You can also use a link to request the CRA mail you out a remittance form for payments you wish to make on your taxes.

1. Click on the Logout button.
2. Click on the Exit button.
3. Close your browser session.

Waiting for your CRA Security Code

It took about 3 mailing days for my code to arrive.

How to Get Access to your CRA My Account Tax Information Online Using Your CRA Security Code

Once you get your CRA security code in the mail:

1. Open your web browser and go to: www.cra.gc.ca/loginservices
2. Click on the My Account button.
3. Click on the link called CRA Login.
4. In the User ID: field type the id you created earlier.
5. In the Password field, type the password you created earlier.
6. Click on the Login button.
7. Answer your Additional Security Feature question.
8. Click on the Continue button.
9. Check that the date and time of the last CRA login is correct for the last time you accessed your account; if it is click on the Continue button.
10. Read the CRA Security Code Entry information. Then, in the CRA Security Code field, type the code from your letter.
11. Then click on the Continue button.
12. Read the My Account Terms and Conditions of Use. If you are willing to accept them, click on the I agree link.

On the Welcome screen are links to your latest Notice of Assessment and possibly a link to view your T4 and other tax slip information.

I’m now ready to file a bunch of  T1-ADJs to fix that annoying mistake!

Related Reading

• What Info (T4, Tax Owing, RRSP Limits) Can You See Online from your CRA My Account Website?

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Did you apply for access to your CRA My Account website? Did you get your security code in the mail in a reasonable amount of time? Please share your views with a comment.