Gradually the Canada Revenue Agency is moving their information into electronic databases that can be accessed online. Once you apply for and receive a CRA Security Code, you can sign in to your personal CRA My Account page and look at different types of information. Here’s which info was available when I looked this week.
Here’s some examples of the types of Information people might be looking for which are on the CRA My Account pages:
- an electronic copy of their T4s
- their most recent Notice of Assessment
- how much income tax they still need to pay
- a way to set up paying their taxes, especially quarterly instalment payments, by direct debit
- a way to add or update their information for directly depositing any tax refunds in their bank account
- the Education amounts that they have been claimed or are carrying forward to claim later
- capital gain and losses information about what is being carried forward
- a way to review and update information about the children in their care for the various child tax benefits
- their RRSP deduction limit for 2014. (That’s the amount of new money you can contribute to your RRSP in 2014)
- their unused RRSP contributions available to deduct for 2014. (That’s in case you contributed to your RRSP in some previous year and reported the contribution but have not yet claimed the tax deduction presumably because you were at a low or no income tax level that year.)
- their outstanding home buyers’ plan payments
- their outstanding lifelong learning plan payments
- a way to view and correct their address, phone number, marital status or authorized representative’s name
The information is located on the following pages as described below.
The first page has 6 tabs across the top, listing:
- Welcome page
- Tax Returns
- Accounts and Payments
- Benefits and Credits
- RRSP and Savings Plans
- Personal Information
There is also a set of links down the left side of the screen to allow you to:
- Change my return
- Change my address
- Apply for child benefits
- Submit documents
- Arrange my direct deposit
- Authorize my representative
- Pay be pre-authorized debit
- Request a remittance form
- Register my formal dispute.
The CRA My Account Welcome Page
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.
Notice of Assessment Page
I clicked on the Notice of Assessment link. It shows some of the information on my latest notice of assessment including
- The amount of unused net capital losses from previous years
- The amount of unused non-capital losses from other years
- The results of my income tax forms including
- Line 150 total income
- Line 236 Net income
- Line 260 Taxable income
- Line 350 Total federal non-refundable tax credits
- Line 6150 Total provincial non-refundable tax credits
- Line 420 Net federal tax
- Line 435 Total Payable
- Line 437 Total income tax deducted
- Line 482 Total credits
- Total payable minus total credits
- Balance from this assessment
- Final balance.
It also has links to
- View returns
- Change my return
The T4 and Other Tax Slip Information Link Page
This leads to a page with links to 5 types of T4s:
- T4
- T4A
- T4A(P)
- T4A(OAS)
- T4E
It states that RC62 and RC210 slips are on the Benefits and Credits tab page.
It states that T5 and other tax slips are not yet available on this site.
Information Available from the Tax Returns Tab Page
There are 4 links on the tax returns page:
- View Returns
- Carryover Amounts
- Tax Information Slips (T4 and more)
- Disability Tax Credit
The View Returns Link Page
When I opened this page, it provided a list of links to various returns.
Initially I was worried to see it said “Not received” at the top of the list. Then I saw that was for 2014. Since I’m looking at it in May 2014, that’s true: I won’t file my 2014 taxes until April 2015.
For each year from 2003 to 2014, it lists the status of the return and the date it was processed. If the return has been Assessed, there is a link.
The link leads to a page with a summary of the tax assessment for that year.
The Carryover Amounts Link Page
This screen shows a variety of items that can be carried.
For example, on mine, I can see some capital gains and losses. It shows an Unapplied Net Loss. It could show a Net loss applied from a prior year or a Net loss applied from a subsequent year.
Mine also shows under the heading Capital Gains Deduction
- the Capital gains deductions made per year
- the Net investment gain/loss
- Farm property; and
- Small business shares
And under the heading Non-Capital Losses
It shows the year, current year value, prior year, and subsequent year.
Under the Heading Federal Tuition, Education and Textbook Amounts
It shows the Year, Amount from Prior Year, Current Year Amount, Current Year Amount Applied, Transferred Amount, Amount from Prior Year Applied and Amount Available for Carry Forward.
Unfortunately, I used up my last Education amounts in 2000.
On the Tax Information Slips (T4 and more) Page
This leads to the same page as the Welcome Page link.
So it shows a page with links to 5 types of T4s:
- T4
- T4A
- T4A(P)
- T4A(OAS)
- T4E
It states that RC62 and RC210 slips are on the Benefits and Credits tab page.
It states that T5 and other tax slips are not yet available on this site.
The Disability Tax Credit Link Page
For me, this leads to a page stating I have never claimed the disability tax credit, which fortunately is true.
The page has a link to further info about the Disability Amount.
The Accounts and Payments Tab Page
This page has 6 links to:
- Account balance and statement of account
- Instalments
- Direct deposit
- Pre-authorized debit
- Request a remittance form
- Help with this page
The Account Balance and Statement of Account Link Page
This tells me my account balance is 0. Phew.
It has a link to set up a pre-authorized debit to pay your balance.
It has a link to view your Statement of account.
When I clicked on that link, it showed me my balance forward as of April 22 2013, and my 2012 and 2013 assessments, plus my balance as of my last notice of assessment in 2014. Fortunately, all zeroes.
The Instalments Link Page
This lists the total instalment payments for 2014, and offers a link to set up a pre-authorized debit to pay my instalments.
Direct Deposit Link Page
You can click links on this page to start or stop direct deposit of income tax refunds, WITB payments, the GST/HST credit, the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the Universal Child Care Benefit.
If I click Start, I can fill in the Branch Number, Institution Number and Account Number to start a direct deposit of a payment from the CRA.
The Pre-Authorized Debit Page
As the page says: “A pre-authorized debit agreement allows you to set up post-dated payments to the CRA from your bank account on a one-time or recurring basis on the date you choose. “ By clicking on links you can provide the information to make your payments, or change the existing information.
This could be very handy for people paying by installment.
The Request a Remittance Form Page
If you need a T7DR, T7DR© or INNS3 you can click and they will automatically mail you one. It will take 10-14 days to receive though.
The Benefits and Credits Tab Page
This screen allows you to
- Review your personal info
- View and update information at the CRA about children in your care
- View info about the
- Canada child tax benefit
- Universal child care benefit
- Working income tax benefit
- Ontario Trillium benefit
- GST/HST credit
- Disability tax credit
- Ontario senior homeowners’ property tax grant
- and other provincial and territorial credits and grants
The RRSP and Savings Plans Tab Page
This screen has three links
- RRSP
- Home Buyers’ Plan and Lifelong Learning Plan
- Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)
RRSP Link Page
This lists
- my 2014 RRSP deduction limit and
- my unused RRSP contributions available to deduct for 2014
This includes links to the information used to calculate the above values.
Home Buyers’ Plan and Lifelong Learning Plan Link Page
This tells you your current balances and payments for your HBP and/or LLP. Once you’ve paid off your HBP or LLP in full it will just show many zeroes.
The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) Link Page
This page has a link to Contribution room and to a Transaction Summary.
Because the TFSA contribution room is only updated to December 31, 2013, it’s not very useful. I made my contribution on January 1, 2014, so it’s not reported here yet. The TFSA contribution room summary page is even more confusing. IT shows the room I
theoretically had on January 1 each year. I’m glad I kept my own records.
The TFSA Transaction Summary Search Link Page
This is a bit more interesting. From the first drop-down list I can select for which financial institution to view TFSA transactions.
I checked the list and was mildly pleased to discover it does list each of the banks and brokerages through which I have made a TFSA contribution or withdrawal.
Next, I can select transactions for specific time periods by selection start and end months and years.
I tested this by selecting January to December for 2012 to 2013 for all financial institutions. Everything was there correctly. Even a mistake I’d made in 2009 which I’d long since forgotten about. (I withdrew $205 accidentally in August and had to wait until January 1 2010 to put it back in.)
The Personal Information Tab Screen
This page has three links
- My address and telephone numbers
- Authorized representative(s)
- Change my marital status
Wow! Who knew I could get married or divorced so easily! Just a couple of clicks! Oh. I see. It’s just for tax reporting purposes. It’s not legally changing anything.
Anyway, my phone number and address are correct. There are links there, though, to allow me to update the information if desired.
I’m pleased to see that no one has hacked my account yet, as I have no “authorized representative” yet.
I can see how to change my marital status, but as my husband is still enduring my company right now, I mercifully don’t have to.
And that’s it! That’s all the screens they have on offer so far.
When You Have Finished Using Your CRA My Account Information
- Click on the Logout button.
- Click on the Exit button.
- Close your browser session.
Related Reading
- How to Get a CRA Security Code to Sign in to Your CRA My Account Service
- How to File a Change to your Tax Return Using the CRA My Account Service
Join In
Have you used the CRA My Account service to double check some facts? Please share your experiences with a comment.
Can I use “unused capital losses” to pay back amount owning??
Not directly, no. Unused capital losses can only be applied against realized capital gains to reduce the amount of capital gains you have to report in your income for the year. So unless you reported income from capital gains, you cannot use your losses to reduce your income tax owing.
If you need details, please contact the CRA. I don’t work for the government and I am NOT a tax specialist. I’m just a regular working taxpayer who writes about what I find out when trying to figure out my own taxes.
Good luck!