Register for the CRA sign-in services (2024)

Follow the steps below to register for My Account for individuals for My Business Account for Represent a Client and to receive the RepID that you will share with your clients, family or friends so they can authorize you as their representative.

  1. Decide if you need to register

    If you have already registered for the CRA sign-in services using a CRA user ID and password or a Sign-In Partner, you cannot register again. You must use the same sign-in information to access the following:

    • My Account
    • My Business Account
    • Represent a Client
    Already registered

    Use your existing credentials

    If you have already registered for the CRA sign-in services, sign in with your existing credentials.

    If you registered with a provincial partner, you must also create a CRA user ID and password or use a Sign-In Partner to access:

    • My Business Account
    • Represent a Client

    If you have forgotten your CRA user ID or password, go to: Lost or forgotten CRA user ID or password.

    Signing in to another service for the first time

    My Business Account

    If you are signing in to My Business Account for the first time, you will be asked for your 9-digit business number.

    Represent a Client

    If you are signing in to Represent a Client for the first time, you will have to register yourself or your business as a representative.

    You will also have to request authorization to access someone else's tax information.

  2. Gather your documents

    When you register with a CRA user ID and password or a Sign-In Partner, you will need all of the following:

    • Your social insurance number (SIN)
      If you do not have a SIN

      If you don't have a SIN, we will also accept:

      • A temporary tax number (TTN)
      • An individual tax number (ITN)
      • A non-resident representative number (NRRN), if you are registering for Represent a Client
        Applying for a non-resident representative number (NRRN)

        If you are a non-resident representative living in the United States, you can register for Represent a Client with a NRRN to access information and services on behalf of individuals and businesses.

        1. Submit Form RC391, Application for a Canada Revenue Agency Non-Resident Representative Number (NRRN) and provide supporting documentation to prove your identity
        2. Wait until you receive a letter in the mail with your NRRN
        3. Register for Represent a Client with your NRRN instead of a SIN
    • Your date of birth
    • Amounts you reported on your most recent tax return
      Which tax return you can use

      The income tax and benefit return you use must meet both of the following conditions:

      • It was filed and assessed
      • It is from either the current or previous tax year

      Use only the amounts that you reported on your return, even if your return was reassessed and the amounts have changed.

    • If you are registering for My Business Account you also need your 9-digit business number
      • You cannot use a 10-digit Québec Enterprise Number (NEQ)

    For faster access to the CRA sign-in services, you will also need a mobile device with a working camera and one of the following:

    • Your Canadian passport
    • Your Canadian driver's license
    • Your provincial or territorial photo ID card

    When you register with a provincial partner, you only need your SIN.

    Have your documents ready before you begin

    During registration, your session will expire after 18 minutes of inactivity. Gather your documents before you begin to avoid your session timing out.

  3. Choose a sign-in option to register with

    The option you register with will be the same option you use each time you sign in. Make a selection below to begin.

    Find the best option for your situation

    Learn more about the sign-in options:

    Sign-In Partner
    This option lets you use the same banking sign-in information you use with other online financial accounts. You must already have an online account with one of our Sign-In Partners.
    CRA user ID and password
    This option lets you create a username and password that you use with the CRA sign-in services.
    Provincial partner
    If you already have a BC Services Card or an Alberta.ca Account, you can use them to immediately access your My Account.
    Provincial partner
    The first time you sign in, you will need to enter your SIN to verify your identity. You will not need to use the document verification service or a CRA security code to verify your identity.
    You can register with your provincial partner even if you have not filed your taxes in the last 2 years, as long as you have filed your taxes at least once in the past.
    You cannot use your provincial partner to access My Business Account, Represent a Client, and certain services like Auto-fill My Return. If you would like to access those services, you can still create a CRA user ID and password or use a Sign-In Partner.
    GC Key
    You cannot use GC Key to sign in to the CRA sign-in services.
    You can use GC Key with other Government of Canada departments and agencies.
    Your sign-in information is anonymous

    The Government of Canada uses anonymous credentials to allow users to communicate securely with online Government of Canada services. An anonymous credential is one that does not contain any personally identifiable information.

    • Help with Sign-In Partners

      You must have an online account with one of our Sign-In Partners:

      Contact your bank for assistance with registering for online banking.

      Your banking and tax information is never shared
      • Your banking information and the identity of your financial institution are not shared with the Government of Canada.

      • None of your personal tax information will be shared with your financial institution.

      Learn more about our commitment to your privacy: Privacy Statement

      More help with Sign-In Partners

      Do not use autofill on a shared device

      Do not use autofill for your online banking information if you are on a shared device. When you are on your Sign-In Partner's website, ensure it is your information that is entered and not that of somebody else.

      If you register with someone else's banking credentials by mistake and link your SIN to them, the other person will have access to your tax information.

    • Help with CRA User ID and password

      Choose memorable security questions

      Remember your answers

      More help with CRA user ID and password

    • Register with a provincial partner (BC, AB)

      Help with provincial partners

      To use this option, you must have an account with one of our provincial partners:

      • BC Services Card
      • Alberta.ca Account

      Provincial sign-in partner

      More help with provincial partners

    My Account for individuals

    My Account for individuals sign-in options

    My Business Account

    My Business Account sign-in options

    Represent a Client

    Represent a Client sign-in options

  4. Verify your identity

    Choose an option to verify your identity:

    • Submit a photo of yourself and your ID document Option 1 of 2

      You can use the document verification service to verify your identity immediately.

      Use a mobile device to take a real-time picture of yourself and an accepted identification document.

      You must be 16 years of age or older to use this service.

    • Wait for your CRA security code Option 2 of 2

      If you can't use the document verification service, a CRA security code will be sent to you by mail within 10business days.

      We will send your CRA security code to the address we have on file. Make sure your address is up to date.

      You will need to select the same sign-in option you registered for and enter your CRA security code before it expires.

    For My Account only: Get limited access before completing your identity verification

    Services in My Account with limited and full access

  5. Enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA)

    You will be required to enter a one-time passcode in addition to your password to sign in.

    Choose an option to get your one-time passcode:

    • By phone Option 1 of 3

      You will need to provide at least one cell or landline number so we can send you a one-time passcode by phone. You must enter this number to access your CRA sign-in service.

    • With a passcode grid Option 2 of 3

      The system will generate a unique passcode grid that you will need to save or print. You will use this grid every time you access your CRA sign-in service.

      Your passcode grid will expire after 18 months. Make sure you sign in and generate a new one before the expiry date.

    • With an authenticator app Option 3 of 3

      You can use a third-party authenticator app to generate your time-based one-time passcode.

      When prompted, use the app downloaded on your mobile or desktop device to either scan a QR code or manually enter the setup key provided by the CRA. The app can then be used to generate your one-time passcode.

    Avoid getting locked out of your account

    More help with multi-factor authentication

  6. Complete your identity verification

    Complete the verification option that you chose in step 4:

    • The document verification service Option 1 of 2

      Follow the instructions to complete this process on your mobile device.

      Avoid losing your progress

      During registration, your session will expire after 18 minutes of inactivity. Complete your document verification within that time to avoid your session timing out.

    • CRA security code Option 2 of 2

      After you receive your CRA security code in the mail, sign in to your CRA sign-in servicesign in to My Accountsign in to My Business Accountsign in to Represent a Client and enter your code before it expires.

      Get a new CRA security code

      If your CRA security code expired, sign in to request a new CRA security code to be sent by mail.

      If your code gets lost, or has not arrived after 10business days, you can contact us to get a new one.

  7. For Represent a Client only:
    Get authorized to access someone else's information

    You must request authorization from your client, family member or friend to access their information.

    Request authorization for your business

    If you would like to access someone else's tax information through your business, you must register your business in Represent a Client and then request authorization with your business number (BN).

    Learn more: Manage how your business uses Represent a Client

Help

Common issues

If you have not filed your taxes

If you have not filed your taxes for the current or previous tax year, you will not be able to register for CRA's sign-in services using a CRA user ID and password or a Sign-In Partner.

For information on how to file, go to: Get ready to do your taxes.

If you live in British Columbia or Alberta, you can register for My Account using a provincial partner, as long as you have filed your taxes at least once in the past.

Have not received your CRA security code

If your CRA security code has been lost or has not arrived after 10business days, you can either:

  • Use the document verification service instead to verify your identity
  • Contact us to get a new one by mail

If your CRA security code has expired, you can either:

  • Use the document verification service instead to verify your identity
  • Sign in to request a new CRA security code to be sent by mail

Help and about sign-in

Help with using the CRA sign-in services

How to register, manage and update your information, use multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Help with using My Account

How to register and manage My Account, update your information, use multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Help with using My Business Account

How to register, manage and update your information, use multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Help with using Represent a Client

How to register, manage and update your information, use MFA, request authorization

About CRA sign-in services

Types of sign-in services, availability, privacy commitments

About My Account

What's new and updated, availability, services, privacy commitments

About My Business Account

What's new and updated, availability, services, privacy commitments

About Represent a Client

What's new and updated, availability, services, privacy commitments

About My Trust Account

Register for access as a primary trustee, available services

Find another government account

CRA sign-in services

Sign in or register for My Account, My Business Account or Represent a Client with the CRA

Government of Canada accounts

Access accounts for Government of Canada departments and agencies

List of Sign-In Partners

Accepted identification documents

We accept the following original government-issued documents:

  • Your Canadian passport
  • Your Canadian driver's license
  • Your provincial or territorial photo ID card

We do not accept:

  • Your provincial health card
  • Documents that you have reported as lost or stolen
  • Expired or damaged documents
  • Photocopies
  • Pictures of yourself that were not taken in real-time

One-time passcode by phone

When you sign in, you can choose to receive your one-time passcode by:

  • Text message
  • Automated phone call from a toll-free number

One-time passcode by passcode grid

The passcode grid is a table made up of numbered rows and lettered columns, similar to a Bingo card.

We will ask for a specific combination of rows and columns to create your one-time passcode.

Page details

Date modified:
Register for the CRA sign-in services (2024)

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