By Bronte Bay CPA Professional Corporation  ·  Published July 2026  ·  8 min read

Short answer: CRA My Account is the Canada Revenue Agency’s online portal for managing your personal taxes — T4 slips, RRSP room, TFSA room, refunds, and Notices of Assessment. My Business Account is the separate portal for your corporation — HST/GST filing, corporate tax payments, and payroll remittances. If you are an incorporated Canadian business owner, you need both. This guide walks through exactly how to set up each one, what you can do with them, and how to authorize Bronte Bay (or any accountant) to access your account on your behalf.

CRA My Account Canada 2026 — how to set up personal business account online

The Canada Revenue Agency has moved decisively toward a digital-first model. The CRA has officially retired the older paper-based authorization process previously used to grant accountants access to client tax files. Under the current system, Canadians who work with accountants or tax professionals must now provide authorization digitally through their own CRA My Account — meaning that Canadians without a CRA My Account may experience delays during tax season when their accountant cannot retrieve notices, slips, or correspondence directly from the CRA.

Setting up CRA My Account is now the first and most important administrative step for any Canadian who wants to manage their taxes efficiently — and it is required before you can authorize Bronte Bay or any CPA to act as your representative with the CRA.

CRA My Account vs My Business Account — Which Do You Need?

CRA My Account vs My Business Account Canada — personal vs corporate portal difference

Many Canadians confuse CRA My Account and CRA My Business Account — they are two completely separate portals with different purposes. The simplest way to remember the difference:

  • CRA My Account — for your personal taxes. T4 slips, RRSP room, TFSA room, personal tax refunds, Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST credit, and your personal Notice of Assessment.
  • CRA My Business Account — for your corporation or business. HST/GST filing and payments, corporate tax (T2) balances, payroll remittances, T4 slips filed for employees, and business correspondence.
CRA My Account (Personal) CRA My Business Account
Who needs it Every Canadian who files taxes Corporations, HST registrants, employers
What you need to register SIN, DOB, postal code, filed T1 Business Number (BN), personal SIN
Key features T slips, RRSP/TFSA room, NOA, benefits, refund tracking HST returns, T2 balance, payroll, T4s filed
Authorize accountant Yes — grants CPA access to personal file Yes — grants CPA access to business file
URL canada.ca/my-cra-account canada.ca/my-business-account

📋 CPA Note: If you are an incorporated Canadian business owner, you need both accounts — My Account for your personal T1 tax return and My Business Account for your corporation’s T2, HST/GST, and payroll. The two accounts are linked through your SIN but registered and accessed separately. Bronte Bay asks every new client to set up both accounts and authorize us as a representative before we begin work — it allows us to retrieve your NOAs, slips, and CRA correspondence directly, without waiting for you to forward documents.

How to Set Up CRA My Account (Personal) — Step by Step

Set up CRA My Account personal Canada 2026 — step by step SIN registration

What you need before you start:

  • Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • Your date of birth
  • Your current postal code
  • Your most recently filed T1 tax return — the CRA verifies your identity against information on file
  • A mobile phone number for multi-factor authentication
1

Go to CRA My Account

Visit canada.ca/my-cra-account. You will see two sign-in options: Option 1 — Sign-In Partner (your bank login) and Option 2 — CRA user ID and password. Choose Option 2 and click CRA register. While Option 1 (bank login) works, Option 2 gives you a dedicated CRA credential that is more reliable and does not depend on your bank’s connection to the CRA system.

2

Enter Your Personal Information

Enter your Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, and current postal code. The CRA cross-references these against your most recently filed T1 return. If you have never filed a T1 in Canada — for example, if you are a recent newcomer — you may need to call the CRA directly to register. First-time filers cannot register online until after their first return is processed.

3

Create Your CRA User ID and Password

Choose a unique CRA user ID (8–16 characters, letters and numbers) and a strong password. Record these immediately in a password manager or secure document — the CRA cannot recover your user ID or password if lost, and recovering access requires a lengthy identity verification process. You will also set up five security questions — record the answers along with your credentials.

4

Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

The CRA requires multi-factor authentication for all accounts. Add your mobile phone number to receive SMS verification codes, or use an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator). The SMS option is simpler. The authenticator app is more secure and works without cell service. Choose whichever you will reliably have access to at tax time.

5

Verify Your Identity — Wait for the Mail Code

The CRA will mail a security code to your address on file. Until this code arrives, you have limited access — you can view some information but cannot authorize a representative or access all features. The code typically arrives within 5–10 business days. Once received, log in and enter the code to unlock full account access. Do not throw away the envelope — the code is inside.

How to Set Up CRA My Business Account — Step by Step

CRA My Business Account Canada 2026 — setup steps incorporated business BN HST T2

What you need before you start:

  • Your Business Number (BN) — the 9-digit number assigned to your corporation by the CRA. If you do not have a BN yet, register for one first at canada.ca/business-registration-online
  • Your personal SIN — you register for My Business Account using your personal identity credentials, then link your business
  • Your corporation’s legal name and address
  • A mobile number for MFA
1

Go to CRA My Business Account

Visit canada.ca/my-business-account. Click CRA register under Option 2. If you already have a CRA user ID and password from setting up My Account (personal), you can use the same credentials — the two accounts share the same login but display different information.

2

Enter Your Personal Credentials and MFA

Log in with your CRA user ID, password, and MFA code. You will arrive at the CRA Welcome page. If you have previously set up My Account (personal), your personal tax dashboard appears here. My Business Account is accessed from the same login.

3

Enter Your Business Number (BN)

On the Welcome page, select Add a business and enter your 9-digit Business Number. The CRA confirms your BN and links it to your personal account. Your corporation’s account now appears in your profile alongside your personal account. If you have multiple corporations, each BN is added separately.

4

Select Your Business and Set Up Access

Select your business from the profile to access My Business Account. You will see separate tabs for each CRA program account linked to your BN — typically a corporate income tax account (RC), an HST/GST account (RT), and a payroll account (RP) if you have employees. Each program account has its own filing history, balance, and correspondence.

5

Verify Identity and Await Mail Code

As with My Account (personal), the CRA will mail a security code to your business address on file. Limited access is available immediately; full access — including the ability to authorize a representative — is unlocked after entering the mailed code. Allow 5–10 business days.

How to Authorize Your Accountant on CRA My Account — The Most Important Step

Authorize accountant CRA My Account Canada — RepID representative digital authorization 2026

Authorizing your accountant as a CRA representative is one of the most important things you can do after setting up your accounts — and it is now a digital-only process. The CRA retired the old paper T1013 authorization form. Your accountant cannot access your CRA file until you complete this step digitally.

Once authorized, Bronte Bay can retrieve your T4 slips, Notices of Assessment, benefit balances, HST filing history, and CRA correspondence directly — eliminating the back-and-forth of forwarding CRA mail and reducing delays during tax season.

How to Authorize a Representative on My Account (Personal)

  1. Log into CRA My Account
  2. Click Profile → Authorize or manage representatives
  3. Click Authorize a representative
  4. Enter your accountant’s RepID (individual representative) or GroupID (accounting firm). Ask Bronte Bay for our RepID/GroupID — we will provide it when you onboard.
  5. Select the authorization level: Level 1 = view only (balances, slips, NOA); Level 2 = full access including filing returns and adjustments. Bronte Bay requires Level 2 to file your T1 and correspond with the CRA on your behalf.
  6. Set an expiry date or leave open — we recommend setting a date 2–3 years out and renewing annually
  7. Confirm and submit — authorization takes effect immediately

How to Authorize a Representative on My Business Account

  1. Log into CRA My Business Account and select your corporation
  2. Click Manage authorized representatives
  3. Click Authorize a new representative
  4. Enter Bronte Bay’s RepID or GroupID
  5. Select authorization level — Level 2 is required for filing HST returns, T2, and T4s on your behalf
  6. Specify which program accounts to authorize — typically RT (HST/GST), RC (corporate tax), and RP (payroll)
  7. Confirm and submit

What You Can Do With CRA My Account — Full Feature List

CRA My Account features Canada 2026 — RRSP TFSA NOA T4 direct deposit benefits

CRA My Account (Personal)

  • View and download tax slips — T4 (employment), T5 (investment), T3 (trust), T4A (other income), RRSP contribution receipts — all available digitally, typically by late February each year
  • View your Notice of Assessment (NOA) — the CRA’s official confirmation of your T1 return including any adjustments, balance owing, or refund issued
  • Check RRSP contribution room — exact available RRSP room for the current year, including carry-forward from prior years. For 2026: maximum $32,490 or 18% of 2025 earned income.
  • Check TFSA contribution room — cumulative available TFSA room as calculated by the CRA. For 2026: up to $102,000 cumulative for eligible Canadians.
  • Set up or update direct deposit — for tax refunds, Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST credit, and other benefit payments. Setting up direct deposit is the fastest way to receive refunds.
  • Check benefit payment dates — Canada Child Benefit (CCB), GST/HST credit, Ontario Trillium Benefit, and other benefit schedules
  • File a T1 adjustment (T1-ADJ) — correct a previously filed return to claim missed deductions or credits without filing an entirely new return
  • View and respond to CRA correspondence — review letters, audit requests, and information requests without waiting for the mail
  • Track your refund status — see whether your return has been assessed and when your refund was issued
  • View tax instalment schedule — amounts and due dates for quarterly tax instalments if applicable

CRA My Business Account

  • View and file HST/GST returns — file online and view filing history, refunds, and net tax calculations
  • Make HST/GST and corporate tax payments — pay directly through My Business Account via online banking or pre-authorized debit
  • View corporate tax balance — current balance owing, payment history, and instalment schedule for your T2
  • Manage payroll remittances — view remittance history, balances owing, and submit payments for CPP, EI, and income tax deducted at source
  • View T4 slips filed for employees — confirm that T4s submitted by Bronte Bay on your behalf have been received by the CRA
  • Update business information — change your registered address, phone number, or banking information for direct deposit of HST refunds
  • Access all CRA correspondence — letters, audit notifications, and requests for information for your corporation
  • Authorize your CPA as representative — grant Bronte Bay access to file, adjust, and correspond with the CRA on behalf of your corporation

Common Problems — and How to Fix Them

CRA My Account problems Canada — locked account wrong address postal code SIN mismatch
  • “Your information does not match our records” — the most common registration problem. Your SIN, date of birth, or postal code does not match what the CRA has on file from your last T1 return. Solution: use the postal code from your most recently filed return, not your current address if you have moved and not yet updated the CRA.
  • Never filed a T1 in Canada — newcomers and first-time filers cannot register online. File your first T1 return first (Bronte Bay can do this), then wait for the CRA to process it before registering for My Account.
  • Locked out / forgot credentials — if you forget your CRA user ID or password, you must call the CRA (1-800-959-8281) to unlock the account and verify your identity by phone. This can take 30–60 minutes. This is why recording your credentials immediately is essential.
  • Mail code never arrived — if the security code has not arrived after 10 business days, your address on file with the CRA may be outdated. Log into your account with limited access, update your address, and request a new code.
  • MFA phone number changed — if you no longer have access to the phone number used for MFA, call the CRA to reset it. This is a security-critical process and requires identity verification.
  • Business Number not found — if your BN is not recognized when adding your business, confirm the exact 9-digit BN with your incorporation documents or your CRA registration letter. BNs are 9 digits, sometimes followed by program identifier and account number (e.g., 123456789 RT 0001).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CRA My Account and My Business Account?

CRA My Account is for your personal taxes — T1 return, RRSP room, TFSA room, benefit payments, and your Notice of Assessment. CRA My Business Account is for your corporation or business — HST/GST returns, corporate tax (T2) balance, payroll remittances, and T4s filed. Incorporated Canadian business owners need both accounts — they share the same login credentials but display different information.

How do I authorize my accountant on CRA My Account?

Log into CRA My Account → Profile → Authorize or manage representatives → Authorize a representative → enter your accountant’s RepID or GroupID → select Level 2 authorization → set an expiry date → confirm. For My Business Account, the same process applies under Manage authorized representatives. The old paper T1013 form has been retired — authorization is digital only. Your accountant cannot access your CRA file until this is done.

What can I do with CRA My Account?

CRA My Account lets you view and download tax slips (T4, T5, RRSP receipts), check your Notice of Assessment, view your RRSP and TFSA contribution room, set up direct deposit for refunds and benefits, check benefit payment schedules, file T1 adjustments, track your refund status, view CRA correspondence, and authorize your accountant as a representative. Most of these functions are available within minutes of registering — with full access unlocked after the mailed security code arrives.

What do I need to register for CRA My Account?

To register for CRA My Account (personal) you need: your Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, current postal code as it appears on your most recent T1 return, and a mobile phone for multi-factor authentication. For My Business Account you additionally need your 9-digit Business Number (BN). First-time filers who have never filed a T1 in Canada must file their first return before registering — registration is not available until after the first return is processed.

Is CRA My Account secure?

Yes — CRA My Account uses multi-factor authentication (SMS or authenticator app), session timeouts, and mailed identity verification. The CRA will never ask for your My Account password by phone or email — any communication asking for your CRA login credentials is a scam. The CRA’s legitimate contact is always initiated from canada.ca or from a 1-800 number listed on canada.ca. If you receive a suspicious call or email claiming to be from the CRA, do not provide any information and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Set Up Your CRA Account — Then Let Bronte Bay Handle the Rest

Setting up CRA My Account and My Business Account gives you direct visibility into your tax position — and allows Bronte Bay to act as your CRA representative, filing returns and corresponding with the CRA on your behalf without requiring you to forward documents or chase CRA mail. Every new Bronte Bay client is guided through the setup and authorization process as part of onboarding. Book a consultation to get started.

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