CRA electronic services — making your (tax) life a little easier

CRA electronic services — making your (tax) life a little easier

From your early morning Facebook update to your Instagrammable afternoon hike (#thatviewthough), technology is never far from your reach. It keeps you connected with friends and family, helps you manage your busy schedule, and makes routine tasks like paying bills hassle-free. With the tax-filing deadline approaching, why not take advantage of the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) electronic services to make filing your tax and benefit return a little easier?

Start by registering for the secure My Account service—your all access pass (#VIP) to CRA’s full suite of electronic services, including, online mail, submit documents and the MyCRA mobile app. With My Account, you can change your address, check your RRSP and TFSA limits, print proof of income and so much more. To register for My Account, you will need your social insurance number, date of birth, current postal code and your current and previous year’s personal tax returns. For more information, go to www.cra.gc.ca/myaccount.

You can also choose to receive tax correspondence through My Account’s online mail service (#youvegotmail). Using online mail, you can receive a notification by email when eligible correspondence is ready to be viewed in My Account. Register through My Account by selecting “Manage online mail” or by entering your email address on your tax return. Go to www.cra.gc.ca/myaccount to find out more!

If you file your return online, you can save time by using the CRA’s new Auto-fill my return service, available through some tax preparation certified software. This secure service automatically fills in certain parts of your income tax and benefit return. To use Auto-fill my return, you must complete your registration in full for My Account. For more information, go to www.cra.gc.ca/auto-fill.

Should the CRA ask you to validate your claims, you may be able to submit supporting documents online in just a few simple steps through My Account (#truth). Once your documents are successfully submitted, you’ll receive a confirmation number. Learn more about how to submit documents, including allowable file formats, at www.cra.gc.ca/submitdocumentsonline.

Need access to your tax information on the go? #theresanappforthat! With the MyCRA mobile app, you can securely access and view key portions of your tax and benefit information such as your notice of assessment, tax return status, personalized benefit payment amounts and dates, and RRSP and TFSA contribution room from your mobile device. As of February 2016, you can update your contact information, register for direct deposit, manage your online mail, and more. MyCRA uses the same login information as My Account, so you only need to remember one password (bonus!). Bookmark the app on your mobile device to have your tax and benefit information available whenever and wherever you need. To get the app, go to www.cra.gc.ca/mobileapps.

If you’re still putting pencil to paper (#oldskool), join the millions of Canadians who file their tax return online. Filing online lets you send your tax return directly to the CRA and gives you immediate confirmation that it was received. And, when combined with direct deposit, if you’re eligible for one, you can get your refund in as little as eight business days. To find a list of certified software, including options that are free, go to www.cra.gc.ca/netfilesoftware.

As tax season approaches, be cautious of phishing or other fraudulent scams that could lead to identity or financial theft. The CRA will not send an email with a link, ask for personal or financial information of any kind by email or text message, or request payments by prepaid credit cards. Go to www.cra.gc.ca/fraudprevention for examples of current scams and for information on how to detect and avoid them. If you receive a call saying you owe money to the CRA, you can check My Account to be sure.

To find out more about these and other electronic services the CRA offers, go to www.cra.gc.ca/electronicservices. If you’ve gone through the website and still need #help accessing My Account or filing online, call the e-Services Helpdesk at 1-800-714-7257 to speak with a CRA agent.

With so many options available to guide you during this tax season, there’s no excuse to delay. To get started on your taxes, go to www.cra.gc.ca/getready.

Don’t miss the latest CRA news or tax tips—follow the CRA on Twitter: @CanRevAgency