Locked out of CRA My Account during tax season? Three things to try in order: (1) wait 60 minutes if it's a soft lockout from too many wrong attempts, (2) call 1-800-959-8281 Mon–Fri 8am–8pm to manually unlock, (3) use the document-verification login path with line 15000 from your last Notice of Assessment to skip the security-code wait. You can still NETFILE without CRA My Account — you just have to manually enter every T-slip.

Step 1 — Identify which login problem you actually have

1. "Account is locked" red banner — soft lockout from 3 failed login attempts. Wait 60 minutes; if still locked, call CRA.
2. "Your security code is required" — CRA mailed you a code but it hasn't arrived (5–10 business days by Canada Post). Use document-verification path instead.
3. "We can't verify your identity" — your address, line 15000 from NOA, or other verification details don't match CRA's record. Call CRA to update.
4. "Your SIN is incorrect" — typo or no tax history. See FAQ above.
5. Sign-in partner (your bank) failure — try the CRA user ID + password path instead, or vice versa.

Step 2 — Use the fastest unlock path

Document-verification login (recommended):

1. Go to canada.ca/my-cra-account and click "Sign in"
2. Pick "CRA register" → "Document verification service"
3. Have your most recent Notice of Assessment in hand
4. Enter SIN, date of birth, and line 15000 (Total income) from your latest NOA
5. You're in immediately — no security code wait

Don't have your NOA? Read our NOA explained guide — you can request a copy through CRA on the phone, or use our CRA My Account setup walkthrough.

Step 3 — If document-verification fails, call CRA

Best phone strategy:

• Number: 1-800-959-8281 (Individual Tax Inquiries)
• Best time: 8:00 am local Monday–Wednesday (lowest wait)
• Have ready: SIN, full legal name, date of birth, current address, line 15000 from your most recent NOA, and your most recent T4 employer name
• Average wait in April: 30–90 minutes — be ready for it

Step 4 — Fix the underlying problem so it doesn't happen again

• Update your address with CRA the moment you move (not after a return is rejected)
• Switch to email delivery for security codes (instant) instead of mail
• Set up a password manager — most lockouts come from password typos
• Register for direct deposit in CRA My Account so refund delays don't compound

What if I just need to NETFILE — do I really need My Account?

No. NETFILE-certified software (Wealthsimple Tax, TurboTax, UFile) lets you file your T1 directly to CRA without ever opening My Account. You just have to manually type every T-slip in (no Auto-fill My Return).

Your refund still comes by direct deposit if your bank account is on file with CRA from a previous year. If not, the refund comes by paper cheque to your most recent mailing address — slower (4–6 weeks) but it works.

What about CRA scams during tax season?

Scammer activity peaks April 15–30. CRA never calls or emails about your refund, and never asks for crypto, gift cards, or e-Transfer. If you get a suspicious call, hang up and dial 1-800-959-8281 directly to verify.

See our CRA scam alerts 2026 for the current scam patterns and how to verify any CRA contact is legit.