Notice of Assessment Canada — How to Read Your NOA

Once your tax return is processed, CRA issues a Notice of Assessment summarizing the result. Here's how to read it line by line and what every section means. Need to track when it'll arrive? Use our refund tracker →

The 5 sections of your NOA

1. Account summary — refund or balance owing, on the front page in bold. If positive, that's heading to your bank account (assuming direct deposit is set up).
2. Tax assessment — line-by-line: total income, deductions, taxable income, federal tax, provincial tax, CPP, EI, total payable. Any CRA adjustments are flagged in italics.
3. RRSP / PRPP deduction limit statement — your contribution room for next year. The bottom line, "RRSP deduction limit for 2027", is the number to use.
4. TFSA contribution room — your total room for the next calendar year. (CRA only updates this in Q1 each year — if you're checking in October, the number might be from the prior year.)
5. HBP / LLP balance — if you've used the Home Buyers' Plan or Lifelong Learning Plan, the outstanding balance and minimum repayment due next year.

Key boxes to check first

If CRA changed your return

CRA may have adjusted your entries — usually because a slip didn't match (employer reported a different T4 amount than you entered), or because you missed a credit, or because of a math error. Every change is flagged with a brief explanation in the assessment section.

If you agree, do nothing — the new amount is now your official assessment. If you disagree: file Form T400A — Notice of Objection within 90 days of the NOA's date. The CRA Appeals branch will review independently. You can file objections through CRA My Account or by mail.

Where to find your NOA online

• Sign in to CRA My Account
• Go to "Tax returns" → "Notice of Assessment"
• Pick the year — your NOA is downloadable as a PDF (looks identical to the mailed copy)
• Banks accept the digital NOA for mortgage applications

Frequently Asked Questions