How to check your refund status

1. My Account on canada.ca — log in with your CRA credentials or sign in partner (bank). Your Notice of Assessment appears here once processed.
2. MyCRA mobile app — available on iOS and Android. Shows refund status, NOA, and RRSP room.
3. Phone — call the CRA's automated refund status line at 1-800-959-1956. Have your SIN and date of birth ready.

CRA processing timeline

Why your refund might be delayed

• Missing slips — if a T4, T5, or other slip doesn't match CRA records, they'll flag it
• Review of specific claims — medical expenses, moving expenses, and home office claims trigger extra scrutiny
• Outstanding balances — CRA will deduct money you owe from previous years before issuing your refund
• Identity verification — first-time filers or returns with unusual changes may require ID confirmation
• Volume — returns filed close to April 30 face the largest backlog

What your Notice of Assessment tells you

Your NOA is the CRA's official summary of your return. It confirms your reported income, deductions, and credits. It also shows your RRSP deduction limit for the next year and any carryforward balances (unused tuition credits, capital losses, etc.). Keep it — you'll need the RRSP room number for your RRSP calculator.

Got your refund? Here's what to do next

• Check if you're eligible for federal benefits you might be missing
• Use your TFSA room — contribute your refund tax-free
• Run the income tax calculator to plan next year's RRSP contribution
• Set up direct deposit with CRA to get future refunds faster