Get an authorized representative
To communicate with the CRA on your behalf
What an authorized representative CAN do
✅ View your Notice of Assessment or Reassessment
✅ Access past tax returns
✅ Check benefits and credits information
✅ View account balances, RRSP/TFSA limits, and more
✅ Speak to CRA on your behalf
✅ File tax adjustments (T1-ADJ) if needed
✅ Upload documents requested by CRA
✅ Call the CRA to check the status of your tax return or refund
✅ File an objection if you received an incorrect Notice of Assessment
✅ Assist with audits or reviews
What an authorized representative CANNOT do
❌ Receive your refund directly
❌ Change your banking information (only you can)
❌ Change your contact information (only you can)
❌ View your personal information such as address, marital status, or telephone numbers
❌ Act without your consent
❌ Guarantee tax refunds or CRA decisions
Who can be your CRA representative?
- a tax preparer
- an accountant
- a bookkeeper
- your spouse or common-law partner
- another family member
- a friend
- a lawyer
- a customs broker
- an executor
- a power of attorney
Ways to Authorize a Representative with CRA
Option 1: Add the Representative Yourself (Fastest)
You must already be registered for a CRA account.
- Sign in to your CRA account
- On the “Welcome” page, select your Individual account to access My Account
- Select Profile from the left-side menu
- Select Add in the “Authorized representative(s)” section
- Read the “Before you begin” information and select Start
- Enter the representative’s:
- Name
- Rep ID that they gave you
Option 2: Approve a Representative's Request Online
You must already be registered for a CRA account.
Your representative submits an authorization request, and you confirm it through your CRA My Account. You must approve or deny the request within 10 business days, or it will expire.
- Sign in to your CRA account
- On the “Welcome” page, select your Individual account to access My Account
- Select Profile from the left-side menu
- Select Confirm pending authorizations in the “Authorized representative(s)” section
- Under “Pending authorization requests,” select the representative’s name to proceed
- If there are no pending authorization requests, you will see “As of [the current date] you have no pending representatives”
To learn more about how you can easily and securely verify new authorization requests, go to Confirm my representative’s authorization request.
Option 3: No CRA Account? Sign an Authorization Form
- Provide your representative with information from a Notice of Assessment that is at least 6 months old.
- The representative will prepare an authorization request.
- Sign the certification page they provide.
- Return the signed page to the representative.
- The representative submits it to CRA.
Note: CRA may still contact you to verify the authorization.
Option 4: Never Filed a Canadian Tax Return
If you have never filed a Canadian tax return and cannot register for CRA My Account:
- The representative will obtain your signed consent.
- They will submit the consent through CRA’s authorization process.
- CRA may contact you by phone to verify the request.
Option 5: Mail a Paper Form (Slowest)
Your representative will complete Form AUT-01, Authorize a Representative for Offline Access, which you must review and sign.
Once signed, mail the form to the CRA tax centre listed on the form within six months of the signing date.
Important: This option only gives the representative access by phone, mail, fax, or in person. It does not provide online access to your CRA account.
Links and quotes used from those websites:
After You Submit Your Tax Paperwork: Let Us Handle the CRA for You
For just a $20 add-on to your tax return service fee, we can act on your behalf with the CRA, handling phone inquiries and follow-ups throughout your tax return process.
