How do you set up CRA My Account in Canada in 2026?

Start only from the official CRA sign-in services page. Create a CRA user ID and password, or use a Sign-In Partner: online banking credentials from a participating bank or credit union such as RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, Desjardins, or others listed on the CRA page.

CRA states that you cannot use GCKey to sign in to a CRA account. GCKey may still appear for other federal sites, but it is the wrong tool here. Multi-factor authentication is required; keep a phone number and recovery options you will still control after changing apartments.

You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) before the CRA can match you. Get that through Service Canada. Registration options that rely on prior tax filings expect you to have filed for a recent year, so many newcomers complete their first return before full online access unlocks. Follow the current CRA register checklist rather than an old blog post.

Inside the account you can view tax slips (such as T4 employment slips), notices of assessment, GST/HST credit and other benefit status, direct-deposit banking details, and registered-plan contribution room. That room matters before you set up an RRSP or a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA).

Update your mailing address and marital status when they change. Moving provinces without telling CRA can delay refunds and benefit payments. Keep your Canadian bank details current after you open a bank account so deposits are not sent to a closed account.

CRA will not email you a link asking for your full SIN and password. Open the site yourself if a message claims your refund is waiting.

Newcomers should read CRA's newcomers pages for the first partial year in Canada, worldwide income questions, and which slips employers issue. Filing on time builds the history many online-registration paths expect and sets your RRSP deduction limit for later years.

Work authorization and tax filing are different steps. A valid work permit lets you work; CRA handles the tax side after income begins.