Tax refunds

Reminder: The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has resumed its work to address taxpayer debt. Benefit and credit payments, and tax refunds may be applied to pay down outstanding balances. If your debt repayment causes significant financial hardship, contact the CRA directly to discuss your options even if you already have a payment plan in place. For more information about how specific benefits could be impacted, see How payments are applied to offset debt.

On this page

• Refund timelines
• Check the status of your refund
• Transfer your refund

Refund timelines

How you file your return can affect when you get your refund.

The CRA's goal is to send you a notice of assessment, as well as any refund, within the following timelines:

• online - 2 weeks
• paper return - 8 weeks
• non-resident returns - 16 weeks

These timelines apply only to returns that are received on or before the due date.

The CRA may take longer to process your return if it is selected for a more detailed review.

Why you have not received your refund

The CRA may keep all or part of your refund if you have:

• an amount owing (or pending amount owing)
• a garnishment order under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act
• certain other outstanding federal, provincial or territorial government debts, such as student loans, employment insurance (EI) and social assistance benefit overpayments, immigration loans or training allowance overpayments
• any outstanding GST/HST returns from a sole proprietorship or partnership
• a refund of $2 or less

Interest on your refund

The CRA will pay you compound daily interest on your 2023 tax refund in some situations. The calculation will start on the latest of the following three dates:

• May 30, 2024
• the 30th day after you file your return
• the day you overpaid your taxes

Check the status of your refund

How to check your refund status

If you reside in Canada, wait eight weeks before contacting the CRA for an update on your tax return and refund status. If you reside outside Canada, wait 16 weeks .

My Account gives you secure online access to your tax return information.

To verify your identity, the CRA may ask for:

• your social insurance number
• your full name
• your date of birth
• your complete address
• an assessed return, notice of assessment or reassessment, other tax document, or to be signed in to My Account

If you are calling the CRA on behalf of someone else, you must be an authorized representative.

1-800-959-8281

Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut:
1-866-426-1527

Outside Canada and the United States (Eastern Standard Time):
613-940-8495

Automated line Before you call

To verify your identity, the CRA may ask for:

• your social insurance number
• your full name
• your date of birth
• your complete address
• the amount entered at line 15000 off your most recent notice of assessment

1-800-959-1956

Always open (automated line)

Transfer your refund

Transfer your refund to an instalment account

You can ask the CRA to transfer your refund to your 2024 instalment account by:

• choosing this option when you file your tax return electronically
• attaching a note to your paper return

The CRA will transfer the full amount of your refund directly to your instalment account. It will go toward any amount owing on your tax return. The CRA will consider this payment received on the date that your return is assessed.

Note

The CRA will not transfer your refund to pay another person’s amount owing.

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