After you file your tax return: notice of assessment, refund, mistakes and CRA letters

Read your notice of assessment, fix a mistake without filing twice, object to an assessment, answer the CRA and spot scams.

1. Read your notice of assessment

The notice of assessment (NOA) is the CRA's answer to your return. It shows the income and deductions the CRA accepted, your refund or balance owing, and carry-forward amounts such as your RRSP deduction limit. Compare it with your return line by line. A notice of reassessment means the CRA changed an earlier assessment, because you asked or because it found something.

2. Refund or balance owing

• Refund: direct deposit set up in CRA My Account is the fastest way to be paid. If your refund seems late, check the status in My Account before calling.
• Balance owing: pay by the deadline you were given. If you cannot pay in full, contact the CRA before the debt grows: it can set up a payment arrangement.

3. Fix a mistake or add a missing slip

• In CRA My Account, use the Change my return service for changes to a return you already filed (late-found slips, missed deductions, corrected amounts).
• Tax software also lets you transmit an adjustment (ReFILE) for recent years.
• For older years, or if neither works, send a written request with the supporting documents. Keep a copy and the confirmation.

4. Disagree with an assessment: file an objection

If you believe the CRA assessed you wrongly, you can file a notice of objection. For an individual, the deadline is the later of 90 days after the date on the notice and one year after the return's filing due date, so do not wait. If you miss it, you may be able to ask for an extension. State what you disagree with and why, and attach evidence. An objection is free and does not start a lawsuit. You can file the objection through your CRA account or by mail with Form T400A.

5. If the CRA writes to you

• A request for documents or a review letter: reply before the date in the letter. You can upload documents in My Account. Keep copies of everything.
• Penalties and interest you think are unfair: you can ask the CRA to cancel or waive them under its taxpayer relief provisions (illness, disaster, a CRA error, financial hardship).
• Check that the letter is real. Scammers imitate the CRA. The CRA does not demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or a threatening call, and an unexpected message with a link asking for your sign-in or banking details is a phishing attempt. Go to the CRA site by typing the address yourself. To report a scam, see the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre ↗.

6. Keep your records

Keep your return, slips and receipts for six years from the end of the tax year they relate to (from the filing date if the return was filed late). If you need help to sign in to your account, read our guide on government online accounts.

General information, not tax or legal advice. Time limits and services are set by the CRA and can change; confirm them on the CRA website. For help with a dispute, you can also contact a tax professional or a community legal clinic.

Sources and limits

Official sources are linked in the guide. Written on November 13, 2026; confirm current rules, dates and forms with the responsible body.

General information based on federal and national rules; provincial rules may differ. Confirm with the official body before acting. Last reviewed : 2026-11-13.