CRA Phone Numbers — Personal Tax
Individual Income Tax Inquiries
1-800-959-8281
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm local time (extended during tax season)
Use for: T1 return status, RRSP room, NOA questions, payment arrangements, address changes
Benefit Inquiries (CCB, GST/HST Credit, etc.)
1-800-387-1193
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm local time
Use for: Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST credit, Climate Action Incentive, disability tax credit
Individual Automated Line (Tax Refund Status)
1-800-959-1956
24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Automated: check refund status, balance owing, instalment payments. No hold time — use this first.
CRA Phone Numbers — Business & Self-Employed
Business Inquiries (T2, Payroll, Business Accounts)
1-800-959-5525
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm local time
Use for: T2 corporate returns, payroll deductions, Business Number registration, corporate accounts
GST/HST General Inquiries
1-800-959-5525
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm local time
Same number as business inquiries. Use for: registration, filing requirements, ITCs, account questions
Payroll Deductions & Employer Inquiries
1-800-959-5525
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm local time
Employer-specific: remittance schedules, T4 preparation, employer portion of CPP/EI
CRA Phone Numbers — Debt & Collections
Individual Collections
1-888-863-8657
Mon–Fri 7am–11pm ET; Sat 7am–11pm ET
Use for: setting up payment plans, understanding liens, wage garnishments, CRA debt relief options
Business Collections
1-877-477-5068
Mon–Fri 7am–11pm ET
Use for: corporate or GST/HST debt, payment arrangements for businesses
Typical CRA Wait Times — By Time of Year
~10 min
Jan–Feb (pre-filing)
45–90 min
Mar–Apr (peak season)
20–40 min
May–Jun (post-filing)
~15 min
Jul–Dec (off-peak)
Best times to call CRA: Tuesday through Thursday, between 9:00am and 10:00am local time. Mondays are the busiest day of the week. The first week after the April 30 deadline and first two weeks of February are the most congested periods of the year.
My CRA Account — Do It Online First
Before calling, check My CRA Account at canada.ca:
• View refund status and estimated arrival date
• View your Notice of Assessment
• Check RRSP, TFSA, and FHSA contribution room
• View/update direct deposit information
• File a T1 adjustment (change a previous return)
• View and pay your balance owing
• Register for instalment payments
Over 80% of CRA inquiries can be resolved through My CRA Account without waiting on hold.
FAQ — Contacting CRA Canada 2025
What information do I need before calling CRA?
Have ready: Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, current postal code, line 15000 from your most recent NOA (net income), and if calling about a specific year, that year's return details. CRA agents use these to verify your identity before discussing your account. Have a pen ready — you'll want to write down reference numbers from the call.
Can I verify my CRA account without calling?
Yes — CRA's My Account online portal and CRA My Benefits CRA app let you view most account information 24/7. You can also use the automated phone line (1-800-959-1956) to check refund status, balance owing, and benefit payment dates without waiting for an agent. Register for My CRA Account at canada.ca.
What should I do if I receive a suspicious CRA call?
Legitimate CRA agents will NEVER demand immediate payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or Interac e-transfer. They will never threaten arrest. If a caller claims to be from CRA and demands immediate payment or personal information, hang up — it's a scam. Verify by calling CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281. CRA contacts taxpayers primarily by mail and through My CRA Account notifications.
How do I set up a payment plan with CRA?
Call CRA's individual collections line at 1-888-863-8657. Explain your situation and request a payment arrangement. CRA can set up a formal payment plan that stops collection action while you pay in manageable installments. Interest continues to accrue on unpaid balances, but collection calls and legal action are paused while you're in compliance with the plan.
Is there a way to contact CRA by email?
CRA does not accept email communication for security reasons — they cannot verify your identity or ensure secure transmission via regular email. You can communicate with CRA through: (1) My CRA Account's secure messaging feature; (2) mail to your regional CRA tax centre; (3) phone; (4) in person at a CRA office. Secure MyAccount messaging usually gets a response within 5–10 business days.
What are CRA's tax centre mailing addresses?
CRA has regional tax centres across Canada. Your personal return is generally mailed to the tax centre for your province. Addresses are printed on all CRA correspondence. Check your prior year Notice of Assessment for the address, or visit canada.ca/cra for current mailing addresses. Note that mailing a return adds 6–8 weeks to processing time vs. 2 weeks with NETFILE e-filing.