Skip to content

One Accounting

Menu

CRA launches new verification method for online access

new verification method CRA

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has introduced a new identity validation option to make it easier to register for digital services including My Account. This new validation option is known as document verification service.

This will make it easier for people to apply for means-tested financial assistance and to work with tax professionals, but it might still be too expensive for some Canadians who are in need.

  • Users must be 16 or older
  • Use an electronic device with a camera.

Now, taxpayers can instantly access the CRA’s online services by using the following IDs:

  • Canadian passport
  • Canadian driver’s licence
  • Provincial/Territorial ID card

Currently, obtaining a CRA security code through mail is a necessary step in the registration process that can take up to 10 business days. With the new identity validation option, users no longer need to wait for their code to arrive in the mail to access their accounts. However, there is also an option to ask for a CRA security code by mail.

The benefits of the new identity validation options are:

  • The chance of the code missing through the mail decreases with digital verification.
  • Compared to the “frustrating” process of requesting a code via mail, the new verification process will be more convenient.
  • The new registration procedure will simplify the work of accountants, as many of them depend on their clients providing their tax information. Access will be quick with the new signup process.
  • The new verification technique will speed up applications for benefits like provincial childcare and housing assistance that need income verification.

Those without a smartphone, mobile internet, or a valid form of identification, will not be able to use the digital signup process. People with low incomes are less likely to be able to afford the necessary documentation.

In addition, people will need to enter their date of birth, social security number (SIN), and details from their most recent assessed tax return from the previous year or the current one when they sign up for My Account. The CRA prioritizes protecting personal information, and we want to reassure Canadians that this new identity validation option is secure.

Share:

Recent Blogs