Canada Revenue Agency
CRA
The federal agency responsible for administering tax laws, collecting taxes, and delivering benefit programs in Canada.
What is the CRA?
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is the federal government agency that administers tax laws for the Government of Canada and most provinces and territories. It collects income taxes, manages benefit programs like the GST/HST Credit and Canada Child Benefit, and processes tax returns.
Why It Matters for Newcomers
As a newcomer, you must file a Canadian tax return for the year you arrive, even if you earned no Canadian income. Filing your taxes unlocks important benefits like the GST/HST Credit and Canada Child Benefit. The CRA also administers the TFSA and RRSP contribution limits.
Key Services for Newcomers
Create a CRA My Account online to manage your tax affairs, view your Notice of Assessment, check benefit payments, and update your personal information. The CRA also issues the individual tax number for those who need to file taxes but do not have a SIN.
Quick Tip
File your first Canadian tax return as soon as possible after arriving. Even if you earned no income, filing activates your eligibility for benefits like the GST/HST Credit, which provides quarterly payments to individuals and families with low-to-modest income.