Direct deposit help centre
Find answers to your questions about direct deposit. Learn how to enrol, how to notify us if you move and what to do if your payment is late. Understand how switching to direct deposit helps families, seniors and people like you.
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On this page
- Help with direct deposit
- Contact direct deposit
- Videos about direct deposit
- Infographics and facts about direct deposit
Help with direct deposit
Please visit the Receiver General’s frequently asked questions for more general questions related to payments issued by the Government of Canada.
Finding your banking information
If you have a blank or void cheque, you will find your banking information at the bottom of the cheque.
Make sure that the cheque is for the same bank account as where you want your direct deposit payments to go.
Reading your cheque
The digits at the bottom of your cheque are described below.
- The first set of digits are a cheque number: not required
- The second set of digits (5 digits) are the Branch number: required
- The third set of digits (3 digits) are the Institution number: required
- The last set of digits (various lengths) are the Account number: required
Requesting bank account information
If you do not have a cheque, contact or visit your financial institution. They can provide your bank account information to you.
You must request a stamp from your financial institution if you are submitting a direct deposit enrolment form without attaching a void cheque.
Enrolling with power of attorney
You may enrol in direct deposit if you have power of attorney. Make sure that each federal institution has your power of attorney or trusteeship forms on file before you enrol.
Enrolling with a joint bank account
You may request your direct deposit payments be made into a bank account that is shared by two people. Make sure that each account holder is included when you enrol.
Enrolling with multiple bank accounts
If you receive multiple payments from the government, you may request that those payments be deposited in different bank accounts in most cases.
To learn more, Contact the department or agency that issues your payment
For tax refunds and credits
You may only receive your income tax refund and your goods and services tax (GST) or harmonized sales tax (HST) credits in the same bank account that you used when enrolling for direct deposit.
Receiving your first payment by direct deposit
Depending on your situation, your first payment by direct deposit can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
If you have not received payment within the expected times listed below, Contact the department or agency that issues your payment.
When you can expect your first payment
- If you enrol online, in person or by telephone, you should begin receiving your direct deposit payments by the next pay cycle
- If you enrol by mail and you have a Canadian bank account, you should begin receiving your direct deposit payments in 6 to 8 weeks
- If you have a foreign bank account, you should begin receiving your direct deposit payments within three months
- The service standards of foreign banks varies from bank to bank, which may mean getting enrolled is slower than you might expect
Receiving cheques after enrolling
Are you still receiving cheques after enrolling for direct deposit? Contact the department or agency that issues your payment to find out if your enrolment has been processed.
Reporting a late payment
If your payment is later than usual, Contact the department or agency that issues your payment.
Reporting an incorrect or unexpected payment
If you believe the payment you received is incorrect or you received a payment you were not expecting, Contact the department or agency that issues your payment.
Reporting a change of address
If you have moved, Contact the department or agency that issues your payment.
Reporting a change of bank account
If you have changed banks or would like your payments to be deposited into a new bank account, Contact the department or agency that issues your payment.
Protecting your personal and banking information
Learn how we secure your personal and banking information when you enrol.
Protecting your personal and banking information when you enrol
We consider your privacy and security of utmost importance. The information you provide is protected under the Privacy Act.
When you enrol in direct deposit, you are not authorizing the government or anyone else to withdraw money from your bank account. The information you provide may only be used to deposit money into your account.
The Receiver General for Canada, which manages Direct Deposit, collects the information you provide. It will disclose this information only to the department or agency that issues your payment. It also discloses your banking information to your bank. Your personal information is never shared with your bank.
We do not have access to your bank account. The account agreement you have with your financial institution sets out how we must deal with them. Should you have any concerns about their privacy and security policies, contact your financial institution.
Receiver General payments: Learn more about how your information is collected, used and stored.
Providing your social insurance number
Canada Revenue Agency and Service Canada are authorized to request your social insurance number, which they use as your account number.
Contact direct deposit
The Receiver General for Canada manages direct deposit for the various benefits and payments you receive from the government. You may contact us with your general questions and comments. Before contacting us, please read our Privacy notice statement.
Report a late payment or a change in your information on file
If you are inquiring about a missing payment, want to report a problem with your payment, or want to change the address or banking information on file, you must contact the department or agency that issues your payment.
Obtain help with completing and mailing paper enrolment forms
- Canada direct deposit enrolment form completion instructions
- Foreign direct deposit enrolment form completion instructions
Telephone
- Over the phone assistance in Canada or the United States:
- 1-800-593-1666 (toll-free)
- Over the phone assistance outside Canada and the United States:
- 1-613-941-6402 (collect call)
- Local numbers are available for select countries
- Teletypewriter: 1-844-524-5286 (toll-free in Canada and the United States, collect call elsewhere)
Agents are available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 7am to 7pm and Thursday and Friday, 7am to 10pm eastern time, except for statutory holidays.
Mail the completed form to:
- Organization:
- Receiver General for Canada
- Address:
- PO Box 5000
Matane QC G4W 4R6
Ordering enrolment forms and return envelopes
Banks, credit unions, tax preparers and community organizations looking to order direct deposit enrolment forms, and return envelopes, please provide the following information:
All other inquiries
You may contact us with your general questions and comments using the required fields below. For your privacy and safety, please do not submit personal information (such as your SIN) or banking information.
Videos about direct deposit
Watch these videos to learn more about why people like you are switching to direct deposit.
Benefits of direct deposit for retired Canadians and seniors
Meet older Canadians who have benefitted from direct deposit, in Canada and abroad.
Benefits of direct deposit for families
Meet Canadian families who receive their government payments and benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit and Canada Pension Plan by direct deposit.
Incredible benefits of direct deposit
Learn how switching to direct deposit saves money and the environment.
Benefits and facts that may surprise you about direct deposit
Benefits and facts that may surprise you about direct deposit
Direct deposit and you
Learn how direct deposit is more convenient, reliable and secure than receiving your government payments and benefits by cheque.
Money hacks: Are you on direct deposit
Infographics and facts about direct deposit
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