Tax refunds

On this page

• When to expect your refund
• Check the status of your refund
• Understand your refund
• Transfer your refund

When to expect your refund

How you file your return can affect when you get your refund.

The CRA's goal is to send you a notice of assessment, as well as any refund, within:

• two weeks, when you file online
• eight weeks, when you file a paper return

These timelines apply only to returns that are received on or before the due date.

Refunds may take up to 16 weeks if you live outside Canada and file an Income Tax and Benefit Return for Non-Residents and Deemed Residents of Canada.

The CRA may take longer to process your return if your return is selected for a more detailed review.

If you use direct deposit, you could get your refund faster.

Why haven’t you received your refund?

The CRA may keep all or part of your refund if you:

• owe or are about to owe an amount
• have a garnishment order under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act
• have certain other outstanding federal, provincial or territorial government debts, such as student loans, employment insurance (EI) and social assistance benefit overpayments, immigration loans or training allowance overpayments
• have any outstanding GST/HST returns from a sole proprietorship or partnership
• have a refund of $2 or less

Interest on your refund

The CRA will pay you compound daily interest on your 2023 tax refund in some situations. The calculation will start on the latest of the following three dates:

• May 30, 2024
• the 30th day after you file your return
• the day you overpaid your taxes

For more information, see Prescribed interest rates.

Check the status of your refund

How to check your refund status

If you reside in Canada, wait eight weeks before contacting the CRA for an update on your tax return and refund status. If you reside outside Canada, wait 16 weeks.

Online:

My Account gives you secure online access to your tax return information.

Sign in to My Account to check the status of your tax refund.

Sign in to My Account Register

Alternative: MyCRA mobile app

By phone:

Check your refund status by phone

Before you call

To verify your identity, the CRA may ask for:

• you social insurance number
• your full name and date of birth
• your complete address
• line 15000 from your most recent notice of assessment

Telephone number

1-800-959-1956

Hours

Always open (automated line)

No wait times

Understand your refund

If you don't understand how the CRA calculated your refund, read your notice of assessment or call the CRA for help.

By phone:

Get help understanding your tax refund

Before you call

To verify your identity, the CRA may ask for:

• your social insurance number
• your full name and date of birth
• your complete address
• an assessed return, notice of assessment or reassessment, other tax document, or be signed in to My Account

If you are calling the CRA on behalf of someone else, you must be an authorized representative

Telephone number

1-800-959-8281

Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut:
1-866-426-1527

Outside Canada and the United States (Eastern Standard Time):
613-940-8495

Hours

Table 1

Day	Hours
Monday to Friday	8 am to 8 pm
Saturday	9 am to 5 pm
Sunday	Closed

Closed on public holidays

Transfer your refund

Transfer your refund to an instalment account

You can ask the CRA to transfer your refund to your 2023 instalment account by:

• choosing this option when you file your tax return electronically
• attaching a note to your paper return

The CRA will transfer the full amount of your refund directly to your instalment account. It will go toward any amount owing on your tax return. The CRA will consider this payment received on the date your return is assessed.

For more information, see Payments for individuals.