Confirm my representative's authorization request

Confirm my Representative is a two-step verification process that allows you to easily and securely control who has access and what level of access your representative has to your personal and tax information. As an individual taxpayer or a business owner, you can confirm certain authorization requests submitted by your representative. You can do this easily and securely using the Confirm my Representative service in CRA's secure portals and services.

On this page

• If you're an individual
• If you're a business owner
• If you're a trustee of a trust account
• Relevant information for your representatives

If you're an individual

The Confirm my Representative service allows you to verify all new authorization requests submitted by representatives through Represent a Client, including:

• authorizing a new representative on your account
• accepting requests for changes to access level of existing representatives

Representatives who use certified tax software (EFILE) for authorization requests for individuals are not impacted.

How to access Confirm my Representative in My Account

You must be registered for CRA's My Account to use the Confirm my Representative service.

• If you already have access to My Account, you can turn on email notifications to get messages when your representative submits a new authorization request. You can access your authorization requests in the Authorized representatives section in My Account.
• If you don't have access, you can register for My Account.

Confirming or denying authorization requests

If a representative submits an authorization request, you must confirm or deny it within 10 business days in My Account or the request will be cancelled. If you still want to authorize a representative after this time period, you must ask your representative to submit a new request.

To confirm or deny an authorization request from your representative, complete the following steps:

Step 1: Sign in to My Account

Step 2: From the navigation menu on the left, select Profile

Step 3: In the Authorized representatives section, select Confirm pending authorizations

Step 4: Select the pending request

Step 5: Select Confirm authorization or Deny authorization, then click Submit to finalize the request

Alternative process for individuals

You can also choose to authorize your representative using your information from a previous notice of assessment. If you choose this option:

1. You must provide your representative with information from a notice of assessment that was sent to you at least six months ago
2. Your representative must provide this information when they submit their initial authorization request
3. You'll need to sign the certification page before they can submit it to us
4. Your representative will need to submit the signed certification page using Submit documents in Represent a Client. Do not mail or fax a copy of the certification page to the CRA. These copies won't be processed or returned to you

Even with this information provided, the CRA may still contact you to verify your representative's authorization request. Your representative's request for authorization will generally be processed within five days.

If you're a business owner

Your representative can submit authorization requests using Represent a Client or using their certified tax software (EFILE). You must use the Confirm my Representative service in My Business Account to confirm or deny these requests.

How to access Confirm my Representative in My Business Account

You must be registered for My Business Account to use the Confirm my Representative service.

• If you're already registered to My Business Account, you can turn on email notifications to get messages when your representative submits a new authorization request. You can access your authorization requests in the Authorized representatives section in My Business Account.
• If you're not registered to My Business Account, you have two options:
  • If you're already registered for My Account, as a business owner, you also have access to My Business Account. Simply use your existing CRA user ID and password to sign in to My Business Account.
  • If you're not already registered for My Account, you need to register for My Business Account.

Once you have signed in to My Business Account, you'll need to add your business number to your account. You can only complete this if your name and social insurance number match the information the CRA has on file for your business. If you get an error message at this step, you'll need to contact the CRA to update your records.

Confirming or denying authorization requests

If a representative submits an authorization request, you must confirm or deny it within 10 business days in My Business Account or the request will be cancelled. If you still want to authorize a representative after this time period, you must ask your representative to submit a new request.

To confirm or deny an authorization request from your representative, complete the following steps:

Step 1: Sign in to My Business Account

Step 2: From the toolbar at the top of the page, select Profile

Step 3: In the Authorized representatives section, select Manage authorized representatives

Step 4: Select Confirm pending authorizations

Step 5: Select the pending request

Step 6: Select Confirm or Deny to finalize the request

For information regarding corporations, go to Access to corporate tax information.

Alternative process for sole proprietors

Sole proprietors who want to use the same representative for both their business and personal taxes may not have to use the Confirm my Representative service in My Business Account. If you're a sole proprietor and you don't have access to the CRA's online and Confirm my Representative services, the CRA may automatically activate authorization requests that your representative submits through Represent a Client or certified tax software (EFILE) after you have signed the appropriate signature page. You may be eligible if you meet certain conditions such as:

• You're a sole proprietor
• Your social insurance number is linked to your business account
• You already have the representative authorized on your individual account
• You don't have access to My Business Account to confirm your representative

Your representative's request for authorization will generally be processed within five business days.

Exclusions to the Confirm my Representative service

Confirm my Representative isn't available for businesses where all of the owners or directors have been identified to the CRA as being non-residents of Canada and there is no delegated authority, or if the authorization request is certified (signed) by a legal representative (such as an executor or a trustee) of the business. In these cases:

1. You'll need to sign the certification page before your representative can submit the authorization request to the CRA
2. Your representative will need to submit the signed certification page using Submit documents in Represent a Client. Do not mail or fax a copy of the certification page to the CRA. These copies won't be processed or returned to you

Even with this information provided, the CRA may contact the business by telephone to verify a representative's authorization request. Your representative's request for authorization will generally be processed within five days. It is very important to keep the residency status of a business owner up-to-date in the CRA's records.

If you're unable to register for My Business Account, you may contact Business Enquiries at 1‑800‑959‑5525 for more information.

If you're a trustee of a trust account

Your representative can submit authorization requests using Represent a Client and ask you to finalize the request. You must use the Confirm my Representative service in My Trust Account to confirm or deny these requests. 

If you're a primary trustee and you don't have access to My Trust Account, go to About My Trust Account. 

How to access Confirm my Representative in My Trust Account

You must be authorized as a trustee in My Trust Account to use the Confirm my Representative service.

If you're a trustee with online access to the trust account, you can sign in to Represent a Client and access your authorization requests in the Authorized representative(s) section in My Trust Account.

To confirm or deny an authorization request from your representative, complete the following steps:

Step 1: Enter the Trust Number (T3) on the Welcome screen of Represent a Client to access the account in My Trust Account

Step 2: From the navigation menu on the left, select Profile

Step 3: In the Authorized representative(s) section, select Confirm pending authorizations

Step 4: Select the pending request

Step 5: Select Confirm authorization or Deny authorization, then click Submit to finalize the request

Relevant information for your representatives

The Confirm my Representative process will apply to all new authorization requests that your representative submits using Represent a Client and for requests they submit through the Business Consent Service in certified tax software (EFILE).

After submitting the authorization request

Your representative can view the status of their authorization requests in Represent a Client. Authorization requests must be confirmed or denied within 10 business days. Otherwise, they will be cancelled and your representative will need to submit a new one. If they submit a new request before the original request was confirmed or denied, it will cancel the original and restart the clock. Once a request is confirmed, your representative will be granted access within one business day.