The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which is responsible for managing and enforcing tax regulations in Canada, has announced a significant change in its communication process. From spring 2025, the CRA will replace traditional mail entirely with the online portal “My Business Account”. This transition aims to simplify the administrative process for businesses, making communication safer and more efficient. The change is expected to significantly reduce administrative burdens and enable faster digital tax communication.

What is “My Business Account”?

“My Business Account” is an online portal that allows businesses to interact with the CRA. Through this platform, businesses can manage their tax matters in various areas, including:

  • GST/HST (Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax)
  • Payroll Tax
  • Corporate Income Taxes
  • Excise Taxes and Duties
  • Other specific business accounts

Businesses can submit their tax returns, manage payments, and view notifications. From spring 2025, “My Business Account” will also become the central platform for all business correspondence from the CRA. Most business correspondence, such as tax assessments and other notices, will be sent through “My Business Account” instead of by post. Businesses will be able to view their notifications directly in the portal, keeping them up to date at all times.

The following businesses are affected:

  • Businesses that already have a “My Business Account”
  • Businesses registering new business numbers or program accounts
  • Businesses that communicate with the CRA through representatives

For international businesses that do not have access to the online portal, the postal service will remain available as a communication method. Businesses that still wish to receive their correspondence by mail can make a request to do so.


New Features as Part of the Modernization

As part of the digitalization process, the CRA is also introducing new features that will simplify and enhance security:

  • Document Verification: A new method for real-time identity verification via mobile device. This requires a photo of a valid government-issued photo ID and a selfie to confirm the identity.
  • Simplified Registration: From 2025, the registration process for “My Business Account”, “My Account”, and “Represent a Client” will be streamlined with a single login.
  • Payroll Reminders: Businesses can set up an automatic email reminder for the due date of their payroll tax return.
  • Removal of Security Questions: Due to security enhancements, additional security questions will no longer be required when signing in.

 

Sources: GTAI (in German), Government of Canada → About My Business Account