If you already have a CRA user ID and password, or you sign in through a Sign-In Partner, skip this guide. You do not need to register again.
What you need before you start
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Your date of birth
- Amounts from your most recent Notice of Assessment (the line CRA asks you to confirm changes year to year)
- A smartphone with a working camera, plus one of: Canadian passport, Canadian driver’s licence, or provincial photo ID. The camera and ID are how CRA verifies your identity in real time.
Step 1. Open the registration page
Go to CRA My Account for Individuals and choose Register.
Step 2. Pick a sign-in option
You have two paths: CRA user ID and password (you create one), or a Sign-In Partner (uses your online banking credentials). Whichever you pick, that becomes the option you use every time you sign in.
Step 3. Verify your identity
Use the document verification path on your phone. You take a photo of your ID and a selfie, and CRA compares them. Verification is usually instant. If something is off, CRA falls back to mailing you a security code, which delays you by a week.
Step 4. Set up multi-factor authentication
CRA requires MFA. The simplest option is a one-time code sent by text message. Choose By phone and add your mobile number.
Connect your business to your personal account
Even if you only need help with corporate taxes, your CRA Business Account is reached through your personal account. Once you are signed in:
- Click the dropdown under your name and choose + Add account
- Pick Business Account
- Select Add Business Number
- Enter your business number and click Add
- Click Select as default
If the business will not link, the corporation may not be associated with your SIN at CRA. Call CRA Business Enquiries at 1-800-959-5525 and they can fix it on the call.
What to do next
Once your CRA account is up, the next step is authorizing us to work on your file. That guide is Authorize Versatile as Your Representative.
Stuck on a step?
Two CRA help lines, in case you need them:
- Individual account access: 1-800-959-8281
- Business account access: 1-800-959-5525
If neither line solves it, call us at (403) 203-2263. We have walked clients through this dozens of times.