CRA My Account for GST/CGEB Benefits 2026: How to Set Up and Use It

CRA My Account is the Canada Revenue Agency's secure online portal that gives Canadians direct access to their personal tax and benefit information. If you receive — or want to receive — the GST/HST credit or the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), My Account is the fastest and most reliable way to check your payment status, update your information, and set up direct deposit. This guide walks you through everything you need in 2026.

What Is CRA My Account?

CRA My Account is a free, secure digital portal at canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/cra-login-services.html that allows individuals to manage their personal tax information with the CRA. It is separate from My Business Account (which is for business tax accounts).

How to Register for CRA My Account

There are two ways to create a CRA My Account:

Option 1 — Sign In with a Sign-In Partner (Fastest)

You can log in to CRA My Account using your existing credentials from a participating Canadian financial institution (such as most major banks). This gives you immediate access without waiting for a CRA registration code in the mail. Look for the "Sign in with a Sign-In Partner" option on the login page and select your bank.

Option 2 — Register Directly with the CRA

1. Go to canada.ca and search for "CRA My Account."
2. Click "Register" and create a CRA user ID and password.
3. Enter your Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, and information from your most recent tax return to verify your identity.
4. The CRA mails a security code to your address on file. This takes 5–10 business days.
5. Enter the code to activate full access to your account.

What You Can Do in CRA My Account for GST/CGEB Benefits

Check Your Payment Status and Next Payment Date

Under "Benefits and credits" in My Account, you can see your GST/HST credit or CGEB entitlement, your next scheduled payment date, and your payment history. This is the most reliable way to confirm whether a payment was issued and when to expect it.

Set Up or Update Direct Deposit

Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive your CGEB payments — deposits appear in your bank account on the payment date, with no wait for a cheque. In My Account, go to "Direct deposit" to add or update your banking information. As of March 24, 2026, you can no longer update direct deposit information by phone or EFILE — you must use My Account, your bank, or mail.

Update Personal Information

Changes to your marital status, address, or number of dependents affect your CGEB payment amount. In My Account you can update your address and marital status directly. For changes to dependents, you may need to contact the CRA by phone at 1-800-387-1193.

Sign Up for Payment Reminders

The CRA sends email notifications approximately one week before each scheduled CGEB payment. You can sign up for these reminders through My Account under "Notification preferences." This is especially useful to confirm a payment is coming before checking your bank account.

View Your Notice of Assessment

Your Notice of Assessment (NOA) confirms how the CRA processed your tax return and the AFNI used to calculate your CGEB entitlement. If your NOA shows incorrect income, your benefit amount will be wrong — filing an adjustment (T1-ADJ) through My Account corrects this.

Check for Retroactive Payments

If you filed a past tax return late, My Account shows whether any retroactive GST/HST credit or CGEB amounts are owed to you and their status.

If You Don't Receive Your Payment

Before contacting the CRA about a missing payment:

1. Check My Account to confirm the payment was issued and verify your banking and address details are correct.
2. Wait 10 working days after the scheduled payment date (cheques take longer than direct deposit).
3. If still missing after 10 business days, call the CRA Benefits Inquiry line at 1-800-387-1193.

CRA My Account Security Tips

Protecting your CRA My Account is important — scammers target CRA accounts to intercept benefit payments. Best practices:

• Enable multi-factor authentication (available in My Account settings).
• Never share your CRA password or security code with anyone, including family members.
• The CRA will never ask for your banking information by email, text, or unsolicited phone call.
• Check your account regularly — if your direct deposit information has been changed without your knowledge, contact the CRA immediately.

CRA My Account is the single most useful tool for managing your GST/HST credit and CGEB benefits. Setting up direct deposit, keeping your personal information current, and enabling payment reminders through My Account takes less than 10 minutes and ensures you receive every dollar you are entitled to without delays. Register at canada.ca today if you haven't already.