Over the past few years, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has shifted most of its correspondence with taxpayers to electronic “Online Mail” through the My Account and My Business Account portals. While this move modernizes communication, many taxpayers are still unaware of how significantly it changes the way important information is delivered — and the potential risks if messages are missed.
Today, the CRA rarely sends paper copies of notices, reassessments, statements, or inquiry letters. Instead, taxpayers receive an email alert that new correspondence is available online. To view these documents, individuals and businesses must log in to their CRA portal and download the items themselves.
Previously, when the CRA conducted an audit or reviewed a tax return, a paper copy of the inquiry was often mailed directly to the taxpayer’s advisor as well. This ensured that advisors were aware of deadlines and could respond promptly. With the transition to digital-only communication, external advisors no longer receive CRA correspondence directly unless clients manually forward it. As a result, if a taxpayer overlooks an email notification or does not regularly check their CRA account, critical deadlines may be missed. This can lead to reassessments, denied claims, or additional penalties.
Individual taxpayers may still choose to receive paper mail by adjusting their “Notification Preferences” within My Account, but this option may be phased out as the CRA moves further toward full digital adoption.
Ultimately, it is the taxpayer’s responsibility to monitor their CRA account and ensure the email address on file is accurate. Relying solely on advisors to receive or track CRA correspondence is no longer sufficient under the new system.
As CRA communication continues to evolve, taxpayers should make it a habit to review their CRA portals regularly or establish a process to ensure nothing is overlooked. A few minutes of monitoring can prevent unnecessary complications and ensure timely responses to the CRA when needed.
Questions? Your LCA advisor is here to help. Reach out to your LCA CPA contact.