Instructions

How to Track Income Tax Returns in Canada

1

Compile the information you need to track your income tax returns. Remember, income tax info is treated as private and confidential, and no matter what method you choose from below to track the status of your returns, you will be required to prove that you are indeed the owner of that information. You'll need to give your social insurance number as well as your date of birth.
2

Note the exact total income you entered on the return, as this, too, is something you will be required to state before you can be allowed to know the status of the income tax returns.
3

To track your tax returns online, go to the CRA homepage (see Resources for more info) and select "My account"; there, you'll find the status of your income tax returns after you provide your provisional information to show that you are the owner of the return in question. You will need to also register for a CRA account, obtain an 'ePass' (which is sent through postal mail upon your sending a request to the CRA) and have Javascript enabled on your computer.
4

Call 1-800-267-6999 (toll free) to track the status of your tax returns by phone. Note, however, this is an automated phone service and it isn't available between January 1 and mid February.
5

Be patient. Due to the sheer volume of tax returns that the CRA receives (even after the introduction of paperless online returns now used by many people), it can take a while for your tax returns to be processed. It pays to be patient in these matters.