Update Your Personal Information with the CRA
Keep your CRA personal details current — address, phone number, email, direct deposit information, marital status, legal name, and language preference. Most updates can be made instantly in CRA My Account; some changes can be done by phone with identity verification, while others (like legal name changes) need supporting documents by mail. Outdated information delays refunds and benefit payments and can cause you to miss important CRA notices.
What Personal Information Can You Update?
You can inform the CRA about changes to various personal details, including:
- Your home or mailing address
- Your phone number
- Your email address
- Your direct deposit information
- Your marital status
- Your legal name
- Your preferred language of correspondence
- Your communication preferences
How to Update Your Information
You can make changes using several methods:
- Online through CRA My Account – Most updates take effect immediately when completed in your secure CRA account.
- By phone – You may be able to call CRA and update select details if you can verify your identity.
- By mail or fax – Some changes require documentation and processing time when submitted by mail.
Why Keeping Your Information Updated Matters
Updating your details helps ensure you receive payments like tax refunds, benefits, and credits on time. It also helps CRA contact you about your account, security alerts, or eligibility updates. If your information is outdated, you may experience delays in benefit payments or other services.
Common Situations to Update Your Information
If you move to a new address, change your phone number or email, get married, divorced, change your name, or switch your language preference, you should update your details with CRA as soon as possible.
Change your address
Update your home or mailing address after you have moved
Change your phone number
Add or change a phone number for your contact information or for multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Change your email address
Change your current email address
Change your direct deposit
Sign up for or change your direct deposit information with the CRA
Change your marital status
Find out when and how to notify us about changes to your marital status as they may affect your benefit and credit payment amounts
Change your name
Inform us of a change to either your first or last name, or both names
How to Change Your Mailing Preference with the CRA Online
Update your Correspondence preferences and view your mail online in My Account
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Frequently Asked Questions
What personal information can I update with the CRA?
Your home or mailing address, phone number, email address, direct deposit information, marital status, legal name, language preference, and communication (mailing) preferences.
How fast do updates made in CRA My Account take effect?
Most updates made online take effect immediately in your secure account. Changes submitted by mail take longer because documents must be processed.
Which changes require documents or mail?
Some changes, such as a legal name change, require supporting documentation and must be submitted by mail rather than online.
Why does keeping my CRA information updated matter?
Outdated details can delay tax refunds, benefit, and credit payments, and cause you to miss CRA correspondence or security alerts about your account.
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