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Taxes

How to Change (Amend) Your Tax Return in Canada

Wait for your notice of assessment, then use "Change my return" in CRA My Account or ReFILE through your tax software. Online requests take about 2 weeks; mailed Form T1-ADJ requests take about 20 weeks. You can generally change returns from the previous 10 calendar years.

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Processing times

About 2 weeks for online requests and about 20 weeks by mail. Complex requests can take up to 35 weeks.

ReFILE can't be used in some cases, such as bankruptcy years and certain non-resident returns.

Step by step

  1. Wait for your notice of assessment.

    If you already sent a change request, wait for the CRA's answer before sending another.

  2. Choose a method.

    Change my return: sign in to My Account, select Tax returns, Change my return, and the year. ReFILE: through the certified software you filed with. Mail: Form T1-ADJ with supporting documents to your tax centre.

  3. Include supporting documents for the full revised amount.
  4. Track the request in your CRA account.

Related

CRA Processing Times: Tax Returns, Adjustments and Benefits The CRA aims to process 95% of online tax returns within 4 weeks and paper returns within 8 weeks. Complex adjustment requests can take up to 35 weeks, and taxpayer relief requests average about 16 months. Check the official page for live times. CRA Mailing Addresses: Where to Mail Your Tax Return and Letters Paper tax returns go to the Winnipeg, Sudbury or Jonquière tax centre depending on where you live. Western Canada mails to Winnipeg (PO Box 14001, Station Main, Winnipeg MB R3C 3M3); Atlantic Canada, Nunavut, Toronto and Ottawa to Sudbury (1050 Notre Dame Avenue, Sudbury ON P3A 5C2). Filing online is faster. Why Is My Tax Refund Lower Than Expected? The most common reasons are that the CRA used part of your refund to pay a debt you owe (taxes, a benefit overpayment, or another government debt like a student loan or EI overpayment), or it changed your return, for example by disallowing a credit. Your notice of assessment explains exactly what happened.

Sources

North Help Desk is an independent guide, not a government website. Rules, amounts and phone hours can change; always confirm on the official page before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.