How to check your refund status with the Canada Revenue Agency

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tracks your refund from the moment they receive your return. You can see where yours is right now by logging into My Account on the CRA website, calling their automated phone line, or using the CRA mobile app. The status updates as your return moves through processing — you'll see when it's been received, when it's under review, and when it's been approved for payment.

My Account is the fastest method. Log in with your Social Insurance Number and password, go to the "CRA security codes" section, and select "Tax returns." You'll see your filing status and, if a refund has been approved, the payment date and amount. The phone line — 1-800-959-5525 — gives you the same information but requires you to have your Social Insurance Number, date of birth, and the first five characters of your street address ready.

Processing times vary. straightforward returns with no complications typically process within two weeks of receipt. Returns that trigger a review — because of missing documents, inconsistencies, or random audit selection — can take four to eight weeks or longer. The CRA will contact you by mail if they need more information; they do not call or email first.

Key Takeaways

  • Check your refund status through My Account on the CRA website, the CRA mobile app, or by calling 1-800-959-5525 with your Social Insurance Number and date of birth.
  • Most refunds process within two weeks, but returns selected for review can take four to eight weeks or more depending on what documents the CRA requests.
  • The CRA will contact you by mail if they need additional information — never by phone or email as a first contact.
  • Refunds are deposited to the bank account you listed on your return, or mailed as a cheque if you did not provide banking details.
  • If your refund is significantly delayed beyond the normal timeframe, contact the CRA directly rather than waiting, as processing holds sometimes go unnoticed.

What the CRA status messages actually mean

When you check My Account, you'll see one of several status messages. "Return received" means the CRA has scanned your documents and it's in the queue for processing — this is normal and does not mean there's a problem. "Under review" means a CRA officer is examining your return, usually because of a discrepancy between what you reported and what the CRA has on file (T4s, RRSP contributions, investment income). This stage can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

"Approved" means the CRA has finished reviewing your return and your refund has been authorized for payment. At this point, the status will show the payment date — either a direct deposit date or the date a cheque was mailed. "Adjustment in progress" means the CRA found an error on your return (either in your favour or theirs) and is recalculating your refund. You'll receive a Notice of Assessment in the mail explaining what changed.

If you see "Notice of assessment issued," your return has been fully processed and the CRA has mailed you an official document showing your income, deductions, and refund amount. This notice is important — keep it for your records and for any future claims you make.

When your refund goes to a bank account versus arriving as a cheque

The CRA deposits refunds directly to the bank account you provided on your tax return — this is the fastest method and typically arrives within five to ten business days after the CRA approves your refund. If you did not provide banking details on your return, or if the account information was incorrect, the CRA will mail a cheque instead. Mailed cheques take two to four weeks to arrive, depending on postal service delays.

If you provided banking information but your refund was returned (because the account was closed, the routing number was wrong, or the account holder's name did not match), the CRA will attempt a redeposit once. If that fails, they mail a cheque. You can call the CRA to update your banking information if you realize it was incorrect before your refund is processed, but once processing has started, you may have to wait for the cheque and deposit it yourself.

Refunds delayed beyond the normal processing window

If your refund status has shown "approved" for more than two weeks and you have not received the money, or if your status has not changed in over eight weeks, contact the CRA directly. Processing delays happen — sometimes a return gets held for manual review and the status does not update automatically, or a banking issue causes a redeposit that the system does not reflect when ready.

Call 1-800-959-5525 with your Social Insurance Number, date of birth, and the first five characters of your street address. A CRA agent can see notes on your file that do not appear in My Account, such as whether a cheque was issued, whether a redeposit is pending, or whether your return is still under review. If a cheque was lost in the mail, the CRA can issue a replacement. If a direct deposit failed, they can reissue it to a corrected account or mail a cheque.

Bring documentation if you're calling about a cheque you never received — a bank statement showing no deposit, or a record of when you checked your mail. The CRA can cross-reference the cheque number and amount to confirm whether it was cashed and by whom, which helps determine whether it was lost or deposited to the wrong account.

What to do if you think the CRA made an error on your refund

If your refund amount seems wrong — either too low or too high — your first step is to review the Notice of Assessment the CRA mailed you. This document lists every income source, deduction, and credit the CRA used to calculate your refund. Compare it line by line to your return and to the documents you submitted (T4s, receipts, donation letters). If you spot a discrepancy, note the specific line and the amount.

If the error is on your side — you forgot to include a T4, or you claimed a deduction you were not may have access to to — you can file an amended return using Form T1-ADJ. The CRA will recalculate and either send you an additional refund or ask you to repay the overpayment. If the error is on the CRA's side — they misread a number, or they did not credit a deduction you clearly claimed — call 1-800-959-5525 and explain the discrepancy. An agent can review your file and, if the error is confirmed, issue a corrected assessment.

Do not ignore a refund that seems too high. The CRA will eventually catch the error and ask for repayment, often with interest. It's better to report it yourself and resolve it quickly.

Refunds held because of a debt or previous tax owing

If you owe money to the CRA from a previous year, or if you have an outstanding debt to another federal or provincial agency (student loans, child support, employment insurance overpayment), the CRA may hold your refund to offset that debt. When this happens, your My Account status will show "offset in progress" or "offset applied," and you'll receive a letter explaining which debt was deducted and how much.

You can dispute an offset if you believe the debt was paid or if you have a payment arrangement in place. Call the CRA Collections unit at 1-800-959-5525 and ask to speak with someone about your offset. Have your account number and any documentation of payments or agreements ready. If the offset was applied in error, the CRA can reissue your refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a refund after the CRA approves it?

Direct deposits typically arrive within five to ten business days after approval. Mailed cheques take two to four weeks. If you have not received your refund within these timeframes, contact the CRA to confirm the payment method and check for any holds or failed deposits.

Can I speed up my refund by filing electronically instead of mailing my return?

Electronic filing does not may provide a faster refund — processing time depends on whether your return triggers a review, not on how you submitted it. However, electronic returns are scanned and entered into the system faster than mailed returns, so they typically begin processing sooner.

What if the CRA says my refund was deposited but I don't see it in my bank account?

Contact your bank first to confirm the deposit did not arrive. Then call the CRA with the deposit date shown in My Account. The CRA can verify whether the deposit was sent and, if it failed, reissue it to a corrected account or mail a cheque. Some banks hold deposits for a day or two, so check again after 24 hours.

Do I need to do anything if my refund status shows "adjustment in progress"?

No — the CRA is recalculating your refund based on an error they found. You'll receive a new Notice of Assessment in the mail explaining the adjustment. If the new refund is lower, the CRA will explain what changed. If it's higher, they'll send you the additional amount.

Can the CRA hold my refund if I'm being audited?

Yes. If the CRA is auditing a previous year's return, they may hold the current year's refund until the audit is complete. They'll notify you by mail if this is happening. The hold can last several months depending on the audit's complexity.