How long the CRA takes to send your refund
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) typically sends refunds within two to eight weeks of receiving your tax return, depending on how you file and whether your return needs review. If you file online through NETFILE, the CRA processes your return faster than paper returns. Most refunds arrive within this window, but some take longer if the CRA flags your return for verification or if you owe money to other government programs.
The exact timing also depends on your delivery method. Direct deposit is the fastest option — money lands in your bank account within the two to eight week window. Cheques take longer because they must be printed, mailed, and then deposited by you. If the CRA needs to verify information on your return before releasing the refund, the clock resets after they contact you and you respond.
Key Takeaways
- Direct deposit refunds arrive in two to eight weeks for most online-filed returns, while cheques take longer because they travel by mail.
- The CRA may hold your refund if you owe money to Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, provincial social assistance, or student loans.
- You can check your refund status using My Account on the CRA website or by calling 1-800-959-5525 once your return is processed.
- Paper returns take longer to process than NETFILE returns because they must be manually entered into the CRA system.
- If your refund does not arrive within eight weeks, contact the CRA to confirm your delivery method and check for holds or verification delays.
Direct deposit versus cheque delivery
Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive your refund. Money goes straight into your bank account, and the CRA does not need to print or mail anything. If you set up direct deposit on your tax return, refunds typically arrive within two to eight weeks. You will see the deposit in your account, and there is no risk of the cheque being lost in the mail.
To use direct deposit, you provide your bank account number and transit number on your tax return. The CRA stores this information and uses it for all future refunds unless you change it. If you have never provided banking details to the CRA, you can add them through My Account online.
Cheque delivery takes longer because the CRA must print the cheque and Canada Post must deliver it. A cheque refund typically arrives four to six weeks after your return is processed, but mail delays can extend this to eight weeks or more. Once you receive the cheque, you must deposit it yourself, which adds another few days before the money clears in your account.
If you did not set up direct deposit on your return, the CRA will send a cheque by default. You can update your banking information in My Account to switch to direct deposit for future refunds, but this does not change the current refund to direct deposit.
When the CRA holds or delays your refund
The CRA may hold your refund if you owe money to other government programs. This is called a debt offset. Programs that can trigger a hold include Employment Insurance (EI) overpayments, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) overpayments, provincial social assistance, and federal or provincial student loans. If you owe money to any of these, the CRA will use your refund to pay down the debt before sending you the remainder.
You will receive a notice from the CRA explaining the hold and which program is claiming the money. The notice tells you how much was offset and how much you will receive. If you disagree with the offset, you can contact the program that is claiming the money to dispute it, but this does not stop the CRA from holding the refund while the dispute is resolved.
The CRA may also delay your refund if your return is selected for verification. This happens randomly or if the CRA spots something unusual on your return — for example, a large deduction, business income, or a claim that does not match their records. The CRA will contact you by mail or phone asking for documents to support your claims. Your refund is held until you respond and the CRA reviews your documents. This process can add four to twelve weeks to your refund timeline.
Checking your refund status online
You can check whether your refund has been processed and when it will arrive using My Account on the CRA website. Log in with your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and password, then look for the "Tax returns" section. It shows the status of your most recent return and, once processed, displays your refund amount and expected delivery date.
My Account updates a few days after the CRA receives your return if you filed online. If you filed a paper return, it may take two to three weeks for the CRA to enter your information into the system before a status appears. Once your return is processed, My Account tells you whether your refund will be delivered by direct deposit or cheque and the expected arrival date.
If your refund status shows a hold or offset, My Account displays which program is claiming the money. You can also see if the CRA is requesting documents or has flagged your return for review. If the status has not updated within the expected timeframe, contact the CRA at 1-800-959-5525 to confirm receipt of your return.
Paper returns and processing delays
Paper tax returns take longer to process than online returns because the CRA must manually enter the information into their system. A paper return typically takes four to six weeks to process, compared to two to four weeks for an online return. After processing, add another two to four weeks for your refund to arrive by cheque or direct deposit.
The CRA processes paper returns in batches, so the exact timing depends on when your return arrives and how busy the processing centre is. During tax season (February through May), paper returns can take even longer because the volume is high. If you filed a paper return and have not seen a status update in My Account after six weeks, call the CRA to confirm they received it.
To avoid delays, file online through NETFILE using tax software or a certified tax preparer. NETFILE returns are processed faster, and you receive a confirmation number immediately showing the CRA received your return.
What to do if your refund is late
If your refund has not arrived within eight weeks of filing, first check My Account to see the current status. If the status shows your return is processed and your refund was supposed to arrive by direct deposit, contact your bank to confirm the deposit did not arrive under a different date or account. Banks sometimes process deposits with a slight delay or deposit to the wrong account if the banking information was entered incorrectly.
If your refund was supposed to arrive by cheque and has not shown up after six weeks, contact Canada Post to report a missing cheque. Provide the CRA with the date you filed and ask them to confirm the cheque was mailed. The CRA can issue a replacement cheque if the original was lost in the mail.
If My Account shows your refund is still being processed or verified after eight weeks, call the CRA at 1-800-959-5525. Have your SIN and tax year ready. The CRA can tell you whether your return is under review, if there is a hold on your refund, or if there is a processing error. If the CRA made an error, they will correct it and reissue your refund.
Refunds for amended or reassessed returns
If you file an amended return using Form T1-ADJ or if the CRA reassesses your return after an audit, your refund timeline restarts. The CRA processes amended returns separately from your original return, and it typically takes four to eight weeks to process the amendment and issue any additional refund. If you owe money instead, the CRA will send you a notice of assessment with payment instructions.
Reassessments after an audit follow the same timeline. Once the CRA completes the audit and issues a new notice of assessment, any refund owing is processed within four to eight weeks. If the CRA owes you money and you also owe money to another government program, the offset rules apply to the reassessed refund as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I speed up my tax refund?
Filing online through NETFILE is the fastest method — it cuts processing time compared to paper returns. Using direct deposit instead of cheque delivery also saves one to two weeks. Beyond these two steps, you cannot speed up the CRA's processing. If your return is selected for verification, responding quickly to the CRA's document request helps move the process along.
Why is my refund taking longer than eight weeks?
Your return may be under verification, which adds four to twelve weeks. You may also have a debt offset holding your refund. Check My Account to see the status, or call the CRA at 1-800-959-5525 to find out why the refund is delayed. If the CRA made an error, they will correct it once you report it.
What if I moved and the CRA sends my cheque to my old address?
Update your address in My Account as soon as possible. If the cheque was already mailed to your old address, contact Canada Post to see if it can be redirected. You can also contact the CRA to ask them to issue a replacement cheque to your new address. Provide proof of your new address, such as a utility bill or lease.
Do I need to do anything to receive my refund by direct deposit?
No. If you provided your banking information on your tax return, the CRA will automatically send your refund by direct deposit. If you did not provide banking details, the CRA will send a cheque. You can add or update your banking information in My Account anytime to switch to direct deposit for future refunds.
Can the CRA take my refund to pay a debt I owe?
Yes, if you owe money to Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, provincial social assistance, or student loans. The CRA will offset your refund to pay down the debt. You will receive a notice explaining the offset. If you dispute the debt, contact the program directly, but this does not stop the offset while the dispute is being resolved.