Quick answer: You can view your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) notice of assessment (NOA) by signing in to your CRA account online. If you prefer a paper copy, you can request one by calling the CRA. The NOA shows the CRA’s assessment of your return and whether the result is a refund, amount due, or nil balance.
What this means: The Notice of Assessment is the official document that summarizes the CRA’s calculated income tax and benefit amounts for a specific tax year. It is distinct from a Notice of Reassessment, which is issued if your assessed return changes after the initial assessment. The NOA includes your tax year, issue date, account summary, and details on any changes to your return. It may also show your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or First Home Savings Account (FHSA) contribution room if relevant to your situation.
What to do next: Sign in to your CRA account to check if your NOA is available. If you need a paper copy, call the CRA. If you left information off your return, use the return-change process. If the information is complete but you disagree with CRA’s assessment, check the formal objection route.
Accessing Your Notice of Assessment Online
Once CRA has processed your return, the notice is available in your account. Start at the official CRA sign-in page. If you do not have an account, CRA provides a registration route. A notice you chose to receive by letter mail is still viewable online.
After signing in, select your Individual account, then Tax returns or Mail. Select the NOA or later notice of reassessment (NOR) you need from the list. Check the tax year and notice date before printing or saving it.
Your mail preference does not remove online access. CRA says a notice sent by letter mail is also viewable in your account, although you will not get an email notification for it. If no notice appears yet, check the return’s progress tracker; the notice is available once the return has been processed. Check the tax year and whether the document is an original assessment or a later reassessment.
Requesting a Paper Copy by Phone
If you cannot access your Notice of Assessment online or prefer a physical document, you can request a copy by calling the CRA. This option is useful for individuals who do not use digital services or who need a mailed copy for specific administrative purposes. When you call, have your social insurance number and other identification details ready to verify your identity.
Use the phone details on the CRA notice page rather than a number from a search ad or a third-party message. CRA says it may ask for your social insurance number, name, date of birth, address, and an assessed return or another tax document to verify your identity. Check that your address on file is current before requesting mail.
CRA does not promise an arrival date for a mailed copy on its notice page. If you need the document soon and can sign in, the online copy may be the practical route.
Understanding the Contents of Your Notice of Assessment
Start with the tax year and issue date in the notice details. The date matters if you disagree with the assessment: CRA’s notice guide says the usual formal-dispute period runs for 90 days from the notice date. Then read the account summary to see whether this return produced a refund, amount due or nil balance.
The account summary shows a refund, an amount due, or “Balance: Nil.” Nil means this return produces neither a refund nor an amount owing; it does not explain every payment or adjustment in your tax account. The assessment section shows the key line numbers and amounts CRA used, including any changes from what you filed.
If CRA changed your return, look for its explanation of the changes beside the assessment. Depending on your situation, the notice may also include RRSP deduction limit and available contribution room, or FHSA participation room. Those figures answer a different question from the refund or balance on the account summary.
Correcting Errors and Disputing Assessments
If you forgot information or entered it incorrectly on the return, use CRA’s change-your-return process. CRA reviews a change request and sends a notice of reassessment if it changes the assessed return. Keep the original notice too, so you can see what changed.
If the information is complete but you disagree with CRA’s assessment, look at the formal objection process. CRA’s notice guide says the usual period is 90 days from the notice date. That is a different path from correcting information you entered on the return; check the official instructions for your own situation rather than assuming a change request preserves an objection deadline.
The useful dividing line is whether information was missing or entered incorrectly, or whether the return is complete and you disagree with CRA’s assessment. If you are unsure, read the official routes before sending a request; they have different purposes and timelines.
Notice of Assessment Versus Proof of Income
An NOA summarizes CRA’s assessment of a return. A proof of income statement is a different CRA document. If a lender, landlord or program asks for income proof, the name of the document it accepts matters more than which one you happen to have handy.
A proof of income statement, on the other hand, is often used by lenders, landlords, or other institutions to verify your income for non-tax purposes. While the NOA can sometimes be used as proof of income, it is not always accepted as a standalone document. If you need proof of income, check with the requesting institution to determine which documents they accept. In some cases, you may need to provide additional documentation, such as pay stubs or a letter from your employer.
If an organization asks for “proof of income,” ask which CRA document it wants before sending your NOA.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take to receive my Notice of Assessment?
- It depends on how you filed and whether CRA needs to review or request information. Use the progress tracker in your CRA account and the CRA processing-times tool; do not assume a fixed delivery date.
- Can I use my Notice of Assessment as proof of income?
- The Notice of Assessment is primarily a tax document. While some institutions may accept it as proof of income, it is not always sufficient on its own. Check with the requesting institution to confirm which documents they accept for proof of income.
- What should I do if my Notice of Assessment shows an error?
- If you made an error on your return, use the return change process to correct it. If you believe the CRA made an error in its assessment, use the dispute process to file an objection. Follow the official CRA guidelines for each process.
- Why is my Notice of Assessment not available online?
- First check whether CRA has processed the return. Letter-mail preference does not prevent you from viewing the notice in your CRA account. Use the progress tracker and check the correct tax year.
Related guides
For more information on tax-related topics, consider reading these related guides:
Rules and process basis
This guide follows CRA’s notice-of-assessment instructions. The notice page describes where to find a copy, what the sections mean, and which route to check if you need to change a return or dispute an assessment. CRA’s current instructions, not this summary, control your individual filing or objection.