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Epass with CRA 

Over the last few years, electronic filing (e-filing) has been well received by those who use this secure and fast online processing service at various government websites, including EFILE for submitting tax returns online. More recently, epass services provide even more features and enhanced security for accessing online Government services. If you haven't yet opened your epass Canada account, perhaps you should consider it. 

Epass Canada 

The epass electronic "signature" service has been set up by the Government of Canada to allow individuals online access to personalized government services. You can use your epass to access a growing list of services, such as applying for a passport online or accessing your tax information from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), including details of the last three tax returns you filed and other account information. This article discusses the CRA's epass enabled services. 

The CRA's My Account for Individuals 

The CRA's My Account allows you to access and manage information about your tax returns, benefit payments, financial information and RRSPs, including: 

•  A brief summary of the results of the assessment of your last seven years returns and the details of your last three returns;

•  Details of your Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), Universal Child Care Benefit and GST/HST credit payments;

•  The amount of your account balance (including amounts under appeal) and a detailed statement of your account;

•  The instalment payments you are required to make, the payments you made and copies of the instalment notices that were sent to you;

•  The direct deposit information you have set up for your tax refund, GST/HST credit and Canada Child Tax Benefit payments;

•  Your RRSP limit, unused contributions, contribution history and the year-by-year calculations; and

•  Details of your Home Buyers' Plan and Lifelong Learning Plan.

You can also manage your personal income tax and benefit account online by:

•  Changing your return;

•  Changing your address or telephone numbers;

•  Authorizing your representative; or

•  Registering your formal dispute.  

One of the key benefits of My Account is that it is possible to see information before you receive the official document or documents from the CRA. For example, if your return is reassessed, you may see details of the reassessment on My Account before you receive your Notice of Reassessment in the mail. This happens because the most up-to-date information is displayed immediately on My Account, while the notice goes through several manual processes before you receive it by mail. 

To familiarize users with the epass services for individuals, the CRA has provided an online "My Account" tutorial that uses fictional client information to walk you through what you can see and do with an epass.  

Authorized Representatives 

As many individuals use tax preparers, the CRA has extended My Account features to tax representatives. The Represent a Client service will give an authorized third party the ability to access your tax information online.  

You may wish to authorize your chartered accountant as your representative to deal with the CRA on your behalf through this online service. As in the past, your only other option to authorize a representative is to complete and paper-file a Form T1013, Authorizing or Cancelling a Representative, which sometimes takes up to four weeks for the CRA to process. 

There are two levels of authorization available. The first level essentially allows the CRA to disclose certain tax information to your representative. The second level goes a step further and allows both the disclosure of certain information and allows your representative to request certain changes.  

Registering for CRA's Epass Services 

Before you can access the services under My Account for the first time, you must first register for a Government of Canada epass. If you already have an epass with another department or agency, you can log in using your Government of Canada epass user ID and password, but you must then enroll at the My Account website.  

Registering for the CRA's epass can be done in three simple steps on the website. Within five business days, an activation code is mailed to you. It lets you complete the registration process. For more information, visit the My Account website at: www.cra.gc.ca/myaccount. 

Fast and Easy Access 

CRA's My Account and Represent a Client services give both you and your chartered accountant a fast and easy way to access the information required to complete your tax return as well as an online avenue for managing your personal tax and benefit account.

The next time you visit with your chartered accountant, you may wish to register her/him as your epass representative to deal with the CRA on your behalf.