Quick Answer
CRA My Business Account is a secure online portal where Canadian business owners manage their federal tax accounts. Inside it, you can file GST/HST, corporate T2, payroll, and information returns such as T4 and T4A slips. You can also view balances, make payments by pre-authorized debit or online banking, request a Web Access Code, authorize your accountant through Represent a Client, update business addresses and direct deposit, and respond to CRA correspondence. Registration is free and takes about 15 minutes once you have your Business Number, a recent return amount, and a CRA-trusted sign-in method such as a bank sign-in partner or GCKey. Most core self-serve tools are generally available 21 hours a day, seven days a week.
Why CRA My Business Account matters more than ever
If you own a Canadian business, almost every important interaction with the Canada Revenue Agency now runs through one portal: CRA My Business Account. It is where you file your HST, see what your corporation owes, authorize your accountant, and respond when the CRA sends a notice. Ten years ago much of this happened by mail or phone. Today, it happens online, often from your phone during a lunch break.
The CRA has steadily expanded the portal to include features that used to require a phone call or a paper form, including the Manage Balance tool, Web Access Code requests, and additional payment options. For small and medium-sized business owners in Ontario, that shift matters. Knowing what the portal can do, and where it still falls short, can save you hours during HST season and prevent penalties when a deadline sneaks up.
Quick Start — pick your path
Head to the Filing section and the Paying the CRA section for GST/HST workflows.
The portal comparison and payment sections cover T2 instalments and balance checks.
Jump to Payroll and information returns for T4, T4A, and remittance flows.
See the portal comparison for how Represent a Client fits in alongside My Business Account.
Not sure which services you actually need? Browse our accounting and tax services to see where self-serve stops and a Toronto-based accountant adds the most value.
What you can actually do inside the portal
The Canada Revenue Agency groups services under your Business Number (BN), the nine-digit identifier assigned to your business. Each type of tax you file sits under a program account identifier such as RT for GST/HST or RP for payroll. The reference table below decodes the left-hand navigation inside the portal.
| Code | Account type | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| RT | GST/HST | File GST34, remit sales tax collected on invoices |
| RP | Payroll | Source deductions, PD7A statements, remitter changes |
| RC | Corporate income tax | File T2 return, view instalments and balance owing |
| RM | Import/Export | CBSA customs account for businesses that import or export goods |
| RZ | Information returns | File T4A-NR, T5, T5018 and other third-party reporting slips |
| RR | Registered charity | File Form T3010 and manage charitable registration details |
Here is a plain-English map of what the portal typically lets you do, grouped by owner task.
Filing returns
- →File your GST/HST return (Form GST34), including nil returns if you had no sales for the period.
- →File your T2 corporate income tax return when your corporation qualifies to use the portal.
- →Upload T4 and T4A information slips for employees and contract payees.
- →File elections and schedules that the CRA accepts electronically.
Paying the CRA
- →Set up pre-authorized debit (PAD) agreements for HST, corporate instalments, or payroll remittances.
- →Make a one-time payment by debit card through the My Payment service.
- →View your current balance and recent transactions through the Manage Balance tool.
Managing account information
- →Update your business mailing address, physical address, and contact details.
- →Enrol in direct deposit so refunds and credits land in your bank account.
- →Change your reporting period or payroll remitter type when your business grows.
Authorizing others
- →Authorize your accountant or bookkeeper through the Represent a Client system.
- →Review, modify, or cancel existing representative authorizations.
Communicating with the CRA
- →Read secure messages, including notices of assessment and compliance letters.
- →Submit documents the CRA has requested, such as supporting receipts for an HST review.
- →Request a Web Access Code when a third-party payroll provider needs one.
Your HST registration obligations may change as your business grows. For details on when registration becomes mandatory, see our guide to when freelancers must register for GST/HST.
My Business Account vs Represent a Client vs CRA My Account
The three portals look similar from the outside and the CRA sometimes refers to them collectively as digital services. Confusing them is one of the most common friction points for sole proprietors and small-business owners.
| Feature | My Business Account | Represent a Client | CRA My Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Business owners | Accountants, bookkeepers, representatives | Individuals |
| Sign in with | Owner sign-in partner or GCKey | RepID or GroupID | Personal sign-in partner or GCKey |
| GST/HST (RT) | Yes | Yes (if authorized) | No |
| Corporate T2 (RC) | Yes | Yes (if authorized) | No |
| Payroll (RP) | Yes | Yes (if authorized) | No |
| Personal tax (T1) | No | Yes (if authorized) | Yes |
| Can authorize others | Yes via Represent a Client | No, this is the authorized side | Yes for personal file |
A quick way to remember the split: if the tax is on the business, use My Business Account. If the tax is on you personally, use CRA My Account. If you are logging in on someone else behalf, use Represent a Client. For borderline cases, such as a sole proprietor claiming business expenses on a personal return, see our breakdown of contractor vs employee: the CRA employment-status tests.
Step-by-step — registering and signing in for the first time
Registering typically takes about 15 minutes if you have the right information ready. The CRA uses a two-stage process: you create or confirm your sign-in credentials, then verify your identity against information already on file.
Before you start, gather your Business Number, a recent return amount the CRA can match against, and the bank credentials or GCKey login you plan to use. The CRA may also text or mail a security code before granting full access.
- Open the CRA sign-in services pageGo to the CRA sign-in services page and choose My Business Account.
- Pick a sign-in methodChoose a Sign-in Partner (most major Canadian banks), a CRA user ID and password, or the government-wide GCKey credential.
- Enter your Business NumberEnter your Business Number and the identifying amount from a recent return the CRA already has on file.
- Review your contact detailsConfirm your contact information. If anything looks outdated, update it so the CRA can reach you with security codes.
- Wait for the CRA security codeThe code may arrive by text, email, or standard mail. Mail delivery can take five to ten business days.
- Enter the code to unlock full accessUntil you enter it, the portal typically lets you view limited information only.
Treat your sign-in credentials the way you would treat online banking. Scammers routinely impersonate the CRA to steal portal access and reroute refunds. For a deeper look at protecting your account, see our guide to CRA account security and identity-theft prevention.
Paying the CRA — options inside the portal
Each payment method has trade-offs between speed, cost, and how easy it is to reverse. Pre-authorized debit is often the lowest-friction option because you schedule the payment once and the CRA pulls funds automatically. Online banking bill payment is usually the fastest for same-day urgency because most banks post the payment that business day.
Mark CRA payment dates in your calendar well in advance, because interest typically starts the day after a payment is due. For corporate instalment timing, see our reference on CRA tax instalment dates for 2026.
Payroll and information returns — what the portal handles
If you have employees, the portal becomes your main interface with the CRA for payroll compliance. You can file T4 and T4A information slips directly, view your PD7A statement of account, and track source-deduction remittances. Many owners also use the portal to change their remitter type when their average monthly withholdings cross a CRA threshold.
The portal supports most routine payroll filings, but some tasks still live in the CRA separate Web Forms system or require a Web Access Code. Records of Employment (ROEs), for example, are typically filed through Service Canada ROE Web, not the CRA portal.
If you are unsure which remittance frequency applies to you, our breakdown of CRA payroll remitter types and when to switch walks through the thresholds and the risks of being misclassified.
Common mistakes business owners make
The portal is well designed, but a handful of errors come up again and again in Ontario accounting practices. Avoiding these can save you a stressful call to the CRA before a filing deadline.
- →Signing in to CRA My Account for a business task. Personal and business portals are separate, and your personal credentials typically will not unlock business filings.
- →Forgetting that representative authorizations may expire. If your accountant suddenly cannot see your file, the authorization has often lapsed and needs to be renewed through Represent a Client.
- →Scheduling pre-authorized debit the day a payment is due. PAD typically takes one to three business days to settle, so set the withdrawal date before the deadline, not on it.
- →Leaving an outdated email address on file. If the CRA cannot reach you, security codes and compliance notices may be delayed, and you may miss a response window.
- →Skipping two-step verification. Enabling it adds roughly ten seconds to each sign-in and significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
- →Confusing a Web Access Code with sign-in credentials. A WAC is a one-time code for a specific information return, not a replacement for your portal password.
- →Ignoring the Mail section. Many CRA notices now arrive only in the portal, and the CRA may consider you to have received them whether you log in or not.
Scammers routinely imitate CRA correspondence to trick owners into sharing credentials. Our overview of how to spot a CRA tax scam covers the warning signs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate CRA account for my business, or can I just use my personal one?
How long does it take to register for CRA My Business Account?
Can I file my HST return directly through My Business Account?
How do I give my accountant or bookkeeper access to my CRA business account?
What is a Web Access Code and when do I actually need one?
Can I pay my CRA balance owing from inside My Business Account?
Is My Business Account safe, and what happens if someone gets into it?
What should I do if I am locked out or my sign-in is not working before a filing deadline?
Where ClearWealth fits in
Most CRA My Business Account tasks are genuinely self-serve, and the portal keeps improving every year. Where owners typically benefit from professional help is in the layers around the portal: planning HST and corporate instalments so cash flow is not disrupted, responding to CRA review letters, filing a notice of objection, and preparing voluntary disclosures. These are areas where a mistake can be costly and where plain-English guidance matters.
Talk to a Toronto-based accountant
If you want a second opinion on how your business is set up inside the portal, or you need an accountant authorized through Represent a Client, our team is happy to help. We work with sole proprietors, incorporated professionals, and growing SMEs across Ontario and translate CRA correspondence into clear next steps.
Book a ConsultationSources & References
- Canada Revenue Agency, My Business Account — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/digital-services-businesses/business-account.html
- Canada Revenue Agency, Digital services for businesses — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/digital-services-businesses.html
- Canada Revenue Agency, Make a payment — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/payments/payments-cra.html
- Canada Revenue Agency, Business number — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/registering-your-business/business-number.html
- Canada Revenue Agency, Represent a Client — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/digital-services-individuals/represent-a-client.html
- Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST NETFILE — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/digital-services-businesses/gst-hst-netfile.html
- Canada Revenue Agency, Payroll information returns (T4, T4A) — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/payroll.html
- Canada Revenue Agency, Hours of service for CRA sign-in services — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/cra-login-services/hours-service.html
- Income Tax Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.)) — https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/i-3.3/
- Excise Tax Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. E-15) — https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/e-15/
- CPA Canada, Resources for small and medium practitioners — https://www.cpacanada.ca/business-and-accounting-resources
