CRA changes authorization process to represent clients

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has changed its authorization request service for individuals in its “Represent a Client” feature, the tax department announced Thursday.

The alternative process for individuals — where the taxpayer or their legal representative can authorize a representative using information from a previous notice of assessment — no longer includes a five-day processing time. Instead, representatives can now get instant access to their client’s account.

To use the new process, the authorization applicant can use the authorization request service in “Represent a Client” and get information from their client’s notice of assessment issued at least six months ago. Authorization requests can’t be submitted on behalf of other representatives.

Clients may authorize a representative instantly if they have access to CRA My Account and add the representative or confirm the authorization request submitted by the representative in “Represent a Client.”

Effective July 15, the “Authorize a Representative” service within EFILE software is no longer available for individual clients. Representatives must use “Represent a Client” to gain access. This change does not affect authorization requests submitted through EFILE for business clients.

Jonathan Got

Jonathan Got is a reporter with Advisor.ca and its sister publication, Investment Executive. Reach him at jonathan@newcom.ca.