After the Canada Revenue Agency issues your Notice of Assessment, how long it takes to get your refund depends on how you’re paid. With direct deposit, the money usually lands in your bank account within about eight business days of the NOA date.1Government of Canada. What to Do After You’ve Submitted Your Tax Return A paper cheque generally takes four to six weeks from the same date, because it has to be printed and mailed.
The clock starts on the date printed on your NOA, not the day the notice reaches your mailbox or your My Account inbox. On the account summary, a direct deposit refund shows as “Direct deposit”; a mailed refund shows as “Refund,” meaning a cheque is on its way.2Government of Canada. Notices of Assessment – NOA or NOR – Personal Income Tax
Why Direct Deposit Is Faster
Direct deposit skips the printing queue and the postal system, which is where most of the four-to-six-week cheque timeline goes. To enroll, you need three numbers from the bottom of a personal cheque or from your banking app: a five-digit branch number, a three-digit institution number, and your account number of up to twelve digits. The quickest way to set it up is through the CRA’s My Account portal, where changes take effect immediately.3Government of Canada. Direct Deposit If you don’t use My Account, you can mail a completed direct deposit enrolment form to the Receiver General for Canada; the form can’t be submitted by email or online.4Government of Canada. Canada Direct Deposit Enrolment Form
Keep the account details current. If the number is wrong, your bank will reject the deposit, the CRA will fall back to a cheque, and you’ll wait several extra weeks.
Reasons the Refund Can Take Longer
The CRA Is Reviewing Your Return
Standard timelines don’t apply when the CRA contacts you for more information or when you’ve filed for multiple tax years at once.5Government of Canada. Tax Refunds – For Individuals A pre-assessment or post-assessment review may ask you to submit receipts, T-slips, or other supporting records. No refund is released until the review closes.
Your Refund Is Being Applied to a Debt
The CRA can apply your refund, and even certain benefit payments like the GST/HST credit, against outstanding government debts. That includes Canada Student Loans, Employment Insurance overpayments, CPP and OAS overpayments, and debts owed to other federal, provincial, or territorial governments.6Government of Canada. How Payments Are Applied to Offset Debt Your refund may also be held under a garnishment order tied to the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, or if you have outstanding GST/HST returns from a sole proprietorship or partnership.5Government of Canada. Tax Refunds – For Individuals Anything left after the debt is paid off is sent to you.
Wrong Banking or Address Details
A rejected deposit reverts to a paper cheque. An outdated mailing address can send that cheque back as undeliverable. Either way, the CRA has to confirm your updated information before it can reissue the payment, and that adds weeks.
The Refund Is Two Dollars or Less
The CRA does not issue refunds of two dollars or less.5Government of Canada. Tax Refunds – For Individuals If your calculated amount is at or below that line, no payment is sent.
How to Check Where Your Refund Is
Give it time before you call. The CRA asks that you wait at least twelve weeks from the date you filed if you live in Canada, or sixteen weeks if you live outside the country.5Government of Canada. Tax Refunds – For Individuals
The fastest check is the progress tracker in My Account, which shows whether your return has been assessed, whether a notice has been issued, and whether a deposit has been initiated or a cheque mailed.7Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Progress Tracker
You can also call the CRA’s automated line at 1-800-959-8281 and choose option 4. It runs Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. Eastern Time. Have your Social Insurance Number, full name, date of birth, address, and the amount from line 15000 of your most recent notice of assessment ready.5Government of Canada. Tax Refunds – For Individuals To speak with an agent, use the same number Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time; you’ll be asked to verify your identity with the same details plus information from a previously assessed return.
Interest If the CRA Is Late
Under the Income Tax Act, the CRA has to pay you interest when your refund is held past the normal processing period.8Justice Laws Website. Income Tax Act RSC 1985 c 1 (5th Supp) – Section 164 The rate is the CRA’s prescribed rate, compounded daily, and it changes each quarter. You don’t have to ask for it; if it’s owed, it’s added to your refund automatically. Interest of ten dollars or more is taxable and has to be reported on next year’s return.