CRA’s Digital Transition: What Taxpayers Should Know

In recent years, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has been steadily moving toward digital communication. As of July 2025, that shift is accelerating. CRA has been notifying affected individuals by way of:

1. An email notification
2. A mailed paper notification

Although there is no current guideline on CRA’s parameters for selecting which individuals are impacted, you should review your notification carefully if you have received one.

What is Changing?
Historically, Canadians could expect to receive paper notices, tax assessments, and benefit statements through the mail. However, once CRA makes the transition to online mail via the CRA My Account portal, that individual will no longer receive paper mail.

More importantly, your authorized representatives (accountant or family members) will also no longer receive paper mail, and they will not receive any email notifications either (these will go to the individual).

Why the Transition?
The CRA cites efficiency, security, and environmental concerns as key reasons for the change. Digital delivery reduces the risk of lost or delayed mail and allows Canadians to access documents instantly from anywhere. It also aligns with the CRA’s broader push to digitize services and streamline communications.

What You Need to Do
If you haven’t already signed up for CRA’s My Account, now is the time. Once you register, you will receive an email notification whenever a new message or document is available. Be sure to keep your contact information up to date and regularly check your CRA inbox to avoid missing deadlines or important updates (CRA correspondence is considered received on the date it is posted to an individual’s My Account.

Final Thoughts
While the CRA’s move to digital is designed to improve service, it also places more responsibility on taxpayers to stay informed. If you are used to receiving paper mail, this transition may take some time to get used to; but with a bit of adjustment, it promises to be a faster and more convenient way to manage your taxes.

Why do we plan?

Knowing where you are translates into knowing where you're going, and we hope to provide every client with the trust and confidence to navigate through the waters of their financial lives.

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