CRA My Business Account (MyBA) is the Canada Revenue Agency's secure online portal for Canadian business owners and their authorized representatives. It centralizes virtually every interaction your business has with CRA — from filing returns and making payments to responding to letters and managing payroll accounts. If you are not yet using MyBA regularly, you are missing one of the most practical tools available to keep your business CRA-compliant and your accounts up to date.
What Is CRA My Business Account?
My Business Account is a secure online platform at canada.ca that gives authorized users access to a business's CRA accounts. It is the business equivalent of My Account (for personal taxpayers). Through MyBA, you can manage:
- Corporate income tax (T2) accounts
- GST/HST accounts
- Payroll/source deduction accounts (RP accounts)
- Import/export accounts (RM)
- Information returns (T4, T4A, T5, T5018, etc.)
Authorized representatives (accountants, bookkeepers, lawyers) can access your MyBA through the separate Represent a Client portal, once you have authorized them through your own MyBA account.
How to Register for My Business Account
To register for MyBA, you need:
- Your Business Number (BN) — the 9-digit number CRA assigned to your business
- A CRA user ID and password OR sign-in through a provincial partner (bank sign-in)
- To verify your identity using one of: a previous T2 return amount, a GST/HST return net tax amount, a payroll deduction account number, or a personal SIN with a T1 return amount (for owner-managed businesses)
Once registered, full access is granted immediately. Registration takes about 10 minutes. New businesses that do not yet have a BN can register for one online at the same time.
Key Features of CRA My Business Account
View Account Balances and Statements
MyBA shows your current account balance for all registered CRA accounts — whether you owe, have a credit, or are up to date. You can view statements of account showing all debits, credits, payments, and accrued interest. This is particularly useful for confirming that payroll remittances have been received by CRA and applied correctly.
File Returns Online
For businesses that file GST/HST returns manually (rather than through accounting software), MyBA allows online filing for quarterly and annual filers. Payroll information returns (T4 and T4 Summary, T4A, T5018) can also be filed directly through MyBA. T2 corporate tax returns are typically filed through certified tax preparation software, but some supplementary information can be submitted through MyBA.
Make Payments
MyBA integrates with online banking to facilitate CRA payments for all account types. You can also set up pre-authorized debit (PAD) agreements for regular installment payments. Viewing your payment history confirms that CRA received and applied your remittances — critical for payroll compliance.
Respond to CRA Letters and Requests
When CRA sends a letter requesting information or proposing an adjustment, you can respond directly through MyBA using the Submit documents feature. This creates a timestamped electronic record of your response, avoids mail delays, and is more secure than fax or post. You can also view all correspondence CRA has sent to your business.
Register and Manage Business Accounts
Through MyBA, you can register new program accounts (add a payroll account if you hire your first employee, add a GST/HST account when your revenues exceed $30,000), cancel accounts, update business address information, and manage authorized representatives.
Authorize Representatives
To give your accountant access to your CRA accounts, you use the Authorize or manage representatives section of MyBA. You can grant Level 1 (view only) or Level 2 (view and transact) access, and can revoke access at any time. This is how Swift Accounting Ltd. Calgary and similar accounting firms access clients' CRA accounts on their behalf — a formal, logged authorization through the Represent a Client system.
View Instalment Reminders and Due Dates
MyBA displays upcoming filing and payment due dates for all your accounts, including corporate tax instalments, GST/HST return due dates, and payroll remittance due dates. This is particularly useful for small businesses managing multiple CRA account types with different due dates.
Request Certificates and Clearances
Certain clearance and confirmation requests — such as a certificate of compliance before distributing corporate assets in a wind-up — can be initiated through MyBA.
Represent a Client: For Accountants and Bookkeepers
If you are an accounting professional, Represent a Client (RAC) is the portal you use to access your clients' CRA accounts once they have authorized you in MyBA. RAC has slightly different navigation than MyBA but provides equivalent access. CRA requires that each authorization be specific to the business number — you cannot access a client's accounts without an active, properly scoped authorization.
Security Tips for My Business Account
- Use a strong, unique password and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) where available
- Review your authorized representatives list regularly and remove any outdated authorizations
- Never share your CRA login credentials with anyone — authorized representatives access your accounts through their own RAC login
- Check your account activity regularly for any unexpected correspondence or assessments
- Sign up for CRA email notifications so you are alerted when new correspondence arrives in your MyBA inbox
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my accountant access CRA My Business Account without my credentials?
Yes — that is exactly how it is designed to work. Your accountant registers for Represent a Client (RAC) with CRA and then you authorize them through your MyBA account under "Authorize or manage representatives." Once authorized, they access your accounts through their own RAC login using their own credentials. You should never share your personal CRA login with anyone.
How do I check if CRA received my GST/HST payment?
Log in to My Business Account, navigate to your GST/HST account, and view the Statement of Account. Payments applied to your account are shown within 1–3 business days of receipt. If a payment is missing, you can submit proof of payment through the Submit Documents feature and request a trace.
Can I change my business address through My Business Account?
Yes — you can update your business address, mailing address, and contact information for each CRA account through MyBA under Account Information. It is important to keep your address current so CRA correspondence reaches you, as CRA's obligation to notify you is typically satisfied by mailing to your registered address on file.
What do I do if I receive a CRA letter through My Business Account that I do not understand?
Do not ignore it — CRA letters typically require a response within a specified deadline, and missing the deadline can waive your rights (for example, the 90-day deadline for filing a Notice of Objection). Forward the letter to your accountant or tax professional as soon as possible. The team at Swift Accounting Ltd. Calgary can interpret CRA correspondence and advise on the appropriate response.
CRA My Business Account is a powerful tool that puts most of your CRA obligations in one place — and dramatically reduces the time spent on phone calls and paper correspondence. The team at Swift Accounting Ltd. Calgary uses Represent a Client access to monitor client accounts, catch missed deadlines, and respond to CRA on our clients' behalf. Contact us today to have a professional team manage your CRA account and compliance requirements.