The short version
- Individual tax questions: 1-800-959-8281. Benefits (child benefit, Groceries and Essentials, workers benefit): 1-800-387-1193. Business: 1-800-959-5525.
- Agents answer Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time. In B.C. that's 5 am to 5 pm; plan accordingly.
- Owe money? Debt lines are separate: 1-888-863-8657 for personal tax debt.
- The automated line (TIPS, the same 1-800-959-8281) gives your balance, refund status and RRSP/TFSA room almost around the clock.
- Many answers are faster in My Account: refund status, notices, balance, and online chat for some questions.
How to Contact CRA
Calling CRA is a little like visiting the cottage on a long weekend: everyone has the same idea at the same time. The numbers are easy; getting through is the skill. Pick the right line, call at the right time, have your papers ready, and the call takes ten minutes instead of a morning. Here's everything you need.
CRA Phone Numbers
| For | Number | Hours (Eastern time) |
|---|---|---|
| Individual tax enquiries | 1-800-959-8281 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| Benefits (child benefit, Groceries and Essentials, workers benefit) | 1-800-387-1193 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| Business enquiries (GST/HST, payroll, corporations) | 1-800-959-5525 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| Personal tax debt | 1-888-863-8657 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| GST/HST debt | 1-877-477-5068 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| Payroll debt | 1-877-548-6016 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| Corporate income tax debt | 1-866-291-6346 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| Yukon, N.W.T., Nunavut (individuals and benefits) | 1-866-426-1527 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| Outside Canada and the U.S. (individuals, collect calls accepted) | 1-613-940-8495 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| TTY | 1-800-665-0354 | Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm |
| Automated (TIPS) | 1-800-959-8281 | Every day, 6 am to 3 am |
Want an answer without the hold music?
Ask the assistant first. It answers with the CRA source and tells you when a question really does need a call, and to which line.
How to Get Through Faster
- Avoid Mondays, the day after a holiday, and March to May. Mid-week, mid-morning in quieter months is usually best.
- Choose the right line. A benefits question on the tax line gets transferred, back to the end of the queue.
- Have ready: SIN, date of birth, full address, and your latest notice of assessment or the letter you're calling about. Agents confirm identity with return details.
- Calling for someone else? You need to be their authorized representative, or have them on the line.
- Write down the agent's ID, the date, and what was promised.
When You Don't Need to Call
| Question | Faster way |
|---|---|
| Where's my refund? | My Account or TIPS; see refund status |
| What does this letter mean? | The CRA letter analyzer |
| Why is my balance this? | Statement of account in My Account; see balance I don't recognize |
| Can't pay in full | Set up a payment arrangement in My Account |
| Disagree with an assessment | File an objection online |
| Can't sign in | See CRA login problems |
Scams: How to Tell It's Really CRA
- CRA doesn't demand payment by Interac e-transfer, gift card, prepaid credit card or crypto, and doesn't threaten arrest or deportation.
- CRA doesn't use text messages or apps like WhatsApp, and its emails never contain a link asking for personal or financial information.
- If a caller says you owe, hang up and check My Account, or call the number on this page yourself.
Everything about dealing with CRA is on the CRA guide, and setting up online access on how to create a CRA account.
Contacting CRA Questions
What is the CRA phone number for individuals?
1-800-959-8281, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time. For benefits such as the Canada child benefit, call 1-800-387-1193.
What are CRA’s phone hours?
Agents are available Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time, and closed weekends and holidays. The automated TIPS line runs every day from 6 am to 3 am Eastern.
What is the CRA number for tax debt?
1-888-863-8657 for personal income tax debt. GST/HST, payroll and corporate debts have their own numbers.
How do I call CRA from outside Canada?
Call 1-613-940-8495 for individual enquiries; CRA accepts collect calls from outside Canada and the U.S.
How do I know if a call from CRA is a scam?
CRA does not demand payment by Interac e-transfer, gift card, prepaid card or cryptocurrency, does not threaten arrest, and does not contact you by text message. Hang up and check your balance in My Account.
Sources: CRA, Contact the Canada Revenue Agency; Recognize a scam. Checked October 2026. Hours are as CRA states them, in Eastern time; numbers and hours change, so check CRA's page if one doesn't connect. Best times to call are general experience, not a CRA promise.
Last reviewed October 5, 2026 against CRA and Government of Canada sources. How we check our facts.