How to Pay the CRA: Payment Methods and Options

You can pay the CRA through several methods including online banking, CRA My Payment, pre-authorized debit, wire transfer, and in person at a financial institution. Each method has different processing times, fees, and requirements. Choosing the right method depends on your payment type, deadline, and available banking options. Missing CRA payment deadlines triggers daily compound interest that starts the day after the due date, so knowing your options and submitting on time protects you from unnecessary charges.

What Is a CRA Payment and Why It Matters?

Every individual and business in Canada has tax obligations that require direct payment to the Canada Revenue Agency at specific deadlines throughout the year. CRA payments cover a wide range of tax obligations including personal income tax balances, corporate tax, GST/HST remittances, payroll source deductions, tax instalments, and amounts owing from a notice of assessment or reassessment. Each payment type has its own account identifier, deadline, and consequences for late payment.

CRA does not send payment reminders for most obligations. The responsibility falls entirely on the taxpayer to know what is owed, which account it belongs to, and when it must arrive. A payment sent on time but applied to the wrong account still triggers interest on the unpaid balance. CRA charges daily compound interest at the prescribed rate plus 4 percentage points on overdue amounts, currently around 9 to 10 percent annually.

CRA Payment Methods Overview

CRA accepts payments through multiple channels to accommodate different taxpayer situations and banking preferences. Every payment method requires your social insurance number for personal tax payments or your 15 digit business number for corporate tax, GST/HST, and payroll remittances.

The payment type and period must be correctly identified so CRA applies your payment to the right account. A payment sent to the wrong account or tax year creates a credit in one place while leaving a balance owing and accruing interest in another.

Method 1: CRA My Payment

CRA My Payment is the fastest and most direct way to pay CRA online with no processing fees. My Payment is available at canada.ca/payments and accepts Visa Debit and Mastercard Debit cards only. It does not accept credit cards. The service works without a CRA My Account login and processes payments the same day in most cases.

How to Use CRA My Payment Step by Step

One line: Follow these steps carefully to ensure your payment reaches the correct CRA account on time.

• Go to canada.ca/payments and select My Payment
• Choose your payment type from the list such as T1 personal tax, T2 corporate tax, GST/HST, or payroll source deductions
• Enter your social insurance number or 15 digit business number
• Select the tax year or reporting period the payment applies to
• Enter the exact payment amount
• Enter your Visa Debit or Mastercard Debit card details
• Review all information and submit
• Save your confirmation number immediately after the transaction completes

My Payment works for personal income tax balances, tax instalments, corporate tax, GST/HST net tax, and payroll remittances. Payments typically appear in CRA My Account within one to three business days after processing.

Method 2: Online Banking Bill Payment

Online banking bill payment is the most widely used CRA payment method for Canadians with any type of bank account.

Log into your bank’s online or mobile banking platform and search for CRA in the payee list. You will find separate payees for personal income tax, corporate tax, GST/HST, and payroll. Add the correct payee and use your social insurance number or business number as the account number. Enter the payment amount and submit.

Online banking payments take one to three business days to reach CRA depending on your financial institution. Submit at least three business days before your deadline to avoid late posting. This method works with any Canadian bank account regardless of card type and integrates directly with business banking platforms for companies managing Bookkeeping in Surrey or other cities.

Method 3: Pre-Authorized Debit Through CRA My Account

Pre-authorized debit allows CRA to pull scheduled payments directly from your bank account on dates you choose in advance.

Log into CRA My Account at canada.ca and navigate to the payment options section. Select pre-authorized debit and enter your bank account information, payment amount, and scheduled payment date. CRA pulls the funds automatically on the date you set without any further action required.

This method works particularly well for quarterly instalment payers. Personal tax instalments are due March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 for taxpayers owing more than $3,000 annually. Setting up pre-authorized debit for each instalment date eliminates the risk of forgetting a payment and accumulating instalment interest.

Method 4: Credit Card Through Third Party Services

CRA does not accept credit cards directly but third party services bridge this gap for taxpayers who prefer to pay with credit.

PaySimply and Plastiq both allow you to pay CRA using a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit card. These services charge a convenience fee of approximately 2.5 percent of the payment amount. The fee is not tax deductible. Payments processed through these services typically reach CRA within one to two business days.

This option works when cash flow is tight and you need to meet a CRA deadline before your bank account can cover the amount. The 2.5 percent fee is significantly less than the CRA interest rate of approximately 9 to 10 percent annually that applies to late payments.

Method 5: Wire Transfer for Large Payments

Wire transfer is the most reliable method for large CRA payments where online banking or My Payment transaction limits apply.

Contact your bank to initiate a wire transfer to CRA. CRA provides wire transfer banking details through My Business Account or by calling the CRA business enquiries line at 1 800 959 5525. Most Canadian banks charge $15 to $30 per wire transfer. Payments typically reach CRA the same day or within one business day when submitted before the bank’s daily cutoff.

Wire transfer works best for corporate tax balances, large GST/HST remittances, and payroll source deductions that exceed typical online banking transaction limits. For businesses filing Toronto Corporate Tax Filing or managing large corporate balances in other cities, wire transfer ensures funds reach CRA reliably before deadlines.

Method 6: In Person at a Financial Institution

Canadians without online banking access or those making same day payments can pay CRA in person at most Canadian bank branches and credit unions.

Bring your CRA remittance voucher or notice of assessment showing the amount owing. The teller processes the payment directly to CRA. Some institutions charge a service fee for in person CRA payments. This method guarantees same day payment processing when submitted during business hours before the institution’s daily cutoff.

Method 7: Cheque by Mail

CRA accepts cheque payments mailed to the appropriate CRA tax centre for your province. Make the cheque payable to the Receiver General for Canada. Write your social insurance number or business number and the tax year on the memo line. Mail the cheque well in advance of your deadline since CRA applies the payment date based on when the cheque is received, not when it is mailed. Allow at least seven to ten business days for delivery.

Cheque payments are not recommended for urgent deadlines. CRA does not accept postdated cheques and returned cheques result in a $25 NSF fee plus continued interest on the unpaid balance.

CRA Payment Deadlines You Must Know

Missing payment deadlines costs money through daily compound interest at the prescribed rate plus 4 percentage points. Personal income tax balances are due April 30 each year. Self-employed individuals have until June 15 to file but must pay any balance owing by April 30. Corporate tax balances are due two months after fiscal year end for most corporations and three months for Canadian Controlled Private Corporations eligible for the small business deduction. Monthly corporate instalments are due on the last day of each month.

GST/HST payment deadlines depend on your filing frequency. Monthly filers pay by the end of the month following the reporting period. Quarterly filers pay by the end of the month following the quarter. Annual filers with a December 31 year end pay by April 30. Businesses managing HST returns in Toronto or other cities must match payment dates to their specific reporting frequency to avoid late remittance penalties of 1 to 10 percent.

Comparison of CRA Payment Methods

Choosing the right payment method depends on your card type, deadline urgency, and transaction size.

Payment Method	Processing Time	Fees	Card Type Required	Best For
CRA My Payment	Same day	None	Visa Debit or Mastercard Debit only	Fast same day payments
Online banking bill payment	1 to 3 business days	None	Any bank account	Regular scheduled payments
Pre-authorized debit	Scheduled date	None	Bank account via CRA My Account	Automated instalment payments
PaySimply or Plastiq	1 to 2 business days	Around 2.5%	Visa, Mastercard, Amex credit cards	Cash flow situations
Wire transfer	Same day to 1 business day	$15 to $30 bank fee	Bank to bank	Large amounts over $50,000
In person at financial institution	Same day	May vary	Any	No online access
Cheque by mail	7 to 10 business days	None	Cheque only	Non urgent payments

What to Do If Your CRA Payment Does Not Show Up?

Payments through My Payment typically appear in CRA My Account within one to three business days. Online banking payments can take up to five business days.

Keep your confirmation number or bank transaction record if a payment has not appeared after five business days. Call CRA at 1 800 959 8281 for personal accounts or 1 800 959 5525 for business accounts. Provide your confirmation number, payment date, and exact amount. CRA traces the payment and applies it manually when needed.

Never make a second payment before confirming the first one did not reach CRA. Duplicate payments create a credit balance that requires a formal refund request taking several weeks to process.

Tax Return Filers PC helps individuals and businesses manage CRA payment deadlines, tax return preparation, and compliance obligations including personal tax services in Toronto, corporate tax return in Toronto, and GST/HST filing services in Calgary so payments always reach CRA on time and interest never accumulates unnecessarily.

Conclusion

CRA accepts payments through seven different methods to accommodate every taxpayer situation. My Payment handles same day debit card payments at no cost. Online banking works for most Canadians with any account. Pre-authorized debit automates instalment schedules. Credit card payments are available through third parties for a fee. Wire transfer handles large balances reliably. In person and cheque options remain available for those without online access. The key is choosing the right method for your deadline, submitting early enough to account for processing time, and always saving your confirmation until the payment appears in your CRA account.