CRA My Payment: How to Pay Taxes Online in Canada
My Payment is the Canada Revenue Agency's secure online payment service that allows individuals, businesses, trusts, and other taxpayers to make tax payments directly from eligible Canadian bank debit cards without registering for an account.
- Official CRA online payment service.
- Uses Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard.
- No CRA service fee.
- Supports personal and business tax payments.
- Available approximately 21 hours per day, 7 days a week.
What Is CRA My Payment?
My Payment is a secure electronic payment service provided by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It lets taxpayers make one-time online payments directly from an eligible Canadian bank account using a Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard without creating a separate payment account.
Unlike online banking bill payments, My Payment connects directly with participating financial institutions to submit your payment to the CRA. The CRA does not charge a fee for using this service, although your financial institution may apply its own transaction limits or fees.
✅ What Can You Pay?
The service supports many payment types, including:
- Personal income tax (T1)
- Corporate income tax (T2)
- GST/HST remittances
- Payroll source deductions
- Trust income tax (T3)
- Luxury Tax
- Underused Housing Tax (UHT)
- Excise taxes and duties
- Fuel charge
Some payment types are not available through My Payment. If your payment isn't supported, the CRA recommends using online banking, pre-authorized debit, or another approved payment method.
💳 Accepted Payment Methods
CRA My Payment currently accepts:
- Visa Debit
- Debit Mastercard
Interac Debit is no longer accepted through My Payment. Standard credit cards also cannot be used directly with this service. Taxpayers wishing to pay by credit card must use an approved third-party payment provider, which usually charges a service fee.
If your debit card displays both an Interac and Visa Debit logo, choose the Visa Debit option when completing your payment.
📝 How to Make a Payment
- Select the type of tax or program you need to pay.
- Enter your SIN or CRA business account number.
- Specify the payment amount.
- Choose Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard.
- Authenticate with your participating bank.
- Review and submit the payment.
- Save the confirmation number for your records.
⏱ Processing Times
Payments are generally considered received on the same business day. Payments submitted after 10:00 PM local time, on weekends, or on statutory holidays are normally processed on the next business day.
Your CRA account may take up to three business days to display the payment after it has been received.
Alternative Ways to Pay the CRA
- Online banking bill payment
- Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD)
- Third-party payment providers
- In-person payments where available
- Mailing a cheque or money order
For most taxpayers, online banking remains the simplest payment method because it works similarly to paying household bills. PAD is useful when scheduling future payments or installments.
🧩 Real-World Examples
Individual Taxpayer: Pays an income tax balance immediately after filing a T1 return using Visa Debit.
Small Business: Makes monthly GST/HST remittance directly from online banking or My Payment.
Corporation: Uses My Payment to submit corporate income tax installments without mailing cheques.
Self-Employed Professional: Schedules future installment payments through CRA Pre-Authorized Debit.
⚠ Common Problems and Solutions
| Problem | Recommended Solution |
|---|---|
| Debit card declined | Confirm your bank supports Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard for My Payment. |
| Payment not showing in CRA account | Allow up to three business days before contacting the CRA. |
| Wrong payment type selected | Verify the tax program before submitting payment. |
| Need to pay with a credit card | Use an approved third-party payment provider. |
| Browser security errors | Use a modern, supported web browser. |
👨💼 Expert Insight from dir.md
Expert Insight: Before submitting any CRA payment, double-check both the payment type and your identifying number (SIN or Business Number). Most payment issues are caused by selecting the wrong tax account rather than technical problems. Saving the confirmation receipt until the payment appears in your CRA account can make resolving rare processing issues much easier.
If you make regular tax installments, consider using Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) to automate future payments and reduce the risk of missed deadlines.
