- Your notice of assessment usually appears in your CRA account as soon as your return is processed.
- The RRSP statement on the notice shows how much you can deduct for next year and your available room.
- TFSA room isn’t on the notice. Check your CRA account and your own records instead.
- If you disagree with an assessment, you have 90 days from the date of the notice to file a formal objection.
Checked October 2026
What a notice of assessment is
A notice of assessment (NOA) is the CRA’s summary of your income tax and benefit return as it calculated it. If the CRA later changes an assessed return, it sends a notice of reassessment (NOR), which is an updated summary of what changed.
The notice lands in your CRA account once your return is processed, which the CRA says is immediate in most situations. If you’ve given the CRA an email address, you get online mail and won’t receive the notice by letter mail; otherwise it’s mailed to the address on file.
It can take longer if you filed late, the CRA reviews your return, you’re filing several years at once or a bankruptcy or deceased return, or the CRA asked for more documents. Non-resident returns may take up to 16 weeks.
How to get a copy
- Sign in to your CRA accountRegister first if you don’t have one; it gives you current and previous years’ notices.
- Open your Individual accountAuthorized representatives use the Representative account instead, and the person must have a CRA account.
- Select Tax returns or MailBoth lists hold your notices of assessment and reassessment.
- Choose the year you needOpen it, then print or save it as a PDF for a lender, landlord or program.
Prefer paper? Call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 and ask for a copy to be mailed (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut: 1-866-426-1527; outside Canada and the US: 613-940-8495). Have your social insurance number, full name, date of birth and complete address ready so the agent can confirm your identity.
Reading it section by section
| Section | What it shows | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Notice details | Last 4 digits of your SIN, the tax year and the date issued | The year is right. The date starts your 90-day objection clock |
| Access code | An 8-character code on the right side | Keep it: tax software uses it to NETFILE next year |
| Account summary | Refund, Amount due or Balance: Nil | The result matches what your software estimated |
| Tax assessment | Key line numbers and amounts, plus an explanation of any changes | Compare each line with your return |
| RRSP statement | Deduction limit for next year, unused contributions and available room | Your contribution plan for next year |
| HBP and LLP statements | Balance left to repay and the minimum repayment for next year | Repay at least the minimum or it’s added to income |
| FHSA statement | Participation room for next year and unused contributions | Room before you contribute again |
Statements for registered plans only appear when they apply to you. Your name, address and the tax centre that processed your return are printed on every notice, so update your address if it’s wrong.
Your RRSP deduction limit
The RRSP deduction limit and available contribution room statement is the part most people go looking for. It shows three things:
- Your deduction limit: the RRSP contributions you can deduct for next year, with the CRA’s calculation based on your previous return and its records.
- Your unused contributions: amounts you put in earlier but haven’t deducted yet.
- Your available contribution room: the last line, equal to your deduction limit minus those unused contributions. It’s the most you can contribute for next year.
You can also find your limit on Form T1028 or in your CRA account. To compare the RRSP with the TFSA and FHSA, see our TFSA vs RRSP vs FHSA guide.
Where’s my TFSA room?
Not on your notice of assessment. TFSA contribution room is shown in your CRA account, under Savings and pension plans, and the CRA warns it can be out of date: the TFSA information there is updated once a year in the spring, after issuers report the previous year’s transactions by the end of February.
The CRA’s advice is to calculate your room from your own records using Form RC343 or its calculator. The dollar limit for 2026 is $7,000, added on January 1. Our TFSA contribution room calculator does the math from the year you turned 18.
Your FHSA room, by contrast, does appear on the notice, in its own FHSA participation room statement, along with any unused FHSA contributions you can deduct later.
Using your notice as proof of income
Lenders and programs often ask for a notice of assessment because it’s the CRA’s own confirmation of your income. FCAC notes that self-employed mortgage applicants may have to provide notices of assessment for the past 2 years. If you’re planning to buy, download them before you start the mortgage pre-approval process.
Some organizations ask instead for a proof of income statement, a separate CRA document you can also get through your CRA account. Check which one they want.
If something looks wrong
- You forgot something or entered it incorrectly: change your return through your CRA account or tax software.
- Your information was complete but you disagree with the assessment: you have 90 days from the date of the notice to file a formal objection.
- It shows a balance you already paid: a notice issued before your payment arrived can still show the amount owing. Confirm the payment in your CRA account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a notice of assessment?
It’s the CRA’s summary of your income tax and benefit return as assessed, showing your refund, amount owing or nil balance, any changes it made, and statements for registered plans such as your RRSP deduction limit.
How do I get my notice of assessment online?
Sign in to your CRA account, select your Individual account, then Tax returns or Mail, and choose the notice you need. You can print it or save it as a PDF.
How do I get a paper copy of my notice of assessment?
Call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 and ask for a copy to be mailed. Have your social insurance number, full name, date of birth and address ready.
How long does it take to get my notice of assessment?
In most situations it appears in your CRA account as soon as your return is processed. It takes longer if you filed late, the CRA reviews your return or asks for documents, or you’re filing several returns at once.
Where is my RRSP deduction limit on my notice of assessment?
In the RRSP deduction limit statement. It shows your limit for next year, any unused contributions and your available contribution room on the last line.
Is my TFSA contribution room on my notice of assessment?
No. TFSA room is in your CRA account under Savings and pension plans, and it’s only updated once a year in the spring. The CRA suggests tracking it from your own records.
What is a notice of reassessment?
It’s an updated summary the CRA sends only when it changes a return it already assessed, whether because you asked for a change or because it found an error.
Why does my notice of assessment show a balance owing after I paid?
If the notice was issued before your payment reached the CRA, it can still show the amount owing. Check your CRA account to confirm the payment was applied.
What is the access code on my notice of assessment?
It’s an 8-character code on the right side of the notice. Tax software uses it when you NETFILE, which helps confirm your identity with the CRA.
What can I do if I disagree with my notice of assessment?
If you left something out, change your return. If your information was complete and you still disagree, you have 90 days from the date of the notice to file a formal objection.
Try this next
Sources, checked October 2026
- Canada Revenue Agency: Notices of assessment - NOA or NOR canada.ca
- Canada Revenue Agency: Where can you find your RRSP deduction limit canada.ca
- Canada Revenue Agency: Calculate your TFSA contribution room canada.ca
- FCAC: Getting preapproved for a mortgage canada.ca
- Canada Revenue Agency: Opening a TFSA canada.ca
General information for Canadians, not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules and menus change, so confirm details with your bank, lender or the Government of Canada. See our methodology.