What is a Notice of Assessment (NOA) and what should I check?
A Notice of Assessment (NOA) is the official document the CRA sends after processing your T1 Return. It confirms the information you filed and shows your final tax assessment for the year. **What the NOA shows:** - Your total income, deductions, and net income - Your tax assessed and any refund or balance owing - Your RRSP deduction limit for the following year - Any corrections the CRA made to your return - Your benefit entitlements (GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit) **When you receive it:** The CRA typically issues NOAs within 2–8 weeks for electronic filers and 8–16 weeks for paper filers. **What to check:** 1. Verify your income, deductions, and credits match what you filed 2. Confirm your RRSP contribution room (important for planning next year) 3. Check if the CRA made any adjustments — the NOA will explain them 4. If there is a balance owing, pay it as soon as possible to stop interest **Disagreeing with your NOA:** If you believe the CRA made an error, you can file a **Notice of Objection** (Form T400A) within 90 days of the NOA date. After that, you may appeal to the Tax Court of Canada.
- NOA confirms CRA's assessment of your T1 Return
- Shows total income, tax assessed, refund or balance owing, and RRSP room
- Check carefully — CRA may have made adjustments without notice
- File a Notice of Objection within 90 days if you disagree
- Access your NOA instantly via CRA My Account