CRA is reviewing my tax return. What should I do next?

Arsen Accounting Services · T1 guide · Sources checked October 29, 2026

A CRA review letter does not automatically mean you are being audited or have done something wrong. It often means CRA needs evidence for a particular amount on your T1 return. Read the request, note its deadline and respond with the records it asks for. CRA: Income tax reviews

First, confirm the request is genuine

Open your CRA account through the official government website and check your correspondence. If the message seems suspicious, verify it through CRA’s official contact channels before sharing information. Do not use a payment or document-upload link simply because an email displays the CRA name. CRA: Recognize a scam

Save the entire letter, including its date, reference number and contact instructions. A screenshot of the balance alone will not show your preparer what evidence CRA wants.

Answer the actual question in the letter

CRA’s instructions call for a response within the stated time frame, the reference number and the requested receipts or documents that apply. Scanned documents can be submitted through CRA’s online document service. Follow the route identified for your review rather than sending unrelated records to several departments. CRA: Responding to a review

Create a short cover list matching each requested item to its supporting document. For example, if the letter asks about a deduction, include the calculation and the records behind it. Keep the amounts tied to the relevant tax year. This makes the response easier to follow and helps reveal gaps before submission.

Missing a receipt or running out of time?

Contact the number on the verified letter promptly. Explain what is missing and ask about additional time or alternative evidence. CRA invites taxpayers to explain unavailable documents; an extension or acceptance of a substitute should not be assumed. Record who you spoke with and any instructions. CRA: Income tax reviews CRA: Responding to a review

Keep these records together

• The full letter and the return being reviewed.
• Receipts, slips, calculations and explanations requested.
• A list of missing items and the steps taken to obtain them.
• A copy of everything submitted and its confirmation or delivery record.
• Any later assessment or reassessment, with its date.

What if CRA has already changed my return?

CRA may reconsider a reviewed claim when you provide new supporting information. However, a document submission is not the same as a formal objection. If you disagree with a reassessment, check the objection deadline separately; continuing an informal discussion does not remove the need to protect that deadline. CRA: Responding to a review CRA: Objection rights and deadlines

Common questions

Is a review the same as an audit?

No. CRA distinguishes routine income-tax reviews from tax audits. The letter identifies what is being checked. CRA: Income tax reviews

Should I file my original return again?

Use the response instructions for the review. If a figure itself needs correcting, discuss the appropriate adjustment process rather than submitting a duplicate original return.

Get the request into an organized file

Arsen Accounting can discuss the scope of help with your personal tax return and related CRA correspondence. In your initial inquiry, mention the tax year, the item being reviewed and the response deadline. See CRA assistance pricing; send sensitive documents only through the arrangements agreed afterward.

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