CRA Auto-fill my return: what it fills in and what it misses
Short answer
CRA Auto-fill my return is a service inside NETFILE-certified tax software that downloads information the CRA already holds, such as T4, T5 and RRSP slips, your RRSP deduction limit and carryforward amounts. You sign in with your CRA account from the software. Most slips are available by mid-March, and you must still check and add anything missing.
- 01Where it runs
- Inside NETFILE-certified tax software
- 02Sign-in needed
- CRA user ID and password or a Sign-In Partner
- 03Sign-in that does not work
- Provincial partners (Alberta.ca Account, BC Services Card)
- 04When most slips are ready
- Mid-March
- 05Years covered
- Slips for 2016 and later; carryforward amounts for the current return
What CRA Auto-fill my return does
CRA Auto-fill my return lets certified tax software download information the CRA already has about you and place it on the right lines of your return. Instead of typing each slip, you connect the software to your CRA account and import the data in one step.
It fills in parts of the return, not the whole thing. Deductions such as rent, childcare, donations without slips, and most self-employment figures still come from you. The CRA says you remain responsible for making sure every field is correct, including the ones Auto-fill did not touch.
What you need to use auto fill my return CRA
- A registered CRA account. You sign in with a CRA user ID and password or through a Sign-In Partner (your online banking login). The provincial partner options, Alberta.ca Account and BC Services Card, are not compatible with Auto-fill.
- NETFILE-certified software. Every certified product offers Auto-fill. The CRA lists certified software on canada.ca, including free options.
- Your own return. Individuals can only import their own data. Tax preparers use a separate version tied to Represent a Client and EFILE.
- Working multi-factor authentication. Since February 2026 the CRA requires a backup MFA option, so check it before tax season.
If you do not have a CRA account yet, register well before you file. Our CRA My Account guide walks through registration and the security code step.
Information Auto-fill my return brings in
The CRA's list is longer than most people expect. It covers income slips, account balances and amounts carried forward from earlier years.
| Type | Items |
|---|---|
| Employment and benefit slips | T4, T4A, T4A(OAS), T4A(P), T4E, T5007 |
| Investment and registered plan slips | T3, T5, T5008, T5013, T4RSP, T4RIF, T4FHSA, RRSP and PRPP contribution receipts |
| Education and other slips | T2202, T1204, RC62, RC210, Manitoba Rent Assist |
| Carryforward and account items | RRSP deduction limit, Home Buyers' Plan and Lifelong Learning Plan repayments, FHSA amounts, capital gains and losses, unused tuition, disability tax credit status, instalments paid |
The carryforward items are often more valuable than the slips. A forgotten $3,000 of unused tuition or a Home Buyers' Plan repayment that you skip can change your balance, and Auto-fill pulls both from the CRA's records.
Joint accounts and T5 slips
Auto-fill brings in every T5 slip with your name on it. If a bank account is joint, the slip may show the full interest. You report only your share, based on who contributed the money, so edit the imported figure rather than accepting it as is.
When the information is available
Slip issuers generally have until the end of February to send slips to the CRA. The CRA then needs time to process them, so most data is ready by mid-March. Importing in early March can leave gaps that fill in a week or two later.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Late February 2027 | Slips reach the CRA; imports may be incomplete |
| Mid-March 2027 | Most slips and carryforward amounts available |
| May 2027 | RRSP receipts for contributions made in the first 60 days of 2027 |
That last row matters. If you contributed to an RRSP between January 1 and March 1, 2027 and want to deduct it on your 2026 return, type the receipt in yourself. Waiting for Auto-fill could push you past April 30.
When information is missing
A missing slip does not mean the income does not count. You still have to report it. The CRA names two common causes: the issuer has not sent the slip or the CRA has not processed it yet, or the slip was filed with a wrong SIN, first name or last name, so it never matched your file.
Ask the issuer for a copy or check My Account again later. If the slip never arrives, report the income from pay stubs or statements. Our missing tax slip page covers estimating the amount and what to attach.
One hard limit: Auto-fill cannot send more than 500 T5008 slips. Active traders over that number must enter the rest by hand.
If CRA auto fill my return is not working
Start with the sign-in, because Auto-fill depends entirely on your CRA account connection. Work through these checks in order.
- Confirm you are using a CRA user ID or Sign-In Partner, not Alberta.ca Account or BC Services Card.
- Sign in to My Account directly on canada.ca. If that fails too, the problem is your account, not the software.
- Check that your software version is certified for the tax year you are filing.
- Look for a CRA service outage notice on canada.ca, especially near deadlines.
- If one slip is missing but others imported, treat it as a missing slip rather than a failed connection.
Error messages inside a specific product are a software issue; our sister site taxsoftwaredesk.com covers those. If you give up on Auto-fill, you can still file online by typing the slips in, as described in how to file a tax return in Canada. People with very simple returns may also qualify for SimpleFile, which uses the CRA's data without software.
Common questions
Is Auto-fill my return free?
The CRA does not charge for it. Some certified software is free and some charges a fee, but Auto-fill works in every certified product.
Why can't I use Auto-fill with my BC Services Card login?
The CRA says provincial partner sign-ins, including BC Services Card and Alberta.ca Account, are not compatible. Sign in with a CRA user ID and password or a Sign-In Partner instead.
Can I use Auto-fill my return for past years?
Partly. Slips are available for 2016 and later tax years, which helps if you are catching up on late returns. Items such as the RRSP deduction limit and tuition carryforwards are provided for the current-year return.
Does Auto-fill include all my slips?
Not always. Slips the CRA has not received or processed, or slips with a wrong SIN or name, will not import. Receipts for RRSP contributions made in the first 60 days of the year appear later, in May.
Is the information from Auto-fill guaranteed to be correct?
No. It reflects what issuers reported. If a figure is wrong, contact the issuer for an amended slip and report the correct amount.
Sources
- Canada.ca: Auto-fill My Return canada.ca
- Canada.ca: NETFILE canada.ca
- CRA: Account for individuals canada.ca
- CRA: What you need for the 2026 tax filing season canada.ca
We check figures against these official pages. Rules change; confirm anything that affects a deadline or payment with the agency before you act.
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