Direct deposit in Canada: how to set it up for the CRA and benefits
Quick summary
Direct deposit sends CRA payments straight into your bank or credit union account. The fastest way to sign up is online. The CRA says an online change is updated the next business day, and a mailed form can take up to 3 months or longer. Keep your details private, and read how to spot CRA scams.
Checked November 10, 2026. Main source: Canada Revenue Agency: Direct deposit for individuals (modified October 14, 2026, read November 10, 2026). See all 4 sources.
Key facts
- Online sign up
- Updated the next business day after you give consent
- Source: CRA, modified October 14, 2026
- Mailed form
- Up to 3 months or longer
- Source: CRA, modified October 14, 2026
- By phone
- No longer possible
- Source: CRA, modified October 14, 2026
- Missing payment
- Call the CRA if 10 business days have passed since the payment date
- Source: CRA, modified October 14, 2026
What direct deposit is
Direct deposit means the payment goes into your account without a cheque. The CRA says it is only available to Canadian bank and credit union accounts. Without one, the CRA says you can still get payments by cheque, or by wire if your country does not accept Canadian cheques.
Source: Canada Revenue Agency: Direct deposit for individuals (modified October 14, 2026, read November 10, 2026).
Three ways to sign up with the CRA
| Way | How | How long |
|---|---|---|
| CRA account (online) | Sign in, open your Individual account, go to Profile, find Direct deposit, select Edit and update your information | Next business day after consent |
| Your bank or credit union (online) | Many banks, credit unions and trust companies offer a sign up on their own sites. The CRA page lists them | Next business day after consent |
| Fill out the Canada direct deposit enrolment form and mail it. The CRA calls this the slower option | Up to 3 months or longer |
Source: Canada Revenue Agency: Direct deposit for individuals (modified October 14, 2026, read November 10, 2026). The CRA says you can no longer sign up or update by phone.
What banking details you need
A Service Canada page lists four things: your social insurance number, the name of your bank, your branch (transit) number, and your account number. It says you can find them at the bottom of a cheque or in your online banking. The CRA page we read did not list the details, so we used this page and the MoneySense article.
MoneySense says a transit number has five digits and an institution number has three, and that you can find them on a cheque or by downloading a cheque from your bank account. An HSBC Canada form agrees: a 5 digit transit number and a 3 digit institution number (016 for HSBC), found in online banking under My accounts. Account numbers differ by bank. HSBC's has 9 digits, so copy yours exactly as your bank shows it.
Sources: Employment and Social Development Canada: Direct deposit for Service Canada (modified August 29, 2025, read November 10, 2026); MoneySense: How to set up CRA direct deposit (May 15, 2025, read November 10, 2026; the page says some details may be out of date); HSBC Canada: Direct deposit and automatic payment form (no date shown, form code suggests January 2023, last confirmed November 10, 2026).
Changing banks? Do this first
- Update your direct deposit before you close the old account.
- The CRA says not to close your old bank account until your first payment has gone into the new one.
- If a payment is missing and 10 business days have passed, call the CRA.
Source: Canada Revenue Agency: Direct deposit for individuals (modified October 14, 2026, read November 10, 2026).
CPP, OAS, EI and other benefits
The CRA says CPP, OAS and EI direct deposit are managed outside the CRA, so changing it with the CRA does not change them. The Service Canada page we read covered four programs: Apprenticeship Grants, the Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime, the Wage Earner Protection Program and Canadian Government Annuities. It did not mention EI, CPP or OAS. Check the program's own page for how to change it.
Sources: Canada Revenue Agency: Direct deposit for individuals (modified October 14, 2026, read November 10, 2026); Employment and Social Development Canada: Direct deposit for Service Canada (modified August 29, 2025, read November 10, 2026).
Keep your banking details safe
- Use the CRA account or your bank's own site. Type the address yourself.
- Do not give your account number to someone who calls, texts or emails you out of the blue, even if they say they are the CRA.
- After you change your details, check your account for the next payment.
- If you shared your details with a scammer, call your bank right away and then read our steps.
Check what you learned
2 quick questions. Nothing is saved or sent.
1. How long does CRA direct deposit take to start when you sign up online?
2. Can you set up CRA direct deposit by phone?
Questions people ask
How do I set up CRA direct deposit?
Sign in to your CRA account, go to Profile, find Direct deposit and select Edit. You can also sign up through your bank's website or mail the enrolment form, per the CRA.
Can I set up CRA direct deposit by phone?
No. The CRA says you can no longer sign up for or update direct deposit by phone.
How long does CRA direct deposit take to start?
Online, the CRA says the next business day after you give consent. By mail, up to 3 months or longer.
What do I need to set up direct deposit?
A Service Canada page lists your social insurance number, your bank's name, your transit number and your account number. You can find them on a cheque or in online banking.
Is CRA direct deposit available at any bank?
The CRA says it is only available to Canadian bank and credit union accounts. Without one you can still get a cheque.
My CRA payment did not show up. What do I do?
The CRA says to call if 10 business days have passed since the payment date.
Does the CRA direct deposit change my EI or CPP?
No. The CRA says CPP, OAS and EI direct deposit are managed outside the CRA.