How to pay bills online in Canada: add a payee, set up automatic payments
Quick summary
To pay a bill online, sign in to your bank, add the company as a payee, then choose the amount and date. Tangerine's page says to pay 2 to 3 business days before the due date, because processing times vary. You can also let a company take the money for you with a pre-authorized debit. If you want to keep tabs on what leaves your account, read how bank fees add up.
Checked November 10, 2026. Main source: Tangerine: How do I add a new bill payee and how to pay a bill (no date shown, last confirmed November 10, 2026). See all 3 sources.
Key facts
- Pay before the due date by
- 2 to 3 business days
- Source: Tangerine page
- Notice if an automatic payment changes
- At least 10 days, in writing
- Source: FCAC, modified October 23, 2026
- Time to report a wrong or unapproved debit
- Generally 90 days from the withdrawal
- Source: FCAC, modified October 23, 2026
- Pay the CRA online
- Some banks let you add the CRA as a payee
- Source: CRA, modified October 28, 2026
How to add a payee and pay a bill
A payee is the company or person you pay. Menus differ by bank. These steps come from Tangerine's page, and most banks look similar.
- On the app: open Move Money, choose Pay Bills, tap the three dots in the top corner, pick Manage Payees, and follow the prompts.
- On the website: sign in, click Pay Bills at the top, then click Add a Payee.
- Have the bill in front of you. You will need the company name and the account number printed on the bill.
- Pick the payee, enter the amount and the date, and check them before you confirm.
- Keep your confirmation number until the company shows the payment.
Source: Tangerine: How do I add a new bill payee and how to pay a bill (no date shown, last confirmed November 10, 2026). The page did not list a daily cut-off time. Ask your bank for yours.
When to pay so it lands on time
Tangerine says to pay 2 to 3 business days before the due date, and that processing times vary by payee. Weekends and holidays are not business days. A bill due on a Monday should be paid by the Wednesday before at the latest, if you follow that advice.
Set the payment date a few days early and keep the money in the account. Our guides below show what can happen to an unpaid bill.
Source: Tangerine: How do I add a new bill payee and how to pay a bill (no date shown, last confirmed November 10, 2026).
Paying the CRA from online banking
The CRA says some banks and credit unions let you add the CRA as a payee in online banking. You can make a single payment or scheduled payments, and the money comes straight from your bank account. Options depend on your bank and your banking package.
The CRA page we read did not say what to type in the account number field. It points to its own guide, so use the CRA's page for that. Start from the canada.ca page, not from a link in a text or email. Our CRA scams guide shows how to tell a real contact from a fake.
Source: Canada Revenue Agency: Make a payment (modified October 28, 2026, read November 10, 2026).
Pre-authorized debits: let the company pull the payment
The FCAC says a pre-authorized debit, or PAD, lets a biller withdraw money from your bank account when a payment is due. It is often used for mortgage, utility, insurance, RRSP and credit card payments. Tangerine's page describes it the same way. You agree once, and the biller takes the payment each time.
A PAD can be handy so you never miss a due date. The risk is that you forget it exists. Check your account each month for withdrawals you do not recognize.
| Your right | What the FCAC says |
|---|---|
| Notice of a changed amount | If the amount can vary, the biller must tell you in writing at least 10 days before the withdrawal, unless you waive or shorten that period |
| Report a wrong or unapproved debit | You generally have 90 days to tell your bank, counted from the withdrawal date |
| Refund | You can get money back if the biller took it on the wrong date or for the wrong amount, or after you cancelled. A PAD that moved money between two banks may not qualify |
| Stop one payment | Ask your bank for a stop payment on a single debit. A stop on recurring payments may also be possible |
Source: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Pre-authorized debits (modified October 23, 2026, read November 10, 2026).
How to cancel a pre-authorized debit
- Tell the biller in writing. Your agreement should say how.
- Keep a copy of your notice.
- Check your account records to confirm the withdrawals stopped.
- If they keep coming, contact the biller. If you are not happy with the answer, you have 90 days to ask your bank to pay you back.
- Cancelling the PAD does not cancel what you owe. Set up another way to pay any balance.
Source: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Pre-authorized debits (modified October 23, 2026, read November 10, 2026).
Stay safe when you pay online
- Add payees only from a bill you have in hand, not from a text or an email asking you to pay.
- Be wary of anyone who rushes you to pay a bill by e-Transfer, gift card or crypto. Check with the company using the number on your last bill.
- Turn on alerts at your bank so you see each payment as it happens.
- Check the payee name and account number twice. A typo can send money to the wrong place.
Check what you learned
2 quick questions. Nothing is saved or sent.
1. How much written notice must you get if an automatic payment amount changes, per the FCAC?
2. How long do you generally have to report a wrong or unapproved debit?
Questions people ask
How do I add a bill payee in online banking?
Tangerine's page says to open Pay Bills, then Add a Payee on the website, or Move Money, Pay Bills, then Manage Payees in the app. Other banks use similar menus.
How early should I pay a bill online?
Tangerine says 2 to 3 business days before the due date, because processing times vary by payee.
Can I pay the CRA through my bank?
The CRA says some banks and credit unions let you add the CRA as a payee. Options depend on your bank and your banking package.
What is a pre-authorized debit?
The FCAC says it lets a biller withdraw money from your account when a payment is due. Common uses are mortgage, utility, insurance, RRSP and credit card payments.
How do I stop a pre-authorized debit?
Tell the biller in writing, keep a copy, and check your account to confirm it stopped. If withdrawals continue, you have 90 days to ask your bank for a refund, per the FCAC.
Does my bank have to warn me if the amount changes?
The FCAC says that if the amount can vary, the biller must tell you in writing at least 10 days before the withdrawal, unless you waive or shorten that notice.
What if a bill payment goes to the wrong place?
Call your bank right away with your confirmation number. Our sources did not give a set refund rule for a mistaken bill payee, so ask your bank what it can do.