CRA Relationship with Business Owners: It’s Now Digital

Evelyn Jacks

CRA has put business owners and their representatives on notice that starting in the spring of 2025 their relationship is a digital one.  Specifically, CRA will transition to online mail as the default for business correspondence through the My Business Account portal, rather than communicating through the mail.  That could mean two things for professional tax advisors:  an increase in business from small business owners who want them to the digital relationship for them and second, extra vigilance for communication exchanges for those who Represent a Client. 

Who is Affected?  The mandatory digital communications will apply to all new business number registrants as well as existing businesses registered under the My Business Account portal.  Finally this will apply to all businesses who have given permission under the Represent a Client process. 

How to Get Ready for the Change.  CRA advises that clients set up a My Business Account in order to receive business tax notices and other correspondence through My Business Account.  For those who already have one, it is critical to take the time to look at the Notification Preferences in their My Business Account Profile to be sure their email address is up-to-date and valid.  CRA intends to send emails when they have posted new notifications or when they have made updates to the taxpayer’s account.

Managing Email Accounts.  It is prudent to recommend that every taxpayer with a Business Number check the Notification Preferences as soon as possible.  CRA will let the taxpayer know whether or not they have an email address on file for the business and provide a confirmation receipt of the valid email address provided once they get it.  Up to three email addresses may be given.

CRA will also recommend that their email address is added to the taxpayer’s address book, contact list or safe senders’ list.  The address is do_not_reply-ne_pas_repondre@cra-arc.gc.ca.

What happens next?  CRA will stop sending out paper mail.  They will also begin to send an email whenever new mail is posted to the taxpayer’s My Business Account, or when changes are made to the account.  

Bottom Line.  Tax advisors and their clients are in a new relationship with the CRA – one in which human interaction continues to diminish.  New communications protocols, policies and procedures will need to be discussed and determined.  This could also frustrate the ability to self-assess and comply with the object, spirit and intent of the law, particularly when there are grey areas.  As self-employed taxpayers have a great chance of audit for these reasons, it will be critical to keep retrievable records of all important correspondence, including printed records. 

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