How Long Does It Take to Get a Tax Return in Canada 2023

You’ve filed your taxes, either online or in person, and now you’re waiting for your return. But just how long is that going to take?

If you’re waiting on a large refund, the time between filing and receiving your refund can seem like an eternity.

In this WealthRocket article, we’ll take a look at how long you’re going to have to wait to receive your tax return in Canada this year.

You can check on the status of your return by signing into the CRA My Account function or calling the CRA directly.

There are several reasons your return may not be processed promptly, cause a delay in receiving your refund.

The most common is if your return was selected for review, but the CRA may also delay your refund if:

• You owe or are about to owe a balance
• You have a wage garnishment order under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act.
• You have outstanding government debts like student loan debts, employment assistance, or others.
• You have a refund of $2 or less.

If you filed your income tax return in 2021 and you are expecting a refund, congratulations! Income tax refunds can feel like windfalls and are the perfect tool to get ahead on your financial goals.

Whether you are planning to save, invest, or pay down your debt, your income tax refund will probably put your months closer to your goals, and that feels like a win. After the year we’ve all had, you deserve a win.

That said, if you want to spend some of your income tax refund, that’s ok too! We recommend allocating at least 10% of your income tax refund to spend or reward yourself for making it through a challenging year.

Whatever your plan, the fastest way to receive your income tax refund (without paying unnecessary fees) is to file your income tax return online and have direct deposit set up.

If you don’t have direct deposit configured yet, you can do so through your CRA My Account.