Know Before You Submit: Mastering CRA Processing Times (Part 4/5)

Understanding the CRA’s service standards can drastically improve a taxpayer’s experience. The "Check CRA processing times" online tool provides the same estimated completion dates an agent would provide over the phone, making it an essential self-service resource.

Standard T1 Processing Times:

Filing Method	Standard Processing Time	Note
Electronic (NETFILE/EFILE)	2 weeks	Fastest, most reliable option.
Mailed Paper Return	8 weeks	Applies to returns received on or before the due date.
Non-Resident Return	16 weeks	Longer time due to complexity.

The Impact of Complexity (Objections):

The time to resolve a tax objection varies significantly based on complexity. For instance:

• Low Complexity Income Tax Objections: Resolved in an average of 141 days (based on a July 2025 resolution period), covering issues like individual tax credits or personal deductions.

• Medium Complexity Income Tax Objections: Resolved in an average of 289 days, covering issues like business expenses or complex individual issues.

Using the online tool gives you an accurate target date and prevents an unnecessary call to the contact centre.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/100-day-service-improvement-plan.html