Yes, it only applies to new T1013 requests
And did you need specific information from their Notice of Assessment to do that process?
Not at all - just enter name, address and SI# and transmit.
Right, but this is a thread discussing the changes to being able to do it like that once the process changes on July 15th ![]()
As much as I don’t like new processes, this will only be an issue for me for NEW clients who don’t have their NOAs and can’t access their online My Account. I will have to talk them through setting one up and that could take time in busy season. So perhaps a new firm policy that no new clients during busy season.
I do like the extra step in identity verification of new clients as I am 90% a virtual office. I currently ask for copies of government issued ID which I retain on file but many of these people I have never met face to face to confirm the picture.
The question still remains though… how do we handle first time filers?
Clients don’t necessarily even need their NOA. A copy of their tax return should suffice in the vast majority of cases, assuming the return was assessed as filed.
For first-time filers, why do you think it’s important to be able to file an AuthRep for them? They certainly won’t have any carry-forward balances to confirm or anything like that.
True, if they even have that handy. Some don’t even have that.
For AFR. Slips don’t always get mailed out these days and I find many people miss slips, especially the ones they have to download like the Tangerine T5s and the school T2202. It just makes it a whole lot easier to be online.
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One of the first things we do with every new client is get an AuthRep (i.e. part of the “onboarding” process). If we have to make an exception for first-time filers, it just adds a bit more complexity to our processes…and might be the proverbial straw.
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If we prepare their taxes without knowing that we have the correct SIN or spelling of their name, we can’t file the T1 (CRA won’t accept it). Thus, we’ve wasted time on this return that could have been spent doing others (or other work).
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Assuming we were able to file the T1, and we get a phone call from the client in July, wondering why they didn’t get their refund, we can’t simply log in to RAC and see what CRA did. For the most part that’s a quick and easy answer - not enough time spent to even bother charging the client, and it makes clients very happy (with us) that they can get a REAL answer within seconds, rather than phoning CRA, waiting for hours on hold, then having to prove their identity, then getting some weird, confusing, jargon-filled answer that makes no sense to them anyway (and even harder to understand if the agent has a foreign accent).
Yes I understand the convenience, but the degree of teeth-gnashing here seems to greatly exaggerate the need.
Now I just tell new clients that without AuthRep, I am not interested in doing their taxes, for all the reasons mentioned by @Nezzer .
Yes, I agree… an auth rep is mandatory with all my clients… same as @ Nezzer.
In addition, some new clients owe CRA monies, saves time to advise them that part or all of their refund is going elsewhere.
This week, new client said I have DTC and have for years… when I checked it expired in 2023.
It helps with RRSP Cont limits, slip entry ( okay… not this year… lol) and chasing up on things for clients during the year.
It will make it much more difficult to help new clients… Business clients same scenario only different… not all clients are capable of handling the online stuff without having a meltdown and that is what it boils down to.
My new policy will be I will help set them up on CRA My Account (off season) but for a fee.
If they don’t want to pay the fee… they can have someone else help them and return to me or not,
Do you have a rough idea of how much you would bill? I’ve never assisted my clients in setting it up on my CRA account, but I imagine it will take a couple of hours
About 10 min, if they have photo ID on them, and a cell phone with a camera.
(assuming they aren’t 90 years old with arthiritis or dementia…)
@rachelavryl @obhorst
I believe @iain.fyffe and @Versa were specifically talking about first-time filers, such as a 16 year-old who has never filed taxes before. This will be the difficulty, because they won’t have a NOA - it will be impossible to get authorized under the new process (though it may still be possible to get them to set up a MyAccount and walk them through the “other” authorization process - similar to business authorizations now).
I haven’t determined my price point yet as we are not July but many peeps who do not have appropriate phone will need to use my phone…and then its all the discussion to lead up to … this is important and convince them why they need to allow to happen… .ugh
Presume my initial appointment will be another 30 mins over the current time frame.
If they have a beginners drivers license… it would have a photo.
Additionally in New Brunwick, we can get a photo id at our provincial license office.
Just for ID purposes. In our province the agency that issues it is called Service NB… I believe most provinces offer this service.
Just a thought for other preparers out there to remind parents to get IDs for their kids.
Thanks! Do you know if they must first register for a My Account (individual CRA account) before they can set up My Business Account, or can they register for My Business Account directly without having a personal CRA account?
CRA changed the login process last month (or was it January?). They need to register a username and password either way, and once that is set up, they automatically have access to their “MyAccount”. Then, if they need access to a “MyBusinessAccount” they can click the button to add it:

When adding the business account, they will need details about that business, and values from the GST or corp tax returns; possibly also documents from the provincial corporate registry showing that they are a director, etc.
You must have My Account … registering for My business takes 2 minutes … depending on internet speed ![]()
Thank you for your reply. Your insights were very informative. I believe I came across your posts on the Jazzit forums a few years ago. Wishing you a great tax season!