CRA Direct Deposit

Direct deposit is a secure electronic transfer of funds deposited directly into your account at FirstOntario. Direct deposit replaces the need to issue payments by paper cheque.

Canadian taxpayers. If an individual has never filed a tax return with the CRA, they are not eligible to sign up for the CRA direct deposit service through their financial institution.  In order to complete your enrollment your financial institution must have your valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) on file.

If you are unsure whether your SIN is noted in your FirstOntario account profile, or if you want to update your profile, please contact FirstOntario's Member Service Centre at 1-800-616-8878.

If you are already signed up for direct deposit with CRA for your income tax refund, benefits and credits such as the Canada child benefit (CCB), the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, Canada workers benefit (CWB), and provincial and territorial payments such as the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB), you do not need to enroll again.

The direct deposit service is strictly for individuals using their SIN to register. The CRA has confirmed that the that Canada Emergency Response Benefit only supports SIN-based payouts and are not applicable to loans currently being provided for small businesses with a Business Number.

Small businesses with a Business Number will be able to update their Direct Deposit information through their business portal. Payments Canada will circulate CRA’s link to ‘my business’ account where business can sign up.

Direct deposit allows you to access your money faster and is more convenient as your payment will not be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather. It is reliable and your payment will always be deposited on time in your account.

For those eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, we encourage you to sign up for direct deposit with us as soon as possible to receive your benefit payments on time.

No. Once you are enrolled for direct deposit, you will receive CRA payments such as benefits, credits and refunds directly to your account.

If you are eligible, you can receive your Canada Emergency Response Benefit payments directly to your bank account.

You can also receive payments such as your income tax refund, benefits and credits such as the Canada child benefit (CCB), the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, Canada workers benefit (CWB), and provincial and territorial payments such as the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB).

In order to offer this direct deposit enrolment service, FirstOntario signed an extensive Terms of Use Agreement with the CRA which obliges us to use consent and privacy statements with all our clients who enroll in CRA direct deposit. By signing these consent and privacy statements you will acknowledge and agree that:

• To facilitate your direct deposit enrolment with the CRA:
  • The CRA requires your name, bank account information, date of birth and social insurance number (SIN).
  • FirstOntario will provide to the CRA your name and bank account information as set out above, as well as the date of birth and SIN that we have on file for you.
• Once the CRA has completed your direct deposit enrolment, the Receiver General will deposit any amounts to be paid to you by the CRA.

The Government of Canada considers privacy and security of utmost importance in the issuance of payments. Any information you provide to the Government of Canada when you enrol for direct deposit is protected under the Government of Canada Privacy Act and as described in Receiver General Payments (Personal Information Bank PWGSC PCU 712).

If you are already using FirstOntario's online banking, log in to set up direct deposit so you receive quick and easy payments directly into your account.

Once you are logged in:

1. Select Account Services from the menu
2. Choose Set up CRA Direct Deposit
3. Review the Payment Information and select Next
4. On the Authorization screen, select the account you would to receive CRA Direct Deposit and enter your social insurance number
5. Review your personal details for accuracy and select Next
6. Review the details on the confirmation page and selectSubmit 

If you are not set up for FirstOntario's online banking, call our Member Service Centre at 1-800-616-8878 to get started.

If you've arranged direct deposit for other government payments in the past, you are already set up and don't need to enroll again.

In order to complete your enrollment FirstOntario must have your valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) on file. If you are unsure whether your SIN is noted in your FirstOntario account profile, or if you want to update your profile, please contact our Member Service Centre at 1-800-616-8878.

Once you provide consent for your banking information to be shared with the CRA, your direct deposit information will be updated by your financial institution the following day. The CRA aims to process your direct deposit enrolment or information updates in one or two business days. Given the current environment, you may experience longer than usual processing times once the CRA receives your information from your financial institution.

To complete your enrollment, your financial institution will provide to the CRA your name and bank account information, as well as the date of birth and Social Insurance Number (SIN) that it has on file for you.

If you are unsure whether your SIN is noted in your FirstOntario account profile, or if you want to update your profile, please contact FirstOntario's Member Service Centre at 1-800-616-8878.

If you are fully registered for CRA’s My Account, you can verify your direct deposit information through this online self-service portal.

You can verify that the payment has been received by checking your account activity in online and mobile banking, for the account used to set up the direct deposit – it will appear on the day the funds are deposited into your account.  You will also be able to see the payment on your banking statement for the account you used to sign up for direct deposit. Your payment amount will be deposited directly into the account.

You can also confirm that the payment was sent by the CRA by logging into CRA’s My Account.