National Revenue Minister highlights new services and benefits
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
With the 2025 tax season officially underway, Sherbrooke MP and Minister of National Revenue Élisabeth Brière emphasized the importance of filing income tax returns on time to maximize access to benefits and credits. In an interview on Feb. 24, Brière outlined two major changes introduced this year, aimed at making the process more user-friendly and inclusive.
Improved electronic services
Brière highlighted enhanced digital services, noting that “it’s very convenient, user-friendly,” making it easier for Canadians to access tax assistance and information. The new services include a secured online communication platform where users can get direct help from CRA representatives. The platform also offers support for individuals who are hard of hearing or non-verbal through a specialized line for sign language users.
This year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is expanding its SimpleFile by Phone service. “We will send 2 million letters,” Brière stated, targeting low-income individuals who can now complete their tax returns over the phone, securely and at no cost. The initiative is part of the CRA’s ongoing effort to simplify the tax filing process, especially for those with modest incomes and straightforward tax situations.
According to the CRA’s press release, the agency is also piloting a new digital option as part of its automatic tax filing initiative. Eligible individuals will receive invitations to participate, further expanding access to free, simple, and secure filing methods.
Digital tools to simplify filing
The CRA’s enhanced digital services are designed to streamline the tax filing process. These include:
- My Account portal – Access to tax slips and notices of assessment from previous years.
- Auto-fill my return – Pre-populates parts of tax returns with information already available to the CRA.
- Online chat support – Offers real-time help from CRA agents for account-specific issues.
- Check CRA processing times tool – Allows users to track the status of their income tax and benefit returns, as well as other tax-related requests, ensuring transparency and reducing uncertainty about processing times.
Taxpayers using direct deposit and filing online could receive their refunds within eight business days.
