Change your marital status – Update your personal information with the CRA

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Update your personal information with the CRA

Update your personal information with the CRA - Change your marital status

You must tell the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) about your new marital status by the end of the following month after your status changed. For example, if your status changed in March, you must tell us by the end of April.

Notify the CRA if:

  • You married
  • You became common-law
  • You separated for more than 90 days (due to a breakdown in the relationship)
  • You divorced
  • Your spouse or common-law partner died

If you have separated, wait until 90 consecutive days have passed before telling us.

We will recalculate your benefits based on your new marital status and adjusted family net income. The adjustment will start the month after your marital status changed.




Ways to update your marital status

Online

Processing time: Immediate

Change your marital status online using your CRA account.

CRA sign in

  1. Sign in to your CRA account
  2. Select the Individual panel to access My Account
  3. Select Profile
  4. Scroll to Marital status
  5. Select Edit
  6. Follow the steps to update your marital status

If you can't sign in to your CRA account

If your phone number has changed and you can't receive your multi-factor authentication (MFA) passcode to sign in, you will have to update your information by phone.

For more help with My Account, go to: Help with using your CRA account

Make a change for someone else

To change a marital status online for someone else, including a spouse or family member, you must be their legal representative and use Represent a Client in your CRA account.

By phone

Processing time: Immediate

Before you call
Have all of the following information ready to verify your identity:
  • Social insurance number (SIN)
  • Full name and date of birth
  • Complete address
  • Assessed tax return, notice of assessment or reassessment, or other tax document

You can also be signed in to your CRA account to access your tax information.

Make a change for someone else

You can only call on behalf of someone else in the following 2 situations:

  • The person is present on the call to verify their identity in English or French and provides verbal authorization for you to speak for them

  • You are the person's legal representative with full legal authority to act as them

    For details: Authorize a representative

Telephone numbers
Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut:
(toll free)
Outside Canada and the United States (operates in Eastern Standard Time):
(collect)

The CRA only accepts collect calls made through a telephone operator. After your call is accepted by an automated response, you may hear a beep and notice a normal connection delay. This service operates in Eastern Standard Time.

Teletypewriter (TTY) or Canada VRS

Teletypewriter (TTY):

Canada VRS (Video Relay Service):

Register with Canada VRS to download the app and call the VRS line

If you use any other operator-assisted relay service, call our regular telephone numbers on this page instead of the TTY or Canada VRS numbers.

Hours
CRA’s Business Enquiries line hours
Day Hours
Mon to Fri 6:30 am to 11:00 pm ET
Sat 7:30 am to 8:00 pm ET
Sun Closed
Closed on public holidays

By mail or fax

Processing time: 4 to 6 weeks after we receive your documents

Mail or fax your request to your tax centre using one of the following options:

  • Complete a form: Option 1

    Complete Form RC65, Marital Status Change

  • Write a letter: Option 2

    Your letter must include your:

    • Name
    • Phone numbers
    • Social insurance number (SIN)
    • New marital status
    • Date of change
    • Signature

    If your new status is Married or Living in common-law, you must also include your partner's:

    • Name
    • Social insurance number (SIN)
    • Address, if different from yours

Make a change for someone else

To change the marital status of another individual, such as your spouse or common-law partner, you must be their legal representative. The letter must include all of the above, along with the name of the legal representative clearly mentioned with a signature.

On your tax return

Processing time:

  • If you file electronically, at the same date and time your return is processed
  • If you file a paper return, approximately 8 weeks after receiving your return

You can change your marital status when filing your return using one of the following methods:

  • On your paper return
  • Filing electronically using NETFILE
  • Filing electronically through a tax preparer or authorized service provider using EFILE

However, you should not wait for tax filing season to update your information. In some cases, identification changes could have a direct impact on your eligibility for benefits.

Change your marital status with other government departments

You need to contact each government organization that provides services to you to give them your new information.

The CRA will not share your new marital status or other personal information, including direct deposit, with other government departments.

Contact another Government of Canada department or agency

Update other information

Change your other personal details with the CRA, including your address, phone number or email address.

Update your personal information with the CRA


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Date modified:
2025-01-30