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.
Common-law partner
A person you are living with in a conjugal relationship, but are not married to, and one of the following situations apply.
They:
- have been living with you for at least 12 continuous months. This includes any period you were separated for less than 90 days because of a breakdown in the relationship
- are the parent of your child by birth or adoption
- have custody and control of your child (or had custody and control immediately before the child turned 19 years of age) and your child is wholly dependent on that person for support
Ways to update your marital status
Processing time: Immediate
Change your marital status online using your CRA account.
- Sign in to your CRA account
- Select the Individual panel to access My Account
- Select Profile
- Scroll to Marital status
- Select Edit
- 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
- 1-800-959-8281
- Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut:
1-866-426-1527 (toll free) - Outside Canada and the United States (operates in Eastern Standard Time):
1-613-940-8495 (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):
1-800-665-0354
-
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.
Page details
- Date modified:
- 2025-01-30