Return a payment: Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

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https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-benefit/crb-return-payment.html

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Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)



Return a payment

You may be looking for:

The CRB closed to retroactive applications on December 23, 2021. You can no longer apply for this benefit.

On this page

Why you would send CRB back

If you were not eligible for the CRB, you must return any payments you received.

Repay the CRB to the CRA if you:

  • applied for the CRB and later found that you did not meet the eligibility criteria
  • received a payment in error

Individuals who make intentionally fraudulent claims may also face additional consequences, such as penalties or possible jail time.

Recognize repayment scams

Beware of fraudulent emails, texts, or calls claiming to be from the CRA.

For details: Scam prevention and the CRA

Determine how much you must repay

You must repay the CRB amounts you received in full if you were not eligible for the period you applied for. The amount will vary depending on when you applied.

If you applied for CRB periods before July 18, 2021

  • Your payment was $1000 per 2-week period for your first 21 periods
  • Your payment was $600 per 2-week period if you applied for more than 21 periods

If your first CRB period started after July 17, 2021

  • Your payment was $600 per 2-week period

To confirm the specific amount you have to repay, review your CRA My Account or check your bank statements.

Review CRB eligibility periods in a calendar

Repayment options for CRB

If you received any CRB payments that you were not eligible for, you have options to pay back what you owe in full or over time.

Pay back CRB overpayments in full

You can repay your CRB payment to the CRA online, by mail, or in person.

Pay online

CRA My Account:

  • Interac Debit
  • Visa Debit
  • Debit Mastercard

How to pay online with your CRA My Account

  1. Sign in to CRA My Account
  2. Find COVID-19 Support
  3. Select Send the money back (in the right column) to start your emergency support repayment

Keep a copy of your transaction receipt for your records.


Sign in to CRA My Account

CRA My Payment:

  • Interac Debit
  • Visa Debit
  • Debit Mastercard

How to pay online with CRA My Payment

CRA My Payment lets you pay directly to the CRA with your bank card.

  1. Go to Pay now with My Payment
  2. Select the Pay now button
  3. Select payment type: Individual income tax (T1) in Step 1
  4. Select payment allocation: Canada emergency benefit repayment in Step 2 and follow the instructions

Keep a copy of your transaction receipt for your records.


Online banking:

  • Canadian financial institutions

How to pay using your online banking service

  1. Sign in to your financial institution's online service
  2. Under "Add a payee", look for an option such as Canada emergency benefit repayment or CEB repayment to repay a CRA-administered COVID-19 benefit
  3. Enter your 9-digit Social Insurance Number (SIN) as the CRA account number


Other online services:

  • Credit card
  • Debit card
  • PayPal
  • Interac e-Transfer

How to pay online with PaySimply

PaySimply is a third-party service provider (service fees apply).

  1. Go to PaySimply (external link)
  2. Select Canada Emergency Benefit Repayment
  3. Fill in the Taxpayer Details and follow the instructions to complete the payment process

Pay by mail

Send a payment by mail:

  • Cheque
  • Money order
  • Cash not accepted

How to pay with a Canadian cheque or money order

Cash is not accepted.

  1. Make the cheque or money order payable to Receiver General for Canada
  2. Specify the name of the benefit you are repaying
  3. Indicate which eligibility period you are repaying
  4. Include your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  5. Mail the cheque or money order to:
    • Revenue Processing – Repayment of CEB
      Sudbury Tax Centre
      1050 Notre Dame Avenue
      Sudbury ON P3A 0C3

If your payment is not honoured, the CRA will charge a fee.

If you have the original cheque

You may return it by mail to the address above.

Be sure to include:

  1. The reason for returning the cheque ("not entitled" or "overpayment")
  2. Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Pay in person

Make a payment at Canada Post:

  • Debit card
  • Cash

How to pay at a Canada Post location with a QR code

You need a QR code to pay at a Canada Post location (service fees apply)

  1. Create a QR code
  2. Bring your QR code to a Canada Post outlet to make your payment

If you cannot pay back your full CRB overpayment

Contact the CRA to help you arrange to pay your debt over time. The CRA does not charge interest on COVID-19 benefit debts.

If the CRA has already contacted you about your debt, get details about collection of COVID-19 benefit overpayments issued by the CRA.

Repayments can affect your taxes

The timing of when you repay a CRB amount may affect your taxes. Your repayment should appear on your T4A slip for the year you made the repayment.

If you repay a CRB amount before January 1, 2023, you can choose when and how to claim the deduction on your tax return.

You have the option to claim your repayments as a deduction in the year you made the repayment or in the year you received the benefit. You may also split the deduction between the tax years, as long as you do not deduct more than what you repaid.

For details: Options to claim a repayment as a deduction

When to report your repayments on your taxes

Repaid in 2020

Your repayment should have been subtracted from your total benefit amount on your 2020 T4A slip.

You did not pay tax on amounts you repaid in 2020.

Repaid in 2021

Your repayment will be on your 2021 T4A slip. If you repaid a benefit amount you received in 2020, you can choose to:

  • claim the deduction on your 2020 tax return
  • claim the deduction on your 2021 tax return
  • split the deduction between your tax returns
Repaid in 2022

Your repayment will be on your 2022 T4A slip. You should receive your T4A slip in early 2023.

You can choose to:

  • claim the deduction on your tax return for the year you received the benefit (2020 or 2021)
  • claim the deduction on your 2022 tax return
  • split the deduction between your tax returns

Keep proof of your repayment if you claim the deduction before you receive your 2022 T4A slip.

Repaid in 2023 or later

If you repay a benefit amount after December 31, 2022, you can only claim a deduction in the year you make the repayment.


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Date modified:
2022-06-22