Many Canadians are growing frustrated with the Canada Revenue Agency over how long it takes to access benefits and tax refunds, according to a report by CTV News. The complaints centre on CRA processing delays that leave people waiting for money they say they are owed.
CTV News reported that Canadians have voiced these frustrations directly, pointing to holdups in receiving refunds and in getting benefit payments they expect from the agency. The exact number of people affected and the average length of the delays were not specified in the report available.
Below is a plain summary of what the report covers, plus practical steps you can take now to check on your own file with the CRA.
Why are Canadians frustrated with CRA processing delays?
The core issue, as described by CTV News, is timing. People who count on tax refunds or regular benefit payments are reporting that those funds are arriving later than they expected, or that their files appear stuck in processing.
The report frames this as frustration with the CRA over access to money people believe they qualify for. It did not, in the material available, break down a single cause behind every delay. Processing times can vary because of factors such as how a return was filed, whether a file was selected for review, or whether the agency needs more information before releasing a payment.
Who is affected by the delays?
- People waiting on tax refunds: Canadians who filed returns and expected money back.
- People waiting on benefits: Those relying on CRA-administered benefit payments.
The CTV News report points to Canadians broadly, rather than one specific region or income group. A precise figure for how many households are affected was not given in the available material.
How can I check the status of my CRA refund or benefit?
If you are waiting on a payment, the fastest way to see where your file stands is through the CRA’s own tools:
- My Account: Sign in to the CRA’s secure online portal to view the status of your return, refund, and benefit payments.
- MyCRA and MyBenefits CRA: The agency’s mobile options let you check refund and benefit details from a phone.
- Phone: You can call the CRA’s individual tax enquiries line if your online status is unclear or your payment is overdue.
Because processing situations differ from file to file, checking your own account is more reliable than assuming a general timeline applies to you.
How long should a refund or benefit normally take?
The CTV News report did not publish a specific average delay. As a general reference, the CRA has historically aimed to process electronically filed returns faster than paper ones, with paper returns typically taking longer. If your payment has passed the usual window shown in My Account, that is a good reason to follow up.
For example, if you filed online weeks ago and My Account still shows your return as “in process” well past the timeframe listed there, contacting the CRA directly is a sensible next step.
What can I do if my payment is stuck?
- Confirm your details are current: Make sure your address, direct deposit, and marital status information are up to date in My Account, since outdated details can hold up payments.
- Check for requests from the CRA: Look in My Account for any message asking you to send documents or verify information.
- Respond quickly to reviews: If your file was selected for a review, providing the requested paperwork promptly can help move it along.
- Contact the CRA: If nothing explains the delay, call the agency to ask about your specific file.
What has the CRA said about the delays?
The material available centres on the frustrations Canadians expressed to CTV News rather than a detailed formal response from the agency. No specific statement, figure, or commitment from the CRA was included in the excerpt. If the agency issues further comment, it would typically appear through its official channels.
For the full account of the complaints and any additional detail, readers can refer to the original CTV News report. For anything relating to your own file, the CRA’s My Account portal and its individual enquiries line remain the authoritative places to check.
The short version: the CRA processing delays reported by CTV News reflect real frustration among Canadians waiting on refunds and benefits. While the report does not put a single number on the problem, checking your own CRA account is the clearest way to see whether your payment is on track or needs a follow-up.
