CRA – Notice of Assessment (NOA) – an FYI

cra notice of assessment - how to get notice of assessment

  • The NOA is essentially the CRA’s evaluation of your individual tax return.

  • May contain a balance of your Home Buyers’ Plan obligation / debt.

  • You may request a replacement NOA from the CRA do this by viewing and printing your NOA from the My Account Service at the CRA web portal

  • Helps Family Law professionals to determine income to calculate child support!

Canadian Notice of Assessment must knows

Although most do not realize this until they are deep into the process, Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency play a big role in divorce. They are important in resolving issues such as equalization of property, child support and spousal support. 

As a result, it is important to understand what kind of information you should expect in a Notice of Assessment / Notice of Reassessment and how to challenge the notice if the information is incorrect. Many aspects of a divorce will have financial implications, and it is from the Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment that many of these will stem. 

What should be in a Canadian Notice of Assessment and how will it impact the divorce process? Here’s all you should know.

What is a Notice of Assessment?

A Notice of Assessment (NOA) is a statement sent to taxpayers by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) every year. The notice is essentially an evaluation of an individual tax return and it informs the person about their tax position, in the opinion of the CRA. 

Usually, you should receive your NOA within a few weeks of filing your tax return. The NOA comments on the information you have provided in your tax return, and lets you know how much income tax you owe, the number of tax credits you have and any tax refund you may be entitled to. 

It also contains information relating to deductions from your income for the year, especially in relation to your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). In addition, the NOA may contain a statement of your Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) or Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) balances. But this will only be the case if you participate in either or both of these plans. 

In some instances, an NOA may contain changes or corrections made by the CRA to a person’s tax return. These changes may include calculations that are different from your tax return and may affect your overall tax liability. 

Your NOA is a vital document because it serves as a record of your yearly income and tax payment history. This is why the CRA advises that taxpayers keep their CRA for at least 6 years after receipt. The document may be required by other agencies for a variety of purposes and, as we mentioned above, when it comes to separation and divorce, an NOA can be pretty important. 

notice of assessment cra

Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment – Sample

click to enlarge

What is a Notice of Assessment?

Why the NOA document is important in Separation and Divorce?

cra notice of assessment

In every divorce proceeding, whether court-supervised or not, the parties are required to disclose all their financial information. During the court process, financial disclosure is required by law, with out-of-court settlements such as mediation, financial disclosure is also taken very seriously. 

The financial and other documents disclosed during this process are required to properly calculate the assets and liabilities of both parties. This information helps the court determine critical issues such as establishing the income of both parties for child and spousal support purposes. Under the Child Support Guidelines, the recommendations for how much support parents should pay are usually determined, in part, by the income of both parties. 

The information provided in an income tax Notice of Assessment helps Family Law professionals to determine the true income for the purpose of calculating child and spousal support, and tax rates of the parties for property equalization purposes.  The NOA statement, amongst other documents, will be used to determine income available for the purpose of calculating support. 

All of the information in the NOA document is important to establishing each spouse’s income and fulfilling their financial disclosure requirements.

Your NOA document is also important for RRSP purposes. Canadian courts have held in the past that RRSP contributions during the marriage may form part of marital property, aka family property for the purpose of equalization. Other information like RRSP deduction limits, available contribution room and excess contributions are also important for proper Divorce Financial Planning. 

Parties who do not have their assessment statement or who are unable to present these during the divorce process risk unfavourable estimation of their income, both by the CRA and by the Courts. Next, we will discuss the procedure for obtaining your income tax Notice of Assessment form. 

Disputing an NOA

Sometimes, an NOA will include information, changes or corrections made by the CRA which are incorrect. Or, if you failed to file your tax returns at the appropriate time, you may receive an NOA from the CRA with an estimation of your income for the year and an assessed tax amount. In either case, you may file a notice of objection to dispute the NOA as being inaccurate. 

You may contact the CRA informally with your complaint at first instance. Minor errors such as typos and simple omissions can be quickly resolved in this way. If the errors are deeper than this or if your complaint remains unresolved, you may file a formal complaint with the CRA. But this must be done within 90 days after receiving the NOA. You can do this online, via your CRA account. 

Note that while an NOA is under dispute, you are not obligated to discharge any disputed tax owed until the CRA reviews your complaint. This also means you cannot be subject to enforcement or liable to sanctions during the period. A Notice of Reassessment will be issued by the CRA as confirmation that the correction has been made by the CRA.

The CRA may request additional documentation at any time during a dispute, or at any time before or after you receive an NOA. It is usually best to accompany your complaint with all the documentation that backs up your case.

Get past the financial disclosure for a Soft Landing

financial disclosureMore About financial disclosure:

financial disclosure is the process from which both sides (you and your spouse) exchange reports about income, property, and debts of the other person.

Read More

Required Dates for this document

Important Dates in Separation and Divorce | Related Time Limitations

  • Notice of Assessments for the Last 3 Years

Understanding how these important dates in separation and divorce will make a material difference: The When, Then and Now of Divorce

Where to find notice of assessment:

where to find notice of assessment

  • Your Personal Files – After you file your T1 Tax Return with CRA, You should receive a Notice of Assessment by mail with in about 90 days.

  • Your Accountant – The NOA was mailed to you, but your Accountant may have you copy.

  • Your Tax Preparation Service – The NOA was mailed to you, but your Tax Preparation Service may have access to a copy.

  • Express NOA is a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) document service that allows individuals and authorized tax preparation professionals to view the Notice of Assessment (NOA) right after the return has been received and processed by the CRA with their tax software.

How to get my notice of assessment:

how to get my notice of assessment

How to get a copy of a Notice of Assessment

How you file your return makes a difference 

At first instance, your NOA statement is usually sent by the CRA after you file your tax returns. However, the question of how long you may wait before receiving your NOA document may depend on if you did a paper filing or filed online/digital. 

Generally, those that file through electronic means such as through online mail or the CRA’s My Account portal, can expect to receive their NOA within 2 weeks of filing. That that file through physical means, such as mailing a paper copy or physically submitting the returns at a CRA office, should expect their NOA form in about 8 to 16  weeks. 

In either case, if you filed your tax return near or after the filing deadline (either April 15 or 30), you may have to wait up to 8 weeks to receive your NOA from the CRA. 

How to access notice of assessment online

If you received a physical copy of your NOA but have misplaced this copy or no longer have possession, you may request a replacement copy from the CRA. You may do this by viewing and printing your NOA on the CRA’s My Account Service or using your mobile MyCRA application. But you can only view notices issued after February 9, 2015 in this way.

The CRA also provides an Express NOA service that lets you or your authorized representative get an NOA immediately after filing your tax return. However, in order to qualify for an Express NOA (if you’re filing by yourself), you must be: 

When you have not no filed taxes

When your notices of Assessment / Reassessment and T1 General Tax Returns are unavailable for any of the past three taxation years or where you have not filed a return for any of the past three taxation years.

Here is what you can do:

Contact Canada Revenue Agency. Please call CRA customer service at 1-800-959-8281 and ask for An “Income and Deductions” printout.

How to get NOA online – Video on how to access your CRA My Account

My Account, the Canada Revenue Agency’s secure portal
play-rounded-fill

My Account, the Canada Revenue Agency’s secure portal

How can I get a copy of my notice of assessment?

what-you-need-to-know

Always keep a digital copy of all your Documents

  1. Many online sources allow you to download a digital copy to a device.
  2. Most up to date Web Browsers allow you the option of “Print to PDF”
  3. Scan your hard copy to a pdf.   

Note: This can be done on a personal (home or work) scanner, or can be done at a retailer such as Staples Business Depot

Related Documents:

what-you-need-to-know

More About Support

Conclusion

The potential importance of an NOA in the divorce process means parties should always pay close attention to this documentation to ensure they are not missing any errors. If you have begun the divorce process and wish to obtain the help of an expert in reaching a divorce settlement with your spouse, a certified professional can help. Contact us at Divorce The Smartway to learn more.

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Conclusion

Separation and divorce can be a challenging and emotional journey. However, with the right guidance and support, it can also be a time of empowerment and positive change. As a Mediator and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) with advanced training in DivorceMate software, I am uniquely equipped to help you navigate the complexities of this process. My Soft Landing Settlement Method is designed to promote fair, equitable, and amicable resolutions to ensure a smoother transition for all parties involved.

My specialized training and deep understanding of the emotional and financial aspects of separation allow me to provide a comprehensive service that addresses all your needs. I am committed to delivering personalized solutions that align with your unique circumstances and future goals. Together, we can work towards a resolution that respects your individual needs and paves the way for a more secure, peaceful future.

Why not take the first step towards your new life today? Schedule a Get Acquainted Call with me. During this call, we can discuss your specific situation and explore how my services can help you manage your separation with confidence and dignity.

Ready to navigate your separation the smart way? Click the button below to schedule your Get Acquainted Call now.

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Other financial disclosure

Important Dates in Separation and Divorce | Related Time Limitations

Important Dates in Separation and Divorce | Related Time Limitations

Important Dates in Separation and Divorce | Related Time Limitations

The Date of Separation is just one critical date in separation and divorce. There are several other important dates including the date of marriage…

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since you’re here…

Do you value fair costs, compressed timelines, your well-being and a favourable outcome?
If you have children, are approaching retirement, or simply in the primary pursuits of life, no matter what your station in life, separation and divorce often presents some unique challenges. That said reaching a settlement should not break you financially or break your family. Like life, Separation and divorce also have their stages. The early decisions you make and the path you take are directly connected to the quality of your outcome.

The path you take

Let’s hear from Divorce Industry insiders about lawyers and litigation.

“Entering the litigation process forces people to take an adversarial stance because that’s the way the system is designed.”

“Because a court can only do so many things, the answers are impeaching us already. Has to be custody, has to be access, has to be amount of support, has to be division of assets, in a way that the law stipulates. So they’re very bounded by the results because a court can only order so many things.”

“Lawyers unfortunately because that’s their job, tend to reinforce that [adversarial stance]. When you have people who are hurt, who are in crises, who are afraid, who are worried, and they see it as a war. And that’s really dreadful for kids”

June Maresca – Family Court Judge

“The process requires people to bring out the worst in each other. My ex-husband is like this and like that, all the most horrible things. My ex-wife is like this and like that, it brings out the worst in people. So the other party reading that gets their back up and retaliates.”

“She said I knew that our marriage was broken, but after the litigation our family was broken. And it just, it broke my heart.”

Toni Pietrantoni – Family Law Lawyer

“Once you thrown mud at somebody and they throw mud back at you, it typically gets to the point where the hate level does not decrease, the hate level increases.”

“When I see litigation, it’s based on a binary system. You either win or you lose, or on an issue, you’re right or you’re wrong.”

Richard Bennett – Family Law Lawyer

“And at one point my mom said well you have to choose who you’re going to live with, me or your dad. And I couldn’t study for about a good two months and we had finals coming up, so it was difficult.”

Child of Divorce

“The time has come for a fresh conceptual approach to resolution of family disputes in Ontario”

Warren Winkler – Ontario Chief Justice  2007 – 2013

“The empirical evidence shows that it isn’t necessarily the separation and the divorcing of parents that creates the psychological and emotional damage in children, it is the conflict that happens afterwards.”

Julia Haasz  – Family Law Lawyer

“The litigation process is expensive, time-consuming, and it’s not going to have the effect people think it’s going to have.”

Francine E. Van Melle  – Family Court Judge

What about Self-Representation?

The family court system has seen a terrific increase in the number of self-represented litigants (self-reps, or SRLs) over the past few years. But what does it mean to be a self-rep? Judges and lawyers, as well as the system itself, are all struggling to understand who how to better accommodate self-reps in a system built upon the expectation of both parties having lawyers to act for them.

The National Self-represented Litigants Project revealed some disturbing figures. Over a period of 4 years and 3 months ending April 6, 2016, in Ontario Superior Court cases where there was one self-rep and one represented client, the self-rep won only 14% of the time and lost 73% of the time. (The remainder resulted in no orders or split orders.) While there are many explanations for this, it’s clear that a person without any legal help or assistance is facing an uneven playing field.

The resolution value ladder

The resolution value ladder

The further down the resolution value ladder you start, the higher cost go, and the longer timelines extend. Bypass low-value processes and start with the high-value mediation process. Whether you have a settlement in mind and just need a separation agreement prepared or need assistance reaching a settlement, contain costs and conflict by working with a neutral third-party – mediator.

Learn more about Soft Landing Divorce Settlement Method

“Research tells us the greater the degree to which the parents own the outcome, the greater the likelihood they will actually follow through, and that reduces the conflict.”

“People are like snowflakes, families are like snowflakes. No two are the same. And so the benefit of a collaborative process, there is no rubber stamp, there is no template that anyone has to fit in to”

Gary Direnfeld Social Worker MSW, RSW

About the Author:
Ken Maynard CDFA, Acc.FM

I help smart and successful couples, create separation agreements with clarity and soft landings for secure futures, in 4 meetings or less without all the lawyer created overwhelming conflicts, confusion and costs. You can work with me by video conference or with a DTSW associate at any of our 6 DTSW Greater Toronto mediation centers, including | Aurora | Barrie | North York | Vaughan | Mississauga | Scarborough.

Have a few questions -  Tap here to Schedule a Get Acquainted Call

 

 

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