NOA (Notice of Assessment)
After you file your T1 return, the CRA sends a Notice of Assessment confirming the details — your total income, deductions, tax credits, and resulting tax payable or refund. The NOA also reports your current RRSP contribution room and any carry-forward amounts.
The NOA is an important document: you need it to verify your RRSP room, apply for a mortgage (lenders often request it), and resolve any discrepancies with the CRA. If the CRA has adjusted your return (for example, disallowing a deduction), the changes will appear on the NOA with an explanation.
You can access your NOA online through CRA My Account, usually within 2 weeks of e-filing. If you disagree with an assessment, you have the right to file a formal objection within 90 days. Keep your NOAs for at least 6 years, as the CRA can reassess returns within that period.
How it works
Your Notice of Assessment breaks out the specific line items the CRA used to arrive at your result: total income (line 15000), net income, taxable income, total tax payable, and — importantly — your RRSP deduction limit for the following year. If you e-file, the NOA usually appears in CRA My Account within about two weeks; paper filers wait considerably longer since the return has to be manually processed first.
A Notice of Reassessment is a different document that arrives later if the CRA changes your original assessment — because of a missed slip it received from a third party, an adjustment request you filed (T1-ADJ), or a post-assessment review. It lists exactly what changed and why, and it resets the clock on your right to object to those specific changes. You have 90 days from the date on either notice to file a formal Notice of Objection if you disagree.
Beyond confirming your return, the NOA does practical work: mortgage lenders routinely ask for your two most recent NOAs as income verification, and it's the document you check to see your true available RRSP room rather than assuming a flat 18% of income. Quebec residents receive a separate, parallel avis de cotisation from Revenu Québec for their provincial TP-1 return, so keep both. Retain every NOA for at least six years, since that's how far back the CRA can reassess.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a Notice of Assessment and a Notice of Reassessment?
The NOA is the CRA's first confirmation of your filed return; a Notice of Reassessment is issued later if the CRA revises that assessment, and it specifies exactly what changed and why.
How do I get a copy of an old Notice of Assessment?
Log in to CRA My Account to view or print any past NOA instantly, or call the CRA to request a copy be mailed if you need one from before online access was available to you.
Does my NOA show my TFSA contribution room?
No — the NOA only reports your RRSP deduction limit. TFSA room isn't tracked on the NOA and must be checked separately through CRA My Account or your own contribution records.
Related Terms
T1 (General Income Tax Return)
The T1 is the standard personal income tax return that Canadian residents file annually with the CRA.
CRA (Canada Revenue Agency)
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is the federal body responsible for administering Canada's tax laws, collecting income taxes and GST/HST, and delivering benefit programs such as the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) and the GST/HST credit.
RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan)
An RRSP is a government-registered account where contributions are tax-deductible and investments grow tax-free until withdrawal.