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CRA’s Switch to Online Mail for Business: What Owners Need to Know

Starting in May and June 2025, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is changing how it delivers mail to businesses. By default, most CRA correspondence to businesses will now be delivered online through the CRA’s My Business Account portal, instead of through paper mail. This article explains what the change means, why the CRA is making it, how it affects business owners (especially those managing multiple accounts), and why we at ATMOS recommend most businesses opt to continue receiving paper mail. You’ll also find clear steps for how to opt out of online-only delivery.

What’s Changing

CRA will stop sending paper mail to most business accounts and instead post correspondence—like notices of assessment or tax letters—directly to the CRA online portal (My Business Account). This transition starts in two stages:

  • May 12, 2025: Applies to all new business numbers and program accounts.

  • June 16, 2025: Applies to all existing businesses that have online CRA access (either directly or via a representative).

Once in effect, CRA says any new mail will be “presumed received” by the business the moment it’s posted online.

If your business hasn’t signed up for My Business Account and doesn’t have a representative with online CRA access, you’ll continue receiving paper by default. Otherwise, you’ll need to opt out if you want paper mail to continue.

Why CRA Is Doing This

CRA says the change will:

  • Deliver information faster than regular mail.

  • Allow 24/7 access to documents online.

  • Reduce environmental impact.

  • Enhance security using password-protected accounts.

These are valid goals. But unless you’re highly attentive to your CRA portal and email notifications, there’s a risk you might miss something important.

How This Affects You

Here are a few practical implications for business owners:

  • You must monitor your CRA accounts regularly—or at least check your email for CRA mail alerts. If you miss something time-sensitive (like a review or payment request), the CRA considers it delivered, and penalties or interest may still apply.

  • If you have multiple businesses or program accounts, you’ll need to check each one separately. CRA has added a “Switch business account” feature to help with this, but it still takes active effort.

  • If you’ve authorized an accountant online, even if you never signed up yourself, the CRA will treat your business as online-enabled and stop mailing paper copies. Accountants do not generally monitor each individual account, so unless you are monitoring and/or receiving paper mail, notices could easily be missed.

  • New businesses (as of May 12, 2025) will only get CRA correspondence online. You’ll need to set up My Business Account access right away to avoid missing critical mail.

Why ATMOS Recommends Opting Out

Here’s why we encourage our clients to keep paper mail—at least for now:

  • Physical letters are harder to miss. Paper copies give you a tangible reminder to take action.

  • Compliance is easier. With a hard copy in hand, you’re less likely to forget a deadline.

  • Simpler for multiple accounts. Paper letters can help you sort mail per business or department.

  • Better for recordkeeping. You get a physical backup without having to log in, download, and file PDF copies.

  • Safer for low-tech setups. Not all owners or admins check CRA portals regularly. Paper is simpler for many.

Even if you opt out, you can still see your mail online and receive email alerts. Opting out just ensures a paper copy will always be sent.

How to Opt Out (Step-by-Step)

You can opt out via CRA’s online portal or by submitting a form. Here’s how:

Option 1: Through My Business Account

  1. Sign in to My Business Account.

  2. Choose the business or program account.

  3. Go to the Correspondence or Mail section.

  4. Find Online Mail Preferences or similar.

  5. Select the option to Receive paper mail.

  6. Save your changes.

  7. Repeat this for each business or program account if needed.

  8. Renew every 2 years or the default will return to online delivery.

Option 2: Submit CRA Form RC681

  • Fill out Form RC681 (“Request to Activate Paper Mail for my Business”).

  • Mail it to your CRA tax centre as instructed on the form.

  • This method is ideal if you don’t want to use the online portal.

Bonus Tip: Keep Your Address Up to Date

If the CRA tries to send a paper letter and it bounces back, they’ll revert your account to online mail—even if you’ve opted out. Make sure your address is correct at all times.

Final Thoughts

CRA’s push to digital is understandable—but also risky if you’re not watching your online account closely. In our experience, it’s far too easy for business owners to miss a key notice, especially if they rely on others to manage their CRA portal.

At ATMOS, we recommend clients opt for paper mail to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. If you have questions about making the switch or submitting the request, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help keep you informed—and compliant.

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