Got unexpected deposit from fed-prov/terr Canada - is this related to my new second job?

If I don't have a CRA account set up, is it difficult to create one? Also, could this be some kind of tax refund from last year that I didn't know about?

Creating a CRA My Account is straightforward but requires some verification steps. You'll need your SIN, date of birth, and information from your recent tax return. The initial registration can be done online, but full access may require waiting for a security code by mail, which takes 5-10 business days. It could potentially be a tax refund if you had additional credits or deductions that were processed after your initial assessment. Sometimes reassessments happen when the CRA reviews your file or receives new information. This is another good reason to check your CRA account or call them directly.

Does this service cost anything? And how safe is it to upload financial documents to a third-party site?

I'm curious - can it identify other government payments too? I've gotten random deposits from Service Canada before and always have to call to figure out what they are.

The basic analysis is free, and they have paid options for more in-depth guidance. I just used the free version and it was enough to identify my mystery payment. As for security, they use bank-level encryption for all uploaded documents and don't store your sensitive data after analysis. You can also delete your documents immediately after getting your answers. I was hesitant at first but felt comfortable after reading their privacy policy. Yes, it can identify virtually all Canadian government payments including those from Service Canada, provincial programs, and tax credits. It's designed to recognize the specific payment codes and formats used by different government agencies.

How exactly does this work? Do they somehow jump the queue or are they just waiting on hold for you?

Yeah right, sounds too good to be true. The CRA wait times are notoriously long. I've spent 3+ hours waiting before. How would this actually help?

They don't jump the queue - they use automated technology to wait in the phone queue for you. Basically, their system dials in, navigates through the menu options, and waits on hold. When they detect that an agent is about to answer, they immediately call you and connect you to the agent. It's like having someone else wait on hold for you. The service is legitimate and complies with all regulations. They don't record your call or interfere with it in any way - they just handle the waiting part. Many government agencies have hours-long wait times, and this service just eliminates that wasted time.

Thanks for this info! The timing does line up with what you said about quarterly payments. I filed my taxes on time last year but my income was lower than it will be this year with the second job. Will this mean I might have to pay some of this back when I file next year?

You won't have to pay anything back for current payments you're receiving. These benefits are based on your previous year's income, so they're rightfully yours based on what you reported last tax season. When you file next year including your income from both jobs, your benefit amounts might decrease for the following year's payment cycle if your total income rises above certain thresholds. But this is calculated automatically - you'll just receive adjusted amounts in the future, not a bill for previous payments.

This is true for Scotiabank too! When I click on the transaction details for government deposits, I can see codes like "GSTC" for GST credit or "CCB" for Child Benefit payments.

I'm with CIBC and just checked - there is a reference number in the extended details! It says "CAI-ON" after the fed-prov/terr part. Does anyone know what that might stand for?