CRA Tax Adjustment Delays Now Stretch Up to 47 Weeks — Here's How to Avoid Getting Stuck

 

 July 12, 2026  

If you've ever filed a request to correct or update your tax return and then waited... and waited... you're not imagining it. Canada's Taxpayers' Ombudsperson has confirmed that some Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) adjustment requests are now taking nearly a year to process — and it's launched a formal investigation into why.

What's Actually Happening

When you need to change something on a tax return you've already filed — say you forgot a slip, need to update a deduction, or want to claim a credit you missed — you submit what's called a T1 adjustment request. The CRA sorts these into two speeds:

• Routine requests (filed online through your CRA My Account or certified tax software) have a service standard of just 2 weeks. By phone or mail, the standard is 8 weeks.
• Complex requests — where the CRA needs more documentation or a deeper review — carry a service standard of 20 weeks.

The problem: the CRA isn't hitting even its own "complex" standard. According to the Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson, as of May 14, 2026, complex T1 adjustments were taking up to 47 weeks — more than double the official target. Between February and April 2026, wait times were reportedly even worse, stretching to roughly 49 weeks.

By the numbers:

Online adjustment (My Account / tax software)	2 weeks
Routine request by phone or mail	8 weeks
Complex request (official standard)	20 weeks
Complex request (actual, as of May 2026)	Up to 47 weeks

What Makes a Request "Complex" in the First Place?

The CRA flags a T1 adjustment as complex — and routes it into the slower queue — in situations like:

• You're adjusting multiple tax years at once
• The return falls outside the standard three-year reassessment window
• It involves a bankruptcy return
• It involves a deceased taxpayer's return
• The CRA needs to request more information or documents from you before it can proceed

If any of these apply to your situation, it's worth planning for a long wait — and building that into your financial expectations, especially if you're counting on a refund.

Why the Ombudsperson Got Involved

Taxpayers' Ombudsperson François Boileau opened a systemic examination into the delays in June 2026, citing a "consistently high level" of complaints. In the announcement, Boileau noted the CRA is under real pressure, but pointed out that these delays touch on rights guaranteed under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights — including the right to timely service.

As part of the same process, the Ombudsperson's office also sent the CRA a formal service improvement request, pushing the agency to update its T1 adjustment webpage so it stops steering people toward printing and mailing paper forms — a channel that's slower to process — and instead encourages online filing.

How to Protect Yourself (and Your Refund) Right Now

1. File electronically, always. Use "Change my return" in your CRA My Account, or the ReFILE option in certified tax software. This is the fastest lane by far — weeks, not months.
2. Skip the paper form if you can. Printing and mailing a T1-ADJ form routes you into manual data entry, which adds unnecessary delay before your request is even reviewed.
3. Respond fast to CRA requests for more documents. If your file gets flagged as complex because the CRA wants more information, delays compound every time you're slow to reply. Check both your mail and your CRA online account regularly.
4. Track your request in My Account. The progress tracker will show whether your file has been routed to the complex review queue.
5. If you're well past the standard, file a complaint. If your wait has exceeded the CRA's own service standard, you can escalate to the Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson. Adding your case to their file helps build pressure on the broader systemic issue too.

The Bottom Line

A T1 adjustment might feel like a small administrative fix, but for many Canadians it's tied directly to a refund, a benefit recalculation, or resolving a dispute with the CRA. With processing times for complex requests running more than double the official standard, the smartest move is to avoid the complex queue altogether where you can — file online, respond quickly to information requests, and keep an eye on your file rather than assuming it's moving in the background.

This article is for general informational purposes and isn't tax or legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a tax professional or contact the CRA directly.