Two tips from CRA for talking to CRA about a deceased person

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has released a couple of tips for executors, spouses, and others who communicate with CRA regarding someone who has passed away. They seem like practical tips to me, so I'm passing them along here.

"1. Dates of death on tax returns

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) noticed that tax preparers occasionally include a deceased person’s date of death on the living spouse’s tax return. This may result in the CRA mistakenly recording the living spouse as deceased.

his error can cause major financial and emotional consequences since it can stop all benefit payments to the living person. The benefits that would significantly affect them are the Canada child benefit, goods and services tax credit / harmonized sales tax credit, the Canada Pension Plan and old age security. Other benefits may also be affected.

Therefore, please make sure you include the date of death information only on the deceased person’s tax return.

2. Social insurance numbers (SIN) on legal documents

If you are a representative settling a deceased person’s estate, please make sure you clearly write the deceased person’s SIN on the will and the death certificate before you send these documents to the CRA. This will help ensure there are no delays in the CRA updating the appropriate records with the date of death information."

This update was released on March 29, 2021 and can be seen on the CRA site by clicking here.