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CRA notices explained

T2 notice of assessment

CRA’s summary of a corporation’s T2 return after it has examined it: the assessed amounts, any changes, and the balance owing or refund.

Corporate income tax

A plain explanation of a common CRA letter, checked against the Act and CRA’s own guidance.

4 min readUpdated October 4, 2026

The short version

Use these three points first.

01

Compare the notice with the return as filed before you file it away.

02

A corporation has 90 days from the day the notice was sent to object.

03

The date on the notice starts the period in which CRA can reassess the year.

In this guide

What it is

After a corporation files its T2 return, CRA examines it, assesses the tax, interest, and penalties for the year, and sends a notice of assessment to whoever filed the return.

The notice summarizes the key line numbers and amounts CRA used. If CRA changed anything from the return as filed, the notice includes an explanation of the changes, and it shows the resulting balance owing or refund.

What to check

Dates that matter

Objecting
A corporation that disagrees can serve a notice of objection on or before the day that is 90 days after the day the notice of assessment was sent.
Reassessment by CRA
CRA can generally reassess within the normal reassessment period: three years after the original notice was sent for a Canadian-controlled private corporation, and four years for other corporations. The Act extends the period in specific situations.

What to keep

  • The notice, filed with the T2 return it assesses
  • Proof of every payment toward the year, including instalments
  • Any explanation of changes, and your response to it

In TaxDesk

TaxDesk recognizes a corporate notice of assessment, files it to the company and tax year, and links it to the T2 filing as evidence. When the notice shows a balance, TaxDesk proposes how the year’s T2 payment should be resolved. Nothing changes until someone on your team approves it.

See every CRA notice explained

Scope note. This page explains a CRA letter in general terms. It isn’t advice about your situation. Check the letter itself, and confirm the dates and your options with your accountant.

Primary reading

Official starting points used to develop and check this guide.

  1. 01Income Tax Act, section 152Justice Laws
  2. 02Income Tax Act, section 165Justice Laws
  3. 03Reassessments and adjustments to your T2 returnCanada Revenue Agency

Continue the workflow

The next useful step

01ReferencesT2 notice of reassessment explainedCRA’s updated summary of a corporation’s T2 return after it has changed the return following the original assessment.02ReferencesCRA audit letter explainedThe letter or call that starts a CRA audit, setting out when and where it will take place.

Put the guide into practice

Keep every CRA letter with the record it affects.

TaxDesk reads CRA notices, files them to the right company and year, and keeps them beside the filings and audit matters they relate to.

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