How to Authorize Your Tax Representative in 2025 (And Why It Matters for Your Privacy)

In 2025, both the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Revenu Québec made significant changes to how you authorize tax representatives. These aren’t just bureaucratic updates—they fundamentally shift who controls your financial information.

If you work with a tax professional, an accountant, or a bookkeeper, you need to understand these changes. Better yet, you need to understand what they mean for your privacy and your finances.

This guide covers three essential topics: what changed, why your privacy matters now more than ever, and how to choose the right representative to handle your taxes.

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What Changed in 2025?

For years, tax professionals used a system called NETFILE (through accounting software) to request access to your tax information. You didn’t have to actively authorize anyone—the software handled it.

That’s over.

CRA (Federal Level)

As of July 15, 2025, NETFILE access requests are no longer available for individual tax returns. Instead, you now directly authorize your representative through your My Account portal.

This is a major shift. You’re not passively allowing someone access through software. You’re actively choosing who gets into your tax information.

Revenu Québec (Provincial Level)

Revenu Québec didn’t change the rules—they’ve always worked this way. You’ve always had to authorize representatives directly. But now that CRA has shifted to the same approach, both agencies are aligned: you control who has access to your information.

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Why Your Privacy Matters (And How Law 25 Protects It)

You might wonder: « Why does this matter? I trust my accountant anyway. »

You should trust your accountant. But trust isn’t the only issue. Control is.

Quebec’s Law 25 (An Act to modernize legislative provisions as regards the protection of personal information) brings Quebec in line with modern privacy standards. It means:

• Only people you explicitly approve can access your financial information
• You can revoke access at any time, without delay
• Your representative must justify why they need access to specific information
• There’s a clear audit trail of who accessed what and when

This isn’t about mistrusting professionals. It’s about ensuring that your sensitive financial data is protected by law, not just by good intentions.

Think about it: your tax information includes:

• Your income sources
• Your deductions and expenses
• Your investments and savings
• Your business details (if applicable)
• Your family financial situation

This is some of the most sensitive information you share with anyone outside your family. Law 25 ensures you control exactly who sees it.

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How to Choose the Right Tax Representative

Now that you understand what changed and why it matters, how do you actually choose a representative worth authorizing?

Look for these qualities:

1. Credentials & Professionalism

• Are they registered with CRA and Revenu Québec?
• Can they show you their professional representative numbers?
• Do they have errors and omissions insurance?

2. Clear Communication

• Do they explain the authorization process to you?
• Can they clearly explain what access they need and why?
• Do they ask questions about your specific situation before proposing solutions?

3. Reputation & Transparency

• Can they provide references from other clients?
• Do they explain their fees upfront?
• Are they responsive to your questions?

4. Security Practices

• Do they use secure systems to store your information?
• Do they discuss privacy and data protection?
• Are they compliant with Law 25?

5. Specialization

• Do they understand your specific situation (business owner, freelancer, salaried employee)?
• Do they stay current with tax law changes (like the 2025 authorization changes)?

When you authorize a representative, you’re not just hiring them to file a form. You’re trusting them with your financial information. Choose someone who takes that responsibility seriously.

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How to Authorize Your Representative

Once you’ve chosen someone you trust, authorization is simple.

For CRA:

1. Log into My Account at my.canada.ca
2. Go to Profile → Authorized representative(s)
3. Click « + Add »
4. Enter their Rep ID (e.g., RN3HR88)
5. Select the level of access (usually Level 2 for full access)
6. Confirm

For Revenu Québec:

1. Log into your account at revenuquebec.ca
2. Go to authorization/representative management
3. Click « Add Representative »
4. Enter their Professional Number (e.g., C872401)
5. Choose « Autorisation » or « Procuration »
6. Confirm

You can revoke access at any time by removing them from the same portals.

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The Bottom Line

The 2025 authorization changes are actually a win for taxpayers. Yes, they require you to take an active role. Yes, they mean one extra step in the process.

But they give you something invaluable: control over your own financial information.

Choose your representative carefully. Authorize them through the official channels. And know that Law 25 is backing you up the entire time.

Your taxes are too important to leave to chance. Make sure the person handling them is someone you trust, someone with strong credentials, and someone who respects your privacy.