We analyzed real wait time data to help you avoid long holds and call at the right time.
Wait times at Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) call centres vary dramatically depending on the day of the week and the time of day. The heatmaps on this site help you plan when to call, so you can avoid frustration and save time.
Best times to call
- Mornings: Call early in the morning for shorter waits—typically between 8–9 AM ET (or after 6:30am ET during tax season, when phone lines open earlier).
- Afternoons: Less people typically call around 2pm - 3pm ET.
- Evenings: The final hour the call centre is open tends to be less busy. Outside of tax season, this is 7pm - 8pm ET. During tax season, this is 10pm - 11pm ET.
Worst times to call
- Mornings: Calling at 7am - 8am ET before people head off to work in ET is among the longest wait times.
- Afternoons and evenings: Calling when the work day ends in ET (4pm - 6pm ET) and PT (8pm - 9pm ET) has amongst the highest delays
- Mondays and Saturdays: Monday is the busiest day, as people catch up on their tax matters over the weekend. During tax season, the call centre is also open on Saturdays, but this is a very busy day.
- Tax season congestion: During tax season (February to April), call volumes go up dramatically, leading to longer delays.
Remember, you can also handle many simple inquiries through the CRA’s secure online services—this can be the fastest route for account updates, benefit checks, and form submissions.
How We Collect Wait Time Data
We monitor and log official wait time estimates published by the CRA. These estimates are compiled into heatmaps. We hope these can let you make informed decisions about when to call.
This site is an independent project and is not affiliated with the CRA. Our aim is to reduce stress and wasted time for Canadians trying to reach support.