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- CRA payments such as tax refunds, the Canada Child Benefit, and GST/HST credits use CRA direct deposit settings.
- CPP and OAS payments are managed through Service Canada, so changing your CRA information alone is not enough.
- CDCP patients normally do not receive benefit payments in their bank accounts; Sun Life pays participating dental providers directly.
The short answer: update more than one government account
When you switch banks, there usually isn’t one master direct-deposit setting that covers every Canadian government payment. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) manages tax refunds and several tax-based benefits, while Service Canada manages programs such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS).
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) works differently again. If you’re a CDCP patient, you generally don’t receive a monthly payment in your bank account. Your dental provider submits the claim and Sun Life pays the provider directly. If you’re a participating dental provider, your EFT banking information is managed through Sun Life Direct.
The safest approach is to update each payment stream before closing your old account, then confirm that the new information has been accepted.
Which account handles each payment?
| Payment or program | Where to update banking information | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tax refund | CRA My Account or participating financial institution | CRA says online changes are normally updated the next business day after consent. |
| Canada Child Benefit | CRA My Account or participating financial institution | Changing CRA direct deposit also applies to CRA-managed benefit payments. |
| GST/HST credit | CRA My Account or participating financial institution | It is separate from CPP and OAS settings. |
| CPP | My Service Canada Account, Service Canada assistance, or the federal direct deposit form | Service Canada changes can take up to a month in some cases. |
| OAS and GIS | My Service Canada Account or Service Canada | Online OAS instructions say to submit changes at least 30 days before the payment date. |
| CDCP patient coverage | Usually no personal direct deposit update is needed | Providers bill Sun Life directly for covered services. |
| CDCP provider claim payments | Sun Life Direct | Providers can arrange EFT payments through Sun Life’s CDCP systems. |
Step 1: Change your CRA direct deposit information
CRA direct deposit covers payments such as income-tax refunds, the Canada Child Benefit, the GST/HST credit, Canada Workers Benefit advance payments, and certain related provincial or territorial payments.
For the fastest online route:
- Sign in to your CRA account.
- Select your individual account to open My Account.
- Choose Profile.
- Scroll to Direct deposit and select Edit.
- Enter the new financial institution, branch transit, and account information, then submit the change.
Open the CRA direct deposit instructions
The CRA says an online change is updated the next business day after you provide consent. Many Canadian banks and credit unions also let customers update CRA direct deposit through online banking. That option can be convenient when you’re opening the new account.
If you can’t use an online method, you can mail the Canada Direct Deposit Enrolment Form. The CRA estimates that mailed changes can take up to three months or longer, so it’s not a good choice when a payment is due soon.
Step 2: Change CPP and OAS separately
CPP and OAS are Service Canada programs. Updating your CRA profile does not automatically update your Service Canada banking information.
If you receive OAS, the online path is usually:
- Sign in to My Service Canada Account.
- Open the Old Age Security section.
- Select Profile.
- Choose Manage my payment destination.
- Enter and confirm the new bank details.
Sign in to My Service Canada Account
Service Canada says OAS banking changes can take up to 30 days to take effect. To improve the chance that the next payment goes to the new account, submit the change at least 30 days before the scheduled payment date.
If you receive both OAS and CPP, the OAS section may allow you to share direct-deposit information between the two programs. Still, check both payment records after the change rather than assuming every benefit has updated correctly.
Current CPP recipients who can’t complete the change online may request help from Service Canada by phone, in person, or through the eServiceCanada request form. The callback service is intended to connect you with a representative within two business days, but that callback is not the same as confirmation that the banking change itself has been completed.
Request a Service Canada callback
What to do about CDCP payments
The CDCP is easy to misunderstand because several organizations are involved. The CRA helps confirm financial eligibility, Service Canada handles member applications and renewals, and Sun Life administers claims and provider payments.
If you’re a CDCP patient, you normally should not update your bank account to receive reimbursement. A participating dental provider submits the claim to Sun Life, and the provider receives payment for covered services. You may still owe a co-payment or additional amount that the plan does not cover.
If you’re a dental provider and you’re changing banks, update the EFT information connected to your Sun Life Direct account. Do not rely on a CRA or Service Canada banking update for CDCP claim payments.
Review CDCP provider payment instructions
When should you close the old bank account?
Keep the old account open until the first expected payment has successfully arrived in the new account. This matters even when an online update appears to have been accepted.
CRA specifically advises people not to close the old account until the first payment has been deposited into the new one. Service Canada guidance gives a similar warning and notes that a banking change can take up to a month.
A practical transition plan looks like this:
- Open and verify the new account.
- Download a void cheque or direct-deposit form showing the new account details.
- Update CRA first, then Service Canada, and Sun Life separately if you’re a CDCP provider.
- Check the confirmation or updated payment details in each account.
- Leave enough money in the old account to handle scheduled withdrawals and keep it open through at least one payment cycle.
- Close the old account only after the relevant payment has reached the new account.
Also review automatic withdrawals. A bank-switch service may help move recurring bills and deposits, but it does not necessarily update every federal program or benefit account for you.
What happens if a payment goes to the old or closed account?
If the old account is still open, the payment may arrive there. Transfer it to the new account only after confirming the transaction and keeping a record of the transfer.
If the account is closed, the financial institution will usually return the payment to the sender. That can delay the money while the government program updates its records and reissues the payment or sends another payment method.
Start by checking the payment history in the relevant account:
- Use CRA My Account for a tax refund, CCB, GST/HST credit, or another CRA payment.
- Use MSCA or contact Service Canada for CPP or OAS.
- Ask the dental provider or contact Sun Life for a CDCP claim payment.
Have your Social Insurance Number, payment date, amount, old account details, and new account details available. Never give banking information to someone who contacts you unexpectedly by text, email, or an unverified phone number.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Updating only CRA: CPP and OAS are handled through Service Canada.
- Assuming CDCP works like a cash benefit: patients generally don’t receive claim reimbursements directly.
- Closing the old account immediately: processing times differ between CRA, Service Canada, and Sun Life.
- Using a mailed CRA form for an urgent payment: the CRA says mailed updates can take up to three months or longer.
- Sharing banking details through an unsolicited message: use official account portals or verified contact channels.
The next safe action is to make a checklist of every payment you receive, update the responsible organization directly, and keep the old account open until the first payment in each stream reaches the new account.
Helpful Links
- CRA direct deposit for individuals – Review which CRA payments use direct deposit, online update timing, bank and credit union options, and the mailed form process.
- Sign in to your CRA account – Access CRA My Account to update your direct deposit information.
- Change your personal information with Service Canada – See which Service Canada benefits can be updated online and how to request help.
- My Service Canada Account – Sign in to manage OAS information and access Service Canada benefit services.
- Direct deposit for Service Canada – Find the banking information required for Service Canada payments and alternative ways to make a change.
- Canadian Dental Care Plan information for providers – Review how dental providers submit CDCP claims and receive payments through Sun Life.
- eServiceCanada – Service Request Form – Official page referenced in the article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does changing my CRA direct deposit update CPP and OAS too?
A. No. CRA and Service Canada use separate systems. Update CRA for tax refunds and CRA-managed benefits, then update CPP and OAS through My Service Canada Account or Service Canada.
Q. How long should I keep my old bank account open after switching?
A. Keep it open until the first relevant payment has arrived in the new account. CRA online changes may update the next business day, while Service Canada says OAS banking changes can take up to 30 days.
Q. Will the CDCP send a payment directly to my bank account?
A. Usually not if you are a CDCP patient. The dental provider submits the claim and Sun Life pays the provider directly. CDCP providers use Sun Life’s systems for EFT claim payments.
Q. What if my government payment was sent to a closed account?
A. Check the payment history with the responsible organization and contact the bank to confirm whether the payment was rejected and returned. The sender may need to update your banking information before the payment can be reissued.
