Impact to Taxes and Benefits After a Marital Status Change

Changes in marital status can affect CRA benefits and credit payments because calculations depend on family net income and household details. It’s important to update the CRA so payments reflect the correct situation.

What CRA recalculates

• Updated family net income
• Number of children in care and their ages
• Province or territory of residence

Benefit payments are typically adjusted starting the month after the month the marital status changes.

How to report a change

• Use the “Change my marital status” service in CRA My Account
• Call CRA
• Update via CRA mobile apps (where available)
• Call the benefits line if you are a benefit recipient

Timing

• For marriage, divorce, widowhood, or starting common-law: report by the end of the month after the month the status changed.
• For separation: generally wait until you’ve been separated for at least 90 days before notifying CRA.