The letter asked about a deduction on last year's return. I read it once, saw the deadline, and began pulling every tax document out of the cupboard.
After ten minutes I had a pile and no answer. I started again with the letter itself.
Turn the request into a checklist
I identified the tax year, claim, reference number, documents requested and response deadline. A review request means CRA needs information to verify a return; the specific request determines what to send. CRA says to include the reference number and respond within the stated time. CRA's response instructions.
I matched each requested item to a readable receipt or statement and added a short explanation of the calculation. Where a document contained several expenses, I identified the relevant line rather than expecting the reviewer to guess.
A missing document stayed on the checklist. I would explain the gap and the efforts to obtain it, rather than invent a replacement or silently omit the item.
Send a complete, traceable response
CRA provides secure online document submission through My Account or an authorized representative. Follow the letter's instructions and use the correct reference number. Submitting review documents online.
If more time is needed, contact the review program promptly using verified contact details. Do not assume an extension has been granted merely because you asked.
I kept the letter, response, attachments and submission confirmation together. That way, a later question would not require reconstructing which version I had sent.
The cupboard eventually went back to normal. My response was shorter than the pile I had first assembled, but it answered the actual request and made the numbers easy to follow.
Checked October 20, 2026. If the notice later changes the return, read how to check an assessment.
