If you’ve filed a Notice of Objection to challenge a CRA assessment (income tax or GST/HST), the question is usually simple: How long will CRA take? CRA now publishes monthly updates showing average time to assign an appeals officer and resolve an objection, based on complexity level (low, medium, high).
This article explains current CRA timelines, how processing time has changed historically, and when it makes sense to speak with a tax lawyer if delays put your position, cash flow, or escalation rights at risk.
Current CRA processing times by complexity
CRA updates average resolution times monthly. In the latest published update, objections resolved in January 2026 had the following average completion times (counted from the date the objection was submitted).
Income tax objections (January 2026):
- Low complexity: average 129 days;
- Medium complexity: average 364 days;
- High complexity: CRA states it may take over 690 days on average (high complexity is a small share of workload).
GST/HST objections (January 2026):
- Low complexity: average 145 days;
- Medium complexity: average 268 days;
- High complexity: CRA states it may take over 500 days on average.
What “processing time” includes: CRA says the “days to resolve” include time the objection is within the control of the Government of Canada but exclude time waiting for the taxpayer to provide more information, if requested.
CRA service standards vs. real-world results
CRA also reports annual “service standards” for objection timeliness:
- Low complexity: goal to resolve within 180 calendar days, target met 80% of the time.
- Medium complexity: goal to resolve within 365 calendar days, target met 80% of the time.
In 2024–2025, CRA reports it met these standards:
- Low complexity: 76% within 180 days.
- Medium complexity: 71% within 365 days.
This matters because a single “average days” number can hide variance. Service-standard performance helps you understand whether CRA is meeting targets consistently.
How has CRA objection timeliness changed historically?
Older reporting shows that objection delays have long been a concern. A parliamentary committee report summarizing the Auditor General’s review notes that international benchmarking data (2009) showed Canada taking an average of 276 days to resolve objections versus 70 days on average across six peer countries.
The same parliamentary report describes a long tail of extreme delay (particularly group files), noting tens of thousands of objections taking 5+ years, and thousands taking 10+ years to resolve in the Auditor General’s analysis.
What you can do if your CRA objection is taking too long
Track status in CRA portals. CRA indicates objections can be tracked using the Progress Tracker in My Account/My Business Account (where available).
Respond quickly to information requests. Because CRA’s “days to resolve” excludes the time you spend providing information, slow responses can materially extend your real-world wait.
Know your escalation option if CRA doesn’t respond. The Tax Court of Canada states you may appeal if CRA does not respond to your Notice of Objection within 90 days for an income tax matter or 180 days for a GST matter.
Why a tax lawyer matters for Notice of Objection delays
Objection delays aren’t only inconvenient – they affect strategy. A tax lawyer can help ensure your objection is complete, evidence is organized for review, deadlines are protected, and escalation is considered when CRA is not responding or when the stakes are high.
If your objection involves material tax, penalties/interest exposure, complex business issues, or you may need to escalate after the 90/180‑day non-response window, speak with a tax lawyer early. We can review your assessment, prepare a complete objection record, respond efficiently to CRA requests, and advise on the right escalation path – administrative resolution or Tax Court.
