What if the deceased person left a will?

Then the RC552 is not the right form. The executor named in the will provides the CRA with a copy of the will and proof of death to establish their authority, and a court-appointed administrator provides the court documents instead.

What documents should I send with the RC552?

Include a copy of the death certificate or other proof of death as the form instructs. Keep your own copies of everything you mail, since estate tax matters can stretch over many months.

Does registering with the RC552 make me the estate's legal administrator?

No. It recognizes you for CRA purposes so you can manage the person's tax affairs. It is not a court appointment and does not resolve who inherits or controls other assets. For those questions, a lawyer or your provincial court process is the right route.

Where do I mail the completed form?

To the CRA tax centre that serves the deceased person's area. Check the current address on the form or the CRA website before sending it, because the CRA updates its mailing addresses periodically.

Is Universal PDF affiliated with the CRA?

No. Universal PDF is an independent PDF editor you can use to complete the official form. The RC552 itself is published by the Canada Revenue Agency, and questions about your situation should go to the CRA or a tax professional.

Legal

Fill Out CRA Form RC552 Online

Canada Revenue Agency

Used to register as the representative of a deceased person with the CRA when there is no will and no court-appointed administrator, so the estate's tax matters can be handled.

Reviewed July 2026

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CRA Form RC552, Register as Representative for a Deceased Person, is used to tell the Canada Revenue Agency who will handle the tax affairs of someone who died without a will and without a court-appointed administrator. Someone has to file the final return, respond to CRA correspondence, and wind up the person's tax accounts, and the RC552 is how that person gets recognized by the CRA when no legal document already names them.

You can complete Form RC552 in the Universal PDF editor: type the deceased person's information, your own details, and your relationship to them, then download the finished PDF to send to the CRA with the supporting documents. Filling it in digitally keeps names, dates, and identification numbers legible, which helps the CRA process the request without follow-up letters.

What is CRA Form RC552 used for

When a person dies with a will, the executor sends the CRA a copy of the will to prove their authority. When a court appoints an administrator, the court documents do the same job. The RC552 covers the remaining case: no will and no court appointment. By signing it, you ask the CRA to recognize you as the deceased person's representative so you can manage their tax matters.

Once the CRA registers you, you can deal with the agency on the deceased person's behalf: filing the final return and any outstanding returns, receiving correspondence, and handling the tax side of settling their affairs. Registration with the CRA is about tax administration; it is not the same as a court appointment and does not decide broader estate questions, so complex estates may still need legal advice.

Who uses CRA Form RC552

The form is typically completed by a close family member, such as a spouse, common-law partner, adult child, or sibling, who is taking responsibility for the deceased person's tax affairs. It applies only when the person died without a will and no one has been appointed by a court to administer the estate.

If a will exists or a court has appointed someone, do not use the RC552; the executor or administrator instead provides the CRA with the will or the court documents along with the death information. If more than one family member could act, it is worth agreeing among yourselves who will register, since the CRA deals with the recognized representative.

How to fill out CRA Form RC552

Gather the deceased person's information before you start, since the CRA matches the form against its records.

Enter the deceased person's full legal name, social insurance number, date of death, and last address.
Fill in your own name, address, and contact information as the person asking to be recognized as representative.
State your relationship to the deceased person.
Confirm that the person died without a will and that no court-appointed administrator exists.
Sign and date the declaration, and attach a copy of the death certificate or equivalent proof of death as the form directs.

Where to send it

Send the completed RC552 with the supporting documents to the CRA tax centre that serves the deceased person's area. The current mailing addresses are listed on the form and on the CRA website, so confirm the address there before mailing, as tax centre assignments change from time to time.

After the CRA processes the registration, it will direct correspondence about the deceased person's taxes to you. If you also need to notify the CRA of the death itself so benefit payments are stopped or redirected, Form RC4111 handles that step, and it is often sent around the same time.

Frequently asked questions

Use it when someone has died without a will and no court has appointed an administrator for the estate. It asks the CRA to recognize you as the person handling the deceased person's tax matters.

Universal PDF is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Forms are provided from official government sources; always confirm you have the current version before filing.

This form is reproduced from official Canadian government sources. Universal PDF is not affiliated with or endorsed by any Canadian federal or provincial government body; always confirm you have the current version on the official site.