Fill Out CRA Form RC65 Online
Marital Status Change
Canada Revenue Agency
Notifies the CRA of a change in marital status that can affect benefit and credit payments.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
- 1
Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
- 2
Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
- 3
Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.
CRA Form RC65, Marital Status Change, is how you notify the Canada Revenue Agency that your marital status has changed. Because benefit and credit payments such as the Canada Child Benefit and the GST/HST credit are calculated using family net income, a marriage, separation, divorce, new common-law relationship, or death of a spouse can change what you are entitled to receive.
You can complete Form RC65 in the Universal PDF editor, tick the boxes and fill in the fields on screen, and download the finished PDF to mail to your tax centre. Reporting promptly keeps your payments accurate and helps you avoid repayments later.
What is Form RC65 used for
The form updates the CRA's record of your marital status and, where relevant, adds your new spouse's or common-law partner's information. The CRA then recalculates income-tested benefits and credits using the correct family income, effective from the month after the change in most cases.
You can also report a marital status change through the CRA's online services or by phone; the RC65 is the paper route and is useful when you prefer a signed document or cannot use the online options.
Who files Form RC65
Anyone whose marital status has changed and who receives or has applied for benefits and credits administered by the CRA should report the change. The recognized statuses include married, living common-law, separated, divorced, widowed, and single.
Two timing rules matter. You are generally considered common-law after living together in a conjugal relationship for twelve continuous months, or sooner if you have a child together. For a separation, you generally wait until you have been separated for more than ninety consecutive days before reporting it, and the effective date is then the day the separation began.
How to fill out Form RC65
The form is short. Complete it carefully so the CRA can adjust your file without follow-up:
- Your identification: name, social insurance number, address, and contact information.
- New marital status: tick the status that applies and enter the date the change took effect.
- Spouse or partner information: if you married or became common-law, provide your partner's name, social insurance number, and address.
- Signature: sign and date the form before mailing it to the tax centre shown in the instructions.
What happens after you report the change
The CRA recalculates your benefit and credit entitlements based on the new family situation, generally starting the month after the change. Payments can go up or down, and in some cases one partner's benefits stop while the other's begin. If you received amounts you were no longer entitled to, the CRA will ask for them back, which is why reporting quickly matters.
Keep a copy of the form, and remember to update your marital status again if it changes in the future. Direct deposit and address updates are separate steps if those changed too.
Frequently asked questions
Generally after living with your partner in a conjugal relationship for twelve continuous months, or as soon as you have a child together by birth or adoption. From that point the CRA treats you as a couple for benefits.
Report it once you have been separated for more than ninety consecutive days because of a breakdown of the relationship. The separation is then effective from the date it began.
One form can report the change, but both partners' details are needed when you marry or become common-law. Each person remains responsible for the accuracy of their own tax and benefit information.
Possibly. The benefit is recalculated using your new family net income, so payments can increase after a separation or decrease when a partner's income is added. The CRA applies the change from the month after the status change in most cases.
Yes. Marital status changes can generally be reported through the CRA's online services or by phone. The RC65 is the paper option for those who prefer or need it.
Related forms
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.