National Revenue
How National Revenue spent its budget in fiscal year 2023-24, shown as net expenditures by standard object from Public Accounts Volume II.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is the federal institution responsible for administering tax laws, enforcing compliance, and delivering key benefit programs to individuals and businesses across Canada. Established in 1999 under the Canada Revenue Agency Act, the CRA operates with a workforce of approximately 59,155 employees (2024) and oversees tax revenues totaling $379 billion annually—more than 82% of federal revenues. It also administers over $46 billion in benefits and credits to Canadians, including the Canada Child Benefit and the GST/HST credit.
Department Spending
In FY 2023-24,
$16.8B
was spent by National Revenue
In FY 2023-24,
3.2%
of federal spending was by National Revenue
On the consolidated accrual basis (Volume I), this portfolio’s expenses were $59.91B in FY 2023-24 — see the overview and methodology.
The Canada Revenue Agency spent $16.8B in fiscal year (FY) 2024, representing 3.2% of the $521.4 billion in total federal spending. Its expenditures primarily support tax administration, benefit program delivery, compliance enforcement, and IT modernization.
Spending by entity, FY 2023-24
Canada Revenue Agency
$16.8B
CRA spending has grown faster than overall federal spending over the past decade, gradually increasing the agency's share of the federal budget. Legislative changes, evolving compliance trends, and the shift toward digital tax services have shaped these patterns; compliance initiatives and fraud investigations recovered an estimated $11.5 billion in lost revenue in 2024.
National Revenue’s share of federal spending
Percentage of federal spending, 1995–2025
Most CRA spending is dedicated to personnel and the IT infrastructure that supports tax filing, compliance, and benefit administration. In FY 2024, 35.1% of the agency's net spending went to salaries, benefits, and pensions. Its largest expenditures included personal income tax processing, corporate tax audits, and benefit program delivery, alongside intergovernmental agreements with provinces and territories.
How did National Revenue spend its budget in 2023-24?
The Canada Revenue Agency is overseen by the Minister of National Revenue, who is responsible for tax fairness and benefit program integrity but does not have direct authority over the interpretation of tax law. The minister is one of the cabinet members who serve at the Prime Minister's discretion, remaining in the role until a successor is sworn in.
Line items
Every transfer-payment (grant and contribution) program, in dollars. These are the named programs behind the transfer-payments object in the chart above. Search, sort, and download the full table.
| Category | Description | Amount ▼ |
|---|---|---|
| Other transfer payments | Distribution of fuel charges (Canada Carbon Rebate) under section 165 of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and section 122.8 of the Income Tax Act | $9,599,733,794 |
| Other transfer payments | Children's Special Allowance payments (Children's Special Allowance Act) | $390,060,074 |
| Other transfer payments | Distribution of fuel charges (to farming businesses) under section 165 of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and section 127.42 of the Income Tax Act | $131,522,662 |
| Other transfer payments | Distribution of fuel charges (to provinces and territories) under section 165 of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act | $51,362,365 |
| Other transfer payments | Community Volunteer Income Tax Program Grant | $5,284,769 |
Explore other federal departments
National Revenue figures are net expenditures by standard object from Public Accounts Volume II, and will not match the Volume I consolidated headline totals. See the methodology for details.
