When to Update Your Marital Status
Update your marital status if it has changed due to:
Marriage
Divorce
Separation (lasting more than 90 days)
Becoming widowed
Starting or ending a common-law relationship (Note: A common-law relationship is recognized after 1 year of living together in a conjugal relationship.)
Important Note: For tax purposes, your marital status should be recorded as of December 31 of the tax year you’re filing for.
If your marital status has changed since that date, use your status as of December 31 for the current return
Your new marital status will be reflected in your tax return for the following year
Tip: It’s best to inform the CRA of any marital status changes as they happen to avoid discrepancies in benefits or calculations.
Steps to Change Your Marital Status in CloudTax
Navigate to the "Personal Info" Section in the top navigation bar
Find the "Marital Status" Field in the "About You" box,
select Update
Update Your Marital Status
Select the appropriate option (e.g., single, married, common-law, separated, divorced, or widowed)
Answer Yes to the question, “Has your marital status changed in 2024?”
Enter the effective date of your marital status change
Answer the question, “What was your marital status before the change?”
Options:
Married or Common-law
Additional question: “Do you want to claim credits from your (former) spouse or common-law partner?”
Single, Separated, Divorced, or Widowed
Select Next to update your return
Provide Partner Details (If Applicable)
If you are or were in a married or common-law relationship, include your spouse or partner's information in the Spouse Information section located on the left navigation panel
Why This Update Matters
Keeping your marital status accurate ensures:
Correct calculations for benefits like the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) or GST/HST credit
An accurate representation of your household situation in your tax return