T1013 form discontinued this year

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced that the existing T1013 form will be discontinued starting in February 2020. In addition, they are introducing a new process to allow representatives to request access through a web form on Represent a Client. See the CRA Newsroom item We’re changing how representatives are authorized.

We would like to clarify what this means for preparers who use TaxCycle to file these authorization requests:

• You will continue to be able to electronically transmit requests for online access to individual accounts through TaxCycle T1. (And for business accounts through TaxCycle T2.)
• The process in TaxCycle is the same as the existing T1013 process, with a worksheet/signature page to complete the required information (rather than the T1013 form) and the submission through the Transmit sidebar.
  
• Your client must sign the signature page and you must retain this page for six years, in case the CRA requests to see a copy.
• The new combined form AUT-01, mentioned in the CRA article, will allow representatives to request offline access (by phone or mail only) to individual and business tax accounts. (Note if you submit this form for any of your existing clients, you will lose your online access.)
• The AUT-01 form will not be available in TaxCycle T1. However, we will add it to TaxCycle T3, as contacting the CRA by phone or mail is the only way to obtain information about a trust client; no trust information can be accessed through Represent a Client.

In addition to these changes, the CRA is removing some restrictions for electronic submissions sent through software like TaxCycle. For example, "care of" addresses will now be supported. And, existing authorizations for individual tax accounts of deceased persons will no longer be cancelled.