Briefly Open Briefly

English office words from Canada, explained

The words you see in official letters in Canada, in plain English.

appeal
Asking a tribunal, court or higher office to change a decision.
arrears
Money that is overdue, for example unpaid tax, rent or bills.
balance owing
Money you still owe. Interest is usually added every day until it is paid.
biometrics
Your fingerprints and a digital photo, taken for an immigration application.
bylaw
A city rule, for example about parking, noise, garbage or snow removal.
CCB
Canada Child Benefit. A tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18.
COPR
Confirmation of Permanent Residence. The paper you get when your permanent residence is approved, before your PR card.
CPP
Canada Pension Plan. A pension based on what you paid in from your work. Quebec has its own plan (QPP).
demerit points
Points added to your driving record for some traffic offences. Too many points can lead to a warning, a meeting or a suspended licence.
EI
Employment Insurance. Payments for a short time if you lose your job, are sick, have a baby or care for a family member.
garnishment
Taking money straight from your wages or bank account to pay a debt.
GST/HST credit
A tax-free payment every three months for people with low or modest income. You get it by filing your tax return.
health card
The card for your province’s public health insurance, for example OHIP in Ontario or MSP in British Columbia. Show it at the doctor or hospital.
hydro
Electricity. In several provinces people call the power bill the hydro bill.
instalments
Payments in parts. On CRA letters it means paying your tax in parts during the year, often every three months, because not enough tax is taken off your income.
IRCC
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The federal office for visas, permits, permanent residence and citizenship.
Landlord and Tenant Board
The Ontario tribunal that decides disputes between landlords and tenants, including evictions. Other provinces have similar offices, like the Residential Tenancy Branch in British Columbia.
last month’s rent deposit
In Ontario, a deposit of up to one month’s rent, used only for your last month. Landlords in Ontario can’t ask for a damage deposit.
maintained status
If you apply to extend your permit before it expires, you can usually stay — and often keep working or studying — under the same conditions while you wait.
My Account
The CRA’s secure online service. You can see your notices, your balance and your benefit payments, and send documents.
N12
In Ontario: a notice to end your tenancy because the landlord, a buyer or a close family member wants to move in. You must get at least 60 days’ notice and usually one month’s rent as compensation.
N4
In Ontario: a notice from your landlord to end your tenancy because rent is unpaid.
notice of assessment
The CRA’s answer after it processes your tax return. It shows your income, your tax, and whether you owe money or get a refund.
notice of debt
A letter saying you owe money to the government, for example after an EI overpayment.
notice of objection
A formal complaint that a CRA tax decision is wrong. An appeals officer who was not part of the first decision looks at it.
notice of reassessment
A new tax notice after the CRA changed your return — because you asked, or after a review. It replaces the earlier notice.
OAS
Old Age Security. A monthly pension from age 65. It depends on how many years you lived in Canada after age 18, not on your work.
overpayment
Money you got but were not entitled to, for example too much EI or benefits. You usually must pay it back.
payment arrangement
An agreement to pay a debt in smaller amounts over time.
PR card
Permanent Resident card. It proves your status when you travel back to Canada. The card usually expires after 5 years, but your status does not end with it.
pre-authorized debit
Automatic payments taken from your bank account on set dates.
procedural fairness letter
A letter from IRCC saying it has concerns about your application. It gives you a chance to answer before it decides.
provincial offence
Breaking a provincial law, like most traffic rules. It does not give you a criminal record.
Receiver General for Canada
The name to use for payments to the federal government, for example on a cheque to the CRA.
reconsideration
A request to look at a decision again, for example on EI, CPP or OAS. You must ask for it before you can go to the Social Security Tribunal.
requirement to pay
A legal order from the CRA to your employer, your bank or someone else who owes you money, to pay the CRA instead of you.
ROE
Record of Employment. Your employer sends it to Service Canada when your work stops. It is used to decide your EI.
RRSP
Registered Retirement Savings Plan. Savings for retirement. Money you put in lowers your taxable income.
SIN
Social Insurance Number. Your 9-digit number for work, taxes and benefits.
small claims court
A simpler court for smaller money disputes. You can go without a lawyer.
Social Security Tribunal
An independent tribunal that hears appeals about EI, CPP and OAS decisions, after a reconsideration.
study permit
A paper that lets you study at a school in Canada. It is not a visa to enter Canada.
T1 return
Your personal income tax and benefit return. Most people must file it by April 30 each year.
T4 slip
A form from your employer that shows your pay and the tax taken off it for the year. You need it for your tax return.
taxpayer relief
A request to the CRA to cancel penalties or interest when you couldn’t pay or file on time for reasons outside your control. It can’t cancel the tax itself.
TFSA
Tax-Free Savings Account. Money that grows in it is not taxed. Putting in more than your limit leads to a penalty tax.
UCI
Unique Client Identifier. Your IRCC client number. It has 8 or 10 digits and stays the same for all your applications.
work permit
A paper that lets a temporary resident work in Canada. Read its conditions, like which employer and until when.