How to Fill an Activity Report (CRA): Step-by-Step Guide 2026

This guide walks you through filling in a compliant CRA (Activity Report) step by step, whether you're in salary portage or in an IT services firm with clients who require an activity report.

Before you start

• Deadline : check with your portage company or client for the submission and validation deadline (often before the 5th of the following month).
• Useful documents : contract or mission amendment, schedule, timesheet if you use one.
• Tool : form provided by the portage company or CRA software to save time and stay compliant.

Step 1: Identify the period

• Select the calendar month (e.g. January 2026).
• Confirm the number of working days (days worked + days of absence to report).
• Note public holidays and leave : they are usually not counted as hours worked at the client; indicate them according to the template (leave, RTT, sick leave, etc.).

Tip : a calendar or time-tracking tool helps you avoid missing days.

Step 2: Enter hours per day

• For each working day in the period, enter hours worked (e.g. 7h, 8h).
• Use the format required by your portage company (decimal or hours/minutes).
• Consistency : the monthly total must match the time you actually spent on the mission.

Avoid : leaving days blank when you worked, or inflating hours.

Step 3: Describe activities

• Write a short description of the activities carried out (development, consulting, training, meetings, etc.).
• Keep it factual and clear for the client and portage company: no need for a long narrative, but enough detail to justify the work.
• If the template allows, you can break it down by week or by mission.

Example : « Development of billing modules (API, interface). Code review and fixes. Project meeting with client. »

Step 4: Link to missions or projects

• Clearly indicate the client or mission name.
• If you had several missions in the month, split hours and activities by mission (or follow your portage company’s instructions).
• Check consistency with your contract or amendment (client name, scope).

Step 5: Check and submit

• Review : hours per day, totals, activities, client/mission identification.
• Check required fields (signature, date, etc.) on the form or in the software.
• Submit for validation: first the client, then the portage company (or the order specified by your portage provider).

Once validated, keep a copy or ensure the software keeps a history (often 5 years).

Best practices

• Enter data regularly (e.g. weekly) so you don’t have to reconstruct everything at month end.
• Meet validation deadlines to avoid delayed pay.
• Keep proof (emails, access, attendance) in case of dispute.
• Use CRA software or a CRA + timesheet tool to reduce errors and omissions.

Mistakes to avoid

• Missing worked days or entering inconsistent hours.
• Descriptions that are too vague (« work on the project ») or too technical for the client.
• Late validation or not reviewing before sending.
• Wrong client or mission identification.

With CRA software

Dedicated CRA software typically lets you:

• Pre-fill days and hours from your timesheet.
• Send the CRA to the client and then the portage company automatically.
• Get reminders for entry and validation.
• Keep a compliant history (signature, timestamp).

TimeTrack can generate a compliant CRA from your timesheet entry: one entry for time and CRA. Discover TimeTrack.

Conclusion

Filling in a compliant CRA comes down to four things: clear period, accurate hours, described activities and on-time validations. Following these steps and using the right tool reduces errors and disputes.

Related articles:

• CRA Software: Complete Guide
• CRA vs Timesheet: Differences
• CRA FAQ: 30 Questions
• Top 10 CRA Software 2026