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Best Tax Software for Canadians

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The team at WealthRocket only recommends products and services that we would use ourselves and that we believe will provide value to our readers. However, we advocate for you to continue to do your own research and make educated decisions.

It’s that time again. Your T4s have arrived, the bank sent you tax documents you didn’t know were coming, you’ve made your RRSP contributions (if only just a little), and now it’s time to do your taxes.

There are lots of different ways to get your taxes done. You can head to the post office and pick up the paper forms to do them by hand. You can gather all your stuff and head over to a tax preparation service. And for the best of both worlds, there are lots of different software choices you can use to help you DIY your taxes.

But if there are a dozen different tax preparation apps, which one is the best? Which one should you use? Will one of them help you maximize your refund while the others leave money on the table? And how do you know you can trust them?

All your questions will be answered in this overview of the best tax software in Canada.

What is tax filing software and how does it work?

If only personal income tax were straightforward, this would be a lot easier. Instead, over the years, tax rates change; programs are introduced, used, and cancelled; different things are taxed different ways; and it all adds up to a thick stack of forms you need to fill out.

Tax filing software makes the whole process easier, faster and more accurate by helping you quickly grab the forms you need, automating some or all of the process of filling them out, and doing the math for you so you don’t end up with any expensive arithmetic errors. Some software can even automatically retrieve forms that have been submitted electronically to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) so you don’t even have to transcribe the information.

Many software choices can also optimize your tax return to look for efficiencies, and help you do your entire family’s taxes at the same time. Once you’re happy with your return, tax preparation software can also help you submit your taxes using the CRA’s Netfile service.

In Canada, tax software is regulated and certified by the CRA. You can find a complete list of approved software at the CRA Website.

Should I use tax filing software or a tax preparation service?

The choice between a service and software is a trade off between convenience, comfort level, and cost.

Many tax preparation software choices are offered for free. However, you will need to be comfortable with downloading and installing the software and navigating the process. The software will prompt you for certain forms, but you will need to make sure you feed it all the information it needs – and the CRA will not be forgiving if you miss something because you weren’t comfortable with the software.

Tax services are done for a fee – one of Canada’s most popular services charges $79.99 for a single basic return. For this fee, you receive convenience. The service will ask you for all the information they need and handle everything from there.

What is the best tax filing software tax filing software in Canada?

There are 34 tax software options certified by the CRA for the 2020 tax year. The right one for you depends on the features you need, your comfort with technology, and the price you’re willing to pay.

Best free tax software in Canada: TurboTax Free

For Canadians whose taxes aren’t too complex, TurboTax Free is a great choice. The service works on any computer or mobile device, and there are no hidden fees or costs. TurboTax Free can automatically import your tax information from the CRA, and they guarantee you’ll receive the maximum refund.

What TurboTax Free doesn’t do is bring forward your tax information from previous years, so you’ll need to go hunting for your notice of assessment (NOA). There are no limitations beyond that, but if you want any help or guidance, you will need to upgrade to one of TurboTax’s paid options that start at $19.99 per return.

  • Cost: Free
  • Platform: Online (Windows or Mac)
  • Tablet-friendly: Yes
  • Mobile app: Yes
  • Best for: Canadians with straightforward tax returns.

Pros

  • All options free for those under 25 until March 31st 2023

  • Free and Paid version available on Windows, Mac, IOS, and Android

  • Guarantee for Maximum Refund

  • Superb User Experience

  • Add-ons available

Cons

  • Pay for best options

  • Can’t transfer tax options from previous tax years on free version

Best for support, advice & a second opinion: H&R Block

The biggest name in tax preparation services for Canadians also offers a free online service you can use to do your own taxes. H&R Block can auto-fill your return with documents from the CRA, walk you through the process step-by-step and lets you search for the forms you need.

If you need support, H&R Block has an online help centre you can browse, and they will be happy to upgrade you to their $19.99 “Assistance” plan that entitles you to tech support by phone. An extra $10 gives you unlimited priority support so that you can get quick answers as much as you need.

Over and above this, you can get help from a tax expert while you file, or have your taxes reviewed by an expert for an additional fee that starts at $29.99.

  • Cost: Free; Support starting at $19.99
  • Platform: Online (Windows or Mac)
  • Tablet-friendly: Yes
  • Mobile app: Yes

Pros

  • “Peace of Mine Extended Security Service Plan”

  • “Pay when you file” (removes upfront cost for all plans)

  • Good Security

  • In-person option

  • Add-ons available

Cons

  • Free option is limited

Best free option with support included: Wealthsimple Tax

SimpleTax was recently bought by the fast-growing investment giant Wealthsimple, who bravely renamed the product Wealthsimple Tax.

Like other free, online tax services, Wealthsimple Tax lets you automatically fill your return with information provided by the CRA, walks you through the process step-by-step, optimize your return, and file online.

Unlike other free, online tax services, Wealthsimple Tax offers support without requiring you to upgrade to a free plan. Instead, they use a “pay what you want” model and give you the option to pay for the service if you want to.

  • Cost: Free
  • Platform: Online (Windows or Mac)
  • Tablet-friendly: Yes
  • Mobile app: Yes
  • Best for: Canadians with straightforward tax returns who want access to basic support.

Pros

  • No hidden costs (really free!)

  • Link crypto wallets to declare crypto gains

  • Free access to customer service

  • Refund optimization

  • Dynamic calculation after every entry

Cons

  • Basic customer support

Best for Privacy: UFile Windows

One of the biggest concerns with all the free tax preparation software options is how and where your data is being saved. Even companies that don’t use or sell your information could be the target of hackers who want to steal your tax data.

With that in mind, you might prefer a software option that keeps your tax information closer within your control. UFile Windows is a fully featured option that saves all your data on your local computer. However, support is limited to email only, so you’ll need to be comfortable navigating the entire process with little or no help.

  • Cost: $22.99 for up to 4 returns
  • Platform: Windows
  • Tablet-friendly: No
  • Mobile app: No
  • Best for: Canadians who don’t want their tax information stored in the cloud by private companies.

Pros

  • Not completed online for maximum privacy

  • Email and phone support

  • Auto-filll return option for info from CRA

Cons

  • Not compatible for iOS

  • Starts at $24.99

Best for business owners & investors: UFile Online

If you have investments, rental properties, or self-employment income, most tax software will try to get you to pay for a more expensive version of their software, although they don’t do a very good job of explaining why. That’s because the main reason they “recommend” a premium offering for these tax situations is because of the level of support that’s included, not the software’s ability to fill the appropriate forms.

While a free option will do, you might prefer to use a premium service if your taxes are a bit more complex. UFile Online offers only one package, covering all tax scenarios and offering support by phone and email. Rather than trying to upsell you on the premise that your taxes require something special that others’ don’t, UFile Online charges everybody $19.95 for the first return so you can be confident that you’re getting what you pay for.

  • Cost: $19.95 + up to $12.95 per additional return
  • Platform: Online
  • Tablet-friendly: Yes
  • Mobile app: No
  • Best for: Canadians who want a premium tax service without being upsold

Pros

  • Store & access tax returns for 9 years

  • Premium option allows for priority customer service

  • Free customer service available on email and phone

  • Auto-fill return option for info from CRA

Cons

  • Free options not available to everyone

Best Free, Offline Tax Services: GenuTax

GenuTax is another option available that allows users to store your tax data offline. GenuTax’s software can be downloaded to your Windows PC to start your tax-filing process. GenuTax is one of the few platforms that offers all of their features free to use.

The user interface is also simple to use, making it a free, ideal option for Windows owners. However, the only customer service option is through email, making it tough for users who enjoy help from a professional or complicated situations that may require extra assistance.

Cost: Free
Platform: Windows
Tablet-friendly: No
Mobile app: No
Best for: Basic tax needs, free option for those looking to store their tax info offline

Pros

  • Completely free

  • Auto-fill return from CRA

  • Simple-to-use platform

Cons

  • Only available for windows

  • Limited customer service

Final Thoughts

There are many different tax software options out there for Canadians but they all do the same basic thing – help you fill in the appropriate CRA forms and submit them using Netfile. The key differences are the level of support offered, quality of the interface, and the price.

If you’re comfortable navigating the process yourself, any of the free options will do. If you want a premium service that will handle everything you throw at it, UFile Online offers the best value for your money.

Whatever software you choose, have fun doing your taxes this year and accept my best wishes for a big fat refund.

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