Certification testing
Online Canadian income tax software from TurboTax® Canada. Use our 100% free income tax software to prepare and file your 2019 income tax return online or download our free tax software. CRA NETFILE certified. See why TurboTax® is Canada's #1 income tax software. File your 2019 tax return online now! If you have a simple tax scenario, you can file your taxes for free. Unfortunately, you cannot use CloudTax Free if you reside in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, or Quebec. In addition, CloudTax Free does not support self-employed, rental income holders, and employment expense reporters. TurboTax is Canada’s most popular and well-known tax software, and it offers both free and paid versions to Canadian filers. What I like about the free version of the software is that there is no maximum income limit. It’s available to filers at all income levels who don’t require the enhanced features offered by the paid. The NETFILE and ReFILE services are now open for the electronic filing of your 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 T1 personal income tax and benefit return. The NETFILE and ReFILE services will be open until Friday, January 22, 2021. Select the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) certified tax software from the. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a handy listof free tax software that is certified to work with its NETFILE program for filing electronically. There are also free tax clinicsthat will assist.
The CRA performs a limited annual review of commercially developed tax preparation software packages.
For software designed to produce only paper records, our review is limited to examining the actual printed forms. There is no review of the software itself.
Should the tax return not be eligible for electronic filing, you must ensure the return is printed in the proper format. Each year the CRA works with software developers to ensure their products print forms and returns that meet the CRA's technical criteria for software designed to produce paper records. The final printed returns and forms have to be compatible with the CRA's processing systems. It is important that users ensure printers are properly set up and instructions for printing returns are carefully followed.
Some software packages will automatically print a two-dimensional (2D) bar code on page one of the returns. The bar code will enable the CRA to accurately assess the return. Please do not turn off the bar code feature of your software.
Information Circular 97-2, Customized Forms – Returns and Information Slips, provides detailed guidelines for software packages.
This review also includes software that produces records for use in the electronic filing of tax returns. Testing ensures that the software will produce a return that the CRA can process. Among other things, the software must be able to:
- format electronic records according to the CRA's specifications;
- calculate the tax-related fields correctly;
- successfully pass error detection validities built into the system; and
- process all field codes, including the supporting fields necessary for electronic filing.
In mid-November of each year, the CRA provides the certification test returns to each software developer who has asked to be certified for EFILE. The developer uses these returns to test their software.
The CRA allows software developers to view drafts of new or modified forms through a controlled-access Web site. Before having this opportunity, developers must sign a confidentiality agreement with the CRA. The agreement states that developers cannot show their customers these new forms until they are printed and released to the public, usually in December of each year. This advance information allows software developers to create and release timely products that meet the requirements the CRA has established, based on the latest tax legislation.
Once a software developer has completed their product, they can transmit their test returns to the CRA. The CRA evaluates the results and, if the software meets the certification test criteria, issues a confirmation letter to the developer. Only when a developer has received this confirmation letter can the product be marketed as software that is EFILE-certified.
We do not test any tax preparation software products for user friendliness. Direct all comments you have in this regard to your software developer.
Remember, it is always the responsibility of the taxfiler to ensure that the return is complete and accurate, whether or not software was used to prepare it.
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Who can use StudioTax?
StudioTax is made available for individuals who prepare their own tax returns or returns for a small number of relatives and friends.
It is important to note that, as per CRA regulations, tax professionals CANNOT use NETFILE software to file tax returns of their clients. They must use EFILE certified software.
Is StudioTax right for you?
Every year 100's of thousands of taxpayers use StudioTax to prepare and file their returns. And more taxpayers are converting to StudioTax every year.
StudioTax covers the overwhelming range of personal income tax scenarios from simple tax returns to more involved returns for self-employed, returns with rental income and everything in between.
How about if I need more than 20 returns?
The 20 returns limit is a CRA requirement. If you are a tax preparer, then get an unlimited number of returns by using Studiotax Enterprise.
Can I import last year's return created by another tax program?
Unfortunately you have to do that manually. Only StudioTax returns can be imported by StudioTax.
Tax Canada Online Software
Note that StudioTax may not handle some uncommon tax situations. Please review the restrictions page for a detailed list of exclusions.
For Tax Professionals
Canadian Tax Software Reviews
If you are a tax preparer, then visit www.StudioTax.ca to learn more about StudioTax Enterprise and to download a trial copy.
Best Free Income Tax Software Canada
Please note that the professional version is designed for tax preparers registered with CRA. Please visit the CRA web site to find out how you can register as a tax preparer. If you are not a tax preparer, then StudioTax Enterprise version will not work for you and you should use our fully functional NETFILE certified version to prepare and file your return.