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Email this7:06 pm
March 17, 2018
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everhopeful said
Another thing that can be done with most tax software/sites, is that you can work through the return and see what balance it calculates at no charge... most will only need payment prior to Netfiling or printing a return to mail in. So I will usually run my slips through a competing software/service prior to filing to see if the numbers match.
I like the Maxback function on UFile that maximizes deductions, so I personally like to do my taxes on both a free software like WealthSimple Tax and on UFile. If UFile gives me a better tax outcome I pay for UFile.
(Sorry @Doug for supporting Thomson Reuters and the Thomson family 
)
5:46 am
April 6, 2013
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Briguy said
The worse was Turbotax which didn't properly advise on the Child Tax Care credit for years. I'll paste in the AI summary of that error:
…
Despite entering accurate information and following the software’s guidance, users were misled by the incorrect calculation.TurboTax has acknowledged customer feedback regarding the Ontario Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses form but has denied responsibility, stating that the issue lies with how users entered information rather than a software glitch.
However, users argue that the software failed to prompt them to correctly identify both spouses as supporting persons on Form ON479-A, which is incorrectly labeled as ONCARE within the software.
This design flaw led to the miscalculation.
The AI summary is wrong. That issue was user error.
The issue was discussed previously.
If parents tell the tax software that a child is supported by only one of them, the software is in no position to second guess that.
Some people just enter stuff into the NETFILE software and NETFILE the return without reviewing it.
5:59 am
November 8, 2018
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Norman1 said
AltaRed said
Agreed, but this is partly because certified software cannot know all the possibilities of a taxpayer's situation. …The issues I've personally seen were bugs in the software.
I used TurboTax for many years. This is what once happened: TurboTax suggested to optimize medical expenses I entered and after optimization I ended owing more in taxes. I am not sure it is a bug or a feature.
Lesson learned: always keep an eye on "Tax Refund" amount in top left corned of TurboTax page.
From the other hand, this situation should have been easy to spot with simple software code, which could compare "Tax Amount Owed" before and after recommended optimization- and suggest user to undo the change if paying more in taxes is not what user wants.
2:01 pm
March 15, 2019
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Ok, to be totally honest I found that learning the tax software took so much time I could have already done the return manually in about 1/3 the time at no $cost.
4:57 pm
September 11, 2013
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Exactly, COIN, reading on here about efiling has only reaffirmed my choice to keep filing paper returns as long as they allow it. Much easier and faster, when all is taken into consideration.
On the other hand I think a lot of people just enjoy playing with their phones and computers so efiling allows them to do more of that. That's cool. As well, if you're getting a refund I understand it may arrive faster with efiling.
4:57 am
November 18, 2017
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I enjoy manual tax filing a lot more! And it helps me understand the rules.
RetirEd
5:58 am
March 15, 2019
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RetirEd said
I enjoy manual tax filing a lot more! And it helps me understand the rules.
It also gives the appearance that you are more in control.
6:14 am
April 21, 2022
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RetirEd said
I enjoy manual tax filing a lot more! And it helps me understand the rules.
Yeah, I agree, even though I don't paper file anymore. It just seems like one has a better mental grasp when it's on paper in front of them. Maybe it's the ability to shuffle pages and lay them out to see the big picture.
12:16 pm
March 14, 2023
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I've been e-filing for years using paid for tax software. Yes, there's a learning curve but it is the first year only. There's no way I could prepare a tax return quicker on paper.
I also use the software for various withdrawal planning and what-if scenarios - seeing an instant final tax result by changing an input helps me understand the calculations in a more timely way than paper ever could.
I'll admit that I do enjoy using a computer to do these kinds of chores.
1:17 pm
January 10, 2017
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Briguy said
I like the Maxback function on UFile that maximizes deductions, so I personally like to do my taxes on both a free software like WealthSimple Tax and on UFile. If UFile gives me a better tax outcome I pay for UFile.
(Sorry @Doug for supporting Thomson Reuters and the Thomson family
In your example, how do you know the Ufile version is correct? Certainly it it not correct simply because it give you a lower tax bill.
1:27 pm
March 17, 2018
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Lodown said
In your example, how do you know the Ufile version is correct? Certainly it it not correct simply because it give you a lower tax bill.
I'm too lazy to go through both tax softwares line by line so I just make sure the tax slips are entered properly on both. I have had a few times where UFile got me a bigger deduction and have never had the CRA find any wrong deductions, so far. I don't have an extremely complicated tax return where I worry about the ability of the software to handle it.
I may live to regret my laziness one day 🙂
1:29 pm
March 15, 2019
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Wrayzor said
I've been e-filing for years using paid for tax software. Yes, there's a learning curve but it is the first year only. There's no way I could prepare a tax return quicker on paper.I also use the software for various withdrawal planning and what-if scenarios - seeing an instant final tax result by changing an input helps me understand the calculations in a more timely way than paper ever could.
I'll admit that I do enjoy using a computer to do these kinds of chores.
Could not have said it better. I switched from Turbotax back in the early 2000s and have been using UFile ever since. I remember switching caused me a little grief but after the 1st year with UFile it has been smooth sailing. Sure the tax software has a cost, a very low cost for the ease it makes it to file even difficult returns. I would never even consider doing a paper return.
6:56 am
November 18, 2017
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I just got a mailing from CRA trying to force us to spurn paper again. They won't send paper forms any more unless we call and beg, and they are omitting almost all the schedules unless we call, too.
Nothing will be available until January 20th, either.
RetirEd
10:42 am
September 11, 2013
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I never call, I order online (2025 forms likely available in a couple of weeks), usually comes in a couple of weeks.
https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/cjcf/fpos-scfp/pub/rdr?searchKey=2024+Package
From their site you can also print off any forms, schedules, etc if you don't want to wait for mail or it they're not available via mail.
11:35 am
October 27, 2013
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That is my past experience as well.... getting them online, often in PDF fillable form. However, I don't do anything manually any more that can be done digitally. I am a 'zero' fan of paper.
1:41 pm
March 30, 2017
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AltaRed said
I don't do anything manually any more that can be done digitally. I am a 'zero' fan of paper.
Same here. The advance of technology that requires less paper IS a good thing on all counts, ease of use, environmental, everything !
5:37 pm
March 15, 2019
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I'm old enough to remember when one could pick up paper forms at the CRA office/post office. I still like to "touch and feel".
Remember when the CRA used to mail a paper tax form to your home?
6:07 pm
April 6, 2013
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Mailing the T1 General package to everyone would be a waste of government money.
Only 7% of individual tax returns were filed by paper last year. Some of that 7% wanted to but mailed in a paper return because of NETFILE limitations or CRA request.
I use NETFILE software because I don't want to produce and send in a paper return. One needs to send in more receipts and slips for the paper return. I would also need to maintain a spreadsheet to do the arithmetic for the return lines. No, I'm not going to recalculate using a hand calculator if I mistype a number from a tax slip.
1:10 pm
November 18, 2017
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Norman1: I'm happier to trust my own spreadsheet than trust the output of the various discordant tax software packages.
COIN: CRA mailed a paper tax forms package to everyone who paper-filed the previous year until this year's announcement.
Bill: I don't want CRA and their leaky web presence to even know I exist on line, so I always phone for forms. And I want to encourage them to continue phone support!
RetirEd
8:03 pm
March 15, 2019
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"The problem appears to have persisted for several years, with some families facing reassessments for three consecutive years."
Did the CRA not uncover this problem when they test drove the software?
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