Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Yes, you can file taxes online in Canada for free. The CRA’s list of certified software for 2025 has 17 products, and four carry a plain Free label: Better Tax, CloudTax, GenuTax Standard and Wealthsimple Tax. Others are free only if your income or situation fits. NETFILE accepts 2025 returns until Friday, January 29, 2027.
Which free tax software does the CRA list?
The CRA does not rank products. It labels each one for price and delivery. Here is how the 2025 list reads for the products that offer a free route. Terms change every year and the CRA says free options depend on income, tax situation, province or territory and the provider’s own criteria, so confirm on the product page before you type in your slips.
| CRA pricing label | Products with that label |
|---|---|
| Free | Better Tax, GenuTax Standard (computer download) |
| Free, optional paid services | CloudTax, Wealthsimple Tax |
| Free on mobile app, paid on computer download | StudioTax |
| Free offerings based on tax situation | AdvTax, EachTax, FastnEasyTax, FutureTax, H&R Block Tax Software Free, myTaxExpress, Tax Chopper, TaxFreeway, TaxTron, TurboTax, UFile, WebTax4U.ca |
These are the CRA’s labels and nothing more. We have not tested how any of these behave. The CRA also warns that it does not review privacy policies and is not responsible for calculation errors caused by the software, so read the policy before you upload your SIN. Only certified software can send a return through NETFILE, and it must be certified for the tax year you are filing.
How do you pick one in ten minutes?
Skip the ads and ask three questions. Does the free version cover every slip you hold, including the T5 from the bank and the tuition slip? Does it say up front what triggers a paid upgrade? Is it on the CRA’s list? If all three are yes, start. If the second answer is vague, try the next program.
Gather your slips first. Having them on the table before you open the software means one sitting instead of five. Our page on free tax software in Canada goes deeper on the software side.
Which free filing options need no software at all?
The CRA lists three, all for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation.
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| SimpleFile | Answer questions online, by phone or on paper. See our SimpleFile guide for the 2025 income limits. |
| Pre-filled return | The CRA builds the return in your CRA account. About 1 million people are expected to be invited from March 2027 for the 2026 return. See who is invited. |
| Community Volunteer Income Tax Program | A volunteer at a free tax clinic completes and submits your return. |
Who can use a free tax clinic?
You need both a modest income and a simple tax situation. The CRA gives suggested total family income thresholds: $40,000 for one person, $55,000 for two, $60,000 for three, $65,000 for four and $70,000 for five. Add $5,000 for each person after five, so a household of six is at $75,000. Community organizations may adjust these for their area.
Simple means income only from employment, a pension, benefits such as CPP, OAS, EI or social assistance, RRSPs, scholarships and bursaries, or interest under $1,200. Clinics do not take self-employment or business income, rental income, capital gains, bankruptcy returns, foreign property reporting or most foreign income. Quebec residents use a Revenu Québec program instead.
Clinics run as walk-in, drop-off or by appointment, in person or virtually. Bring photo ID, your SIN, slips, receipts and last year’s notice of assessment. Some clinics operate from private homes, so confirm the address first. The CRA has a tax clinic directory. Our guide to free tax filing on a low income adds more.
What if your return is too complicated for a free tier?
That is where free usually ends. Software often keeps a paid tier for rental income, self-employment or many investment slips. We cannot confirm what any product charges, and terms change, so look at the screen where it asks you to choose your situation before you enter anything. Compare that cost with a preparer’s fee, and use the income tax calculator beforehand to see the size of the return you are dealing with.
What does a free return look like in numbers?
Say you earn $45,000 in Ontario from one job and your T4 shows $6,200 withheld. Our tax refund calculator puts income tax near $5,243, so the refund is about $957 ($6,200 minus $5,243). Any free program handles that in about 20 minutes. Add a side business or a rental and the picture changes, because those returns need more forms, and free tiers often stop there.
What mistakes cost people money?
Filing late is the big one. A late return can hold up benefits, and a balance owing draws a penalty of 5% plus 1% for each full month, plus interest. For the 2026 return, the usual dates are Friday, April 30, 2027, or Tuesday, June 15, 2027 if you or your spouse is self-employed, with any balance still due April 30. See what to do if you miss it.
Smaller mistakes: old direct deposit details, a slip you forgot, and not keeping slips and receipts for six years. Also watch for an upgrade prompt near the end. If you were told the return was free, ask what the upgrade adds before you pay.
Sources and what we checked
We checked the figures and rules on this page against the official pages below in November 2026. This is an independent information page with no connection to the CRA or any government.
- CRA: Ways to file your personal tax return
- CRA: Find certified tax software and free options (2025 list)
- CRA: Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, need a hand
- CRA: SimpleFile
- CRA: Pre-filled tax return in your CRA account
- CRA: NETFILE dates
Frequently asked questions
Can I really file my taxes online for free?
Yes, if you pick certified software with a free tier that fits your situation. The CRA says most software prepares a basic return for free for people with a modest income. Four products on the 2025 list carry a plain Free label, and a dozen more offer free options depending on your tax situation.
How long can I file a 2025 return with NETFILE?
NETFILE is open for 2025 returns until Friday, January 29, 2027. The filing deadline was April 30, 2026 for most people, so if you owe tax, penalties and interest may already apply. If you are owed a refund, there is no late-filing penalty, so file anyway.
Can I use software the CRA has not certified?
You can prepare a return with it, but it cannot send the return through NETFILE, so you would have to print and mail it. Check the CRA’s certified list first. The software also has to be certified for the tax year you are filing, so last year’s version will not do.
Who qualifies for a free tax clinic?
You need a modest income and a simple tax situation. The CRA suggests total family income of $40,000 for one person, $55,000 for two, $60,000 for three, $65,000 for four and $70,000 for five, plus $5,000 for each extra person. Clinics may adjust these limits, so call the one near you.
Is the CRA pre-filled return free?
Yes. It is a free option inside your CRA account for eligible people. The CRA expects to invite about 1 million individuals from March 2027 to review and submit a pre-filled 2026 return. You must have filed your 2025 return and chosen electronic mail as your correspondence preference.
- How to choose a tax preparer in Canada
Do you need a tax preparer in Canada? How to decide, what a preparer does, the questions to ask before you hire one and where to find free help