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You can file taxes three ways: with certified software, through a paid preparer such as H&R Block, or at a free clinic if your income is modest and your return is simple. Which one fits comes down to your slips, not to a brand name. If all you have is a T4 and a few receipts, software or a clinic usually does the job.
We can’t confirm prices, discounts or refund promises for any firm, so this page doesn’t quote them. It covers what a preparer does, what you still own, and how to check the work before it goes to the CRA.
Which way should you file taxes?
Start with how messy your year was. One employer, no side income, maybe an RRSP receipt: that’s a job for software. Rental income, a business, capital gains or a move between provinces: a person is worth the fee, because those returns are where mistakes get expensive.
| Option | Suits | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Certified tax software | Simple returns, comfortable with forms | Enter slips yourself, file online |
| Paid preparer (a chain, a local firm, an accountant) | Business, rental or investment income | Hand over documents, review, sign |
| Free tax clinic (CRA volunteer program) | Modest income, simple situation | Bring ID, SIN and slips |
The CRA’s page on using a professional tax preparer says a preparer can be a firm, an organization, a discounter or another certified individual. It also runs a directory of preparers certified to file electronically, so you can look someone up before you hand over a SIN.
What should you bring, and what does a typical visit look like?
Noor, a retail supervisor in Halifax, books an appointment the first week of March. She brings her T4, her RRSP receipt, her tuition slip, a void cheque for direct deposit and last year’s notice of assessment. The preparer asks two questions: did anything change this year, and are there any other slips on the way? Twenty minutes later they go through the figures together, Noor reads the T183, and the return goes out.
Notice what made it quick. Everything was in one folder, and nothing was guessed, which is the best tax time habit going. If you’d rather file on your own, the same folder works for certified tax software, and the tax return checklist lists what to gather either way.
What does a preparer do with your return?
They enter your numbers, look for claims you qualify for and file electronically. To let them file, you sign Part F of Form T183, the declaration and authorization. Read both the return and the T183 before you sign. If the totals don’t match what you told them, say so then, not after the assessment.
Someone else can type the return, but it’s still yours. The CRA is clear that you answer for what’s on it. A preparer who promises a huge refund or offers claims you never had (donations, child care, business costs) is a warning sign, and the CRA lists exactly those as things to stay away from.
What does the refund really look like?
Refunds come from tax already withheld, so you can guess yours before you go anywhere. Take an Ontario employee earning $75,000 with $14,000 withheld. The tax refund calculator puts income tax for the year at $12,704.65, so the refund is $1,295.35. If a preparer quotes something far above that with only a T4, ask what claim makes up the gap.
To see where the tax itself comes from, run the same pay through the income tax calculator. If you want to know what an RRSP receipt would do to the number, use the tax credits and deductions calculator, which shows what a deduction saves at your rate.
Mistakes that cost people money
Missing slips come first. Tax slips show up late in February and some arrive in March, and a return filed before they’re all in can be reassessed. Wrong direct deposit details come second. Update them in your CRA account before filing.
Then there’s access. As of July 15, 2025, preparers can’t request authorization through EFILE for individual clients. They have to use Represent a Client, so expect a request in your CRA account, or be ready to give details from a notice of assessment that’s at least six months old. Don’t hand over your CRA password.
Last, keep the paper. The CRA asks you to keep slips, receipts and your T183 for at least six years. A preparer closing shop in June doesn’t cancel that.
What about the date? The CRA usually sets April 30 for most people. We haven’t confirmed the date for the 2026 return, so check the CRA page in February. Business income normally moves the filing date to June 15, but any balance owing is still due April 30.
What this page is based on
The refund and tax figures come from our calculators, which use 2026 federal and Ontario rates published by the Canada Revenue Agency and the Ontario government. Preparer guidance, the T183 rules, the six year record period and the July 2025 change come from Canada.ca pages on tax preparers and on getting ready for tax season. This site has no link with the CRA or with any tax firm.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file taxes myself if I've never done it?
Yes, if you have a T4 or two and no business income. Certified software walks you through the slips, and a free clinic is another route if your income is modest.
What do I sign when a preparer files for me?
Part F of Form T183, the declaration and authorization. Read the T183 and the return first, since you answer for what's on them.
How long do I keep my tax papers?
The CRA says at least six years for slips, receipts and the T183.
Does a preparer's refund estimate mean anything?
Only if you can trace it. Withholding on your pay stubs sets most of a refund, so a much bigger number needs a claim you can name.
How does a preparer get access to my CRA account?
Through Represent a Client. You add them in your CRA account or confirm their request. Since July 15, 2025 EFILE can't be used to ask for authorization for individuals.
- How to choose a tax preparer in Canada
How to decide if you need a tax preparer, what a preparer does, the questions to ask before you hire one and where to find free help in Canada