Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
A good income tax preparer is someone the CRA lists as certified to file your return electronically, who shows you the numbers before anything is sent. That’s the whole test in one line. Everything else on this page is about how to check it and what to hold on to afterwards.
How do you know a preparer can file for you?
The CRA says to confirm the person is certified to file your return with its EFILE service. It runs a public directory on canada.ca that you can search by postal code, so the check takes a minute. Do it before you hand over a single slip.
There’s a second thing to look up. Some returns can’t go through EFILE at all, and the CRA publishes a list of those exclusions. If yours is on it, the preparer will have to use another route, and you should hear that up front.
What happens between your slips and the filed return?
Your preparer enters the information, then completes Form T183, which has to match the electronic return exactly. You sign Part F of the T183, the declaration and authorization that lets them file. You can also allow them to view your online tax information and make certain changes, but that part is optional.
The sequence, when everything goes well, is slips in, T183 signed, return sent and notice of assessment back, and you should be able to watch each step happen without chasing anyone. The CRA says refunds are usually processed within two weeks. Hearing that a refund takes far longer than that is a reason to ask questions.
What should you bring, and what should you keep?
| Bring | Keep afterwards |
|---|---|
| All tax slips | The slips and receipts |
| Receipts for credits and deductions | Your copy of the T183 |
| Anything else that backs up a claim | The notice of assessment |
The CRA asks you to keep slips, receipts and the completed T183 for at least six years. Ask your preparer for a copy of the T183 the same day, and if they say they’ll send it later, put a reminder in your phone, because the paper you don’t have in year five is the paper the CRA asks about.
Does the refund they quote make sense?
You can test any number a preparer gives you. Say you earned $60,000 as an employee in Ontario and had $9,000 of income tax withheld. The tax refund calculator works out income tax of $8,320.50 for the year, on taxable income of $59,435, which means a refund near $679.50.
Your real return may differ, because tuition, medical costs and donations change it, and the calculator counts only the basic personal amount plus the employment, CPP and EI credits. But if the preparer says $2,500 and you have nothing unusual, ask where the extra $1,800 comes from. There may be a good answer.
You can run your own figures in the income tax calculator before the appointment. If part of your income is self-employed, the self-employed tax calculator shows what tax plus CPP looks like, keeping in mind that it leaves out EI.
What about refund advances and fees?
The CRA page mentions discounters, meaning firms that work out your expected refund and give you one payment up front before filing. Read the terms carefully, because you’re trading part of your refund for speed. We couldn’t verify what any firm charges, so we can’t tell you what’s typical.
The same goes for preparer fees in general. Ask how the fee is set, in dollars, before you start. A fee tied to the size of your refund gives the preparer a reason to push that refund up, so we’d ask for a flat quote instead. That’s our view, not a CRA rule.
Mistakes that cost people money
Never sign a blank or partly filled T183.
That’s the big one, and it’s easy to do when someone slides a form across the desk. You’re the one who answers to the CRA if something is wrong, so scan the totals and ask about anything you don’t recognize. Give only the access the job needs, too. The T183 lets you tick optional online access, and you can leave it unticked.
Finally, watch your own timing. The 2025 return was due 30 April 2026, or 15 June 2026 if you or your spouse were self-employed, and any balance owing was still due 30 April. We couldn’t find 2026 dates published yet, so check the CRA’s important dates page before you plan around them.
Where do the numbers come from?
The preparer steps, the T183 and the six year rule come from the CRA page on using a professional tax preparer. The filing dates come from CRA pages for the 2025 return. Tax figures come from the 2026 federal and Ontario data in our calculators. This website has no connection with the CRA or any other government body.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check that a tax preparer is certified?
Search the CRA's tax preparer directory by postal code. The CRA says to confirm the preparer is certified for EFILE.
What is Form T183?
It's the form you sign to authorize electronic filing. It must match the electronic return your preparer sends.
How long do I keep my tax records?
The CRA asks you to keep slips, receipts and the completed T183 for at least six years.
How long does a refund take after filing?
The CRA says refunds are usually processed within two weeks.
What do preparers charge?
We couldn't confirm typical fees from an official source. Ask how the fee is set before you start.
- 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
Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.