Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Choosing a tax preparer in London, Ontario comes down to a few checks: what the full job costs, who prepares the return, and whether you leave with a copy of it and a signed T183 that matches. Ontario adds no special step, so you pay for time and answers, not for a different tax rate.
If you came here looking for one named firm, such as Liberty Tax, we can’t tell you about its prices, offices or hours. We couldn’t confirm any of that, and we won’t guess. What we can give you is a way to judge any preparer, on any street in the city.
What is a tax preparer, in the CRA’s eyes?
The CRA uses the term loosely. A preparer can be a firm, an organization, a discounter or any other certified individual who files returns for other people. It publishes a tax preparer directory of people certified to file returns through its EFILE service, which is a fair place to start if you know your part of London but not the names.
Ontario adds no special step. Federal and Ontario tax are worked out the same way with a storefront, an accountant or software at your kitchen table. What you’re paying for is time, care and someone to answer questions, not a better tax rate.
What should you bring to the first meeting?
Your slips, ID and social insurance number, receipts for anything you want to claim, your direct deposit details and last year’s notice of assessment. If you’re a student at Western or Fanshawe, add your tuition slip, since that’s one people forget. Slips can show up as late as March, so a meeting held too early just means a second trip.
Also bring your questions. Three are enough: what does the full job cost, who prepares the return, and what happens if the CRA writes back later?
What should you have in hand when you leave?
Four things change hands in an ordinary visit. This table shows what to expect and why each one matters.
| Item | What the CRA says |
|---|---|
| Form T183, Part F | You sign it to let the preparer send your return electronically. The figures on it must match the electronic return. |
| A copy of your return | You review it before it goes. You’re responsible for its accuracy. |
| Notice of assessment | The CRA usually processes an electronic return within about 2 weeks. |
| Slips, receipts and the T183 | Keep them for at least 6 years. |
How can you sanity check a preparer’s numbers?
Do a rough run yourself before the appointment. It takes five minutes and it stops you nodding along at a figure that’s off.
Say you earn $85,000 in employment income and live in Ontario. The income tax calculator gives $15,551.05 in federal and Ontario tax, and $5,769.52 in CPP and EI, which leaves $63,679.43. Your own return will differ, since medical costs, donations and RRSP deductions all move it. But if a preparer’s answer lands thousands away from that, ask where the gap comes from.
Refund is the other number people care about. Put your withholding into the tax refund calculator and you’ll know roughly what’s coming before anyone tells you.
Running a small business or freelancing? A net income of $45,000 in Ontario means about $10,060.99 in tax and CPP together, according to the self-employed tax calculator. That tool leaves out EI and GST/HST, so treat it as a floor.
How do you compare two quotes?
Don’t compare the headline number alone. Line the quotes up on what each one covers: your return type, any extra schedules, electronic filing, a copy of the return, and help if the CRA asks questions later. A quote that looks cheaper but leaves out the rental schedule can end up costing more by the time you’re done. Two phone calls on a quiet evening is a small price for knowing.
What about a refund advance?
The CRA describes a discounter as a business that works out your expected refund and pays you one lump sum up front, before your return is filed. That can feel like a favour. It’s a loan against money the CRA owes you, so ask what it costs, in dollars, and who keeps the difference. We couldn’t confirm what any London firm charges for this, so get the number in writing.
Where do people go wrong with a tax preparer?
Most of the trouble comes from a handful of habits. Signing a blank form is the worst. Never do it, and take home a copy of the return every time.
The CRA also warns about preparers who offer claims you don’t qualify for, like donations you never made or child care you never paid. The refund looks great, then a review letter arrives, and the bill lands on you, not on them.
Skip the questions and you’ll pay for it too. Ask how the fee is set, whether the price changes if you have a T5 or rental income, and who answers if the CRA writes six months later. A good preparer answers without fuss.
Finally, don’t be shy about the human part. A preparer who rushes you through, won’t explain a line or gets annoyed by questions isn’t the one to hand your slips to. Many people keep the same preparer for years, and that trust comes from straight answers at tax time.
Last check: make sure the numbers on the T183 match the return you reviewed. The CRA says they must.
Is a preparer worth it at all?
For a plain T4 return, probably not. Certified software does the job, and the guide to choosing tax software covers how to pick one. Our wider guide to choosing a tax preparer in Canada lists the questions to ask in any city. A preparer earns the fee when your year was messy: self-employment, rental income, a move, or a return you’re catching up on. If you wonder how much your deductions matter, try the tax credits calculator before you pay anyone to find them.
Official page on this topic: Government of Canada: Using a professional tax preparer.
Where the numbers come from
Form T183, the preparer directory, the refund advance description and the six year record rule come from the CRA’s page on using a professional tax preparer, read in November 2026, and from the Canada Revenue Agency‘s site. The tax figures come from the 2026 federal and Ontario rates used by our calculators. This site has no link with the CRA or any preparer.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for my return if a preparer files it?
Treat the return as yours, because you sign Part F of Form T183 to let the preparer send it. The CRA says the information on the T183 must match the electronic return, so read a copy before you authorize filing and keep it. If the CRA writes back later, you want a preparer who will answer.
Can I find a certified preparer near me?
Yes. The CRA publishes a tax preparer directory of people certified to file returns through its EFILE service. Start there, then phone two or three firms and ask what the full job costs, who prepares the return and what happens if the CRA writes back. We could not confirm any London firm’s prices, hours or offices.
Do prices differ between London firms?
Probably, but we could not confirm any firm’s fees, so we will not quote one. Line the quotes up on what each covers: your return type, extra schedules such as rental income, electronic filing, a copy of the return and help if the CRA asks questions. Get the price in writing and ask what triggers extra charges.
What does a refund advance cost?
The CRA describes a discounter as a business that works out your expected refund and pays you one lump sum before your return is filed. That is a loan against money the CRA owes you. We could not confirm what any London firm charges, so ask for the cost in dollars and get it in writing before you sign.
How long should I keep the paperwork?
Keep your slips, receipts and the completed T183 for at least 6 years, as the CRA says. The CRA also says an electronic return is usually processed within about 2 weeks, so compare your notice of assessment with the copy of the return you were given, and ask the preparer about any gap.
- How to choose a tax preparer in Canada
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- Ontario income tax and sales tax in 2026
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