Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Softron Tax in Mississauga is a search we read as a tax and accounting office in the city, so this page treats it that way. We couldn’t check anything about the firm itself, its prices or its services, and we won’t guess. What we can offer is what the CRA tells you to do before you hire any preparer, plus a short list of questions that work for any office in Mississauga.
How do you check a tax preparer before you sign?
Start with the CRA’s directory of certified EFILE providers. Its page on using a professional tax preparer says the preparers listed there are certified to file your return through the CRA EFILE service. Most returns can go in electronically, though the page notes some restrictions. If a firm says it can’t file electronically, ask why.
Then ask three plain things. What does the fee cover, in writing? Who answers if the CRA sends a letter next year? And will you see the full return before it’s sent? Any decent office answers the third one with a yes.
Anything that sounds like a promise of a bigger refund should slow you down. Nobody can promise that before they’ve seen your numbers. Same goes for a fee that’s a cut of your refund: ask what happens in a year when there’s no refund.
What does the CRA say you’re responsible for?
You are. You must give the preparer the information you gathered on income and expenses, and you should review the prepared return before it goes anywhere. You authorize filing by signing Part F of Form T183. Until you’ve signed that, nothing should be filed on your behalf.
After filing, the CRA says the notice of assessment and any refund are usually processed within two weeks. Keep your slips, receipts and the completed T183 for at least six years.
That last point catches people out. A preparer’s copy isn’t your copy.
What should you bring to a Mississauga tax office?
Bring everything that shows income or a claim:
- T4, T5 and other slips, including any that arrive late in the season
- Receipts for medical costs, donations and child care
- Last year’s notice of assessment
- RRSP contribution slips
- Any letter the CRA sent you during the year
A tidy folder saves the preparer time. If an office bills by the hour, that saves you a few bucks too. Say a preparer charged $100 an hour (a made-up rate, not any firm’s): a messy shoebox that takes two hours costs $200, while a sorted folder done in 45 minutes costs $75. We haven’t confirmed how any real firm charges.
Is a paid preparer worth it for a simple return?
Often not. For one employer and no odd claims, you can file with software, or use a free tax clinic if your income is modest. The CRA’s free clinic program is run by community organizations, and its page lists who qualifies. Income limits differ between CRA pages, so read the current one instead of trusting a number from us.
A paid office earns its fee when things get messy: self-employment, rental income, a move during the year or a return from an earlier year that you never filed.
You can size up your own case before booking. Our income tax calculator shows what plain employment income costs. On $60,000 in Ontario it comes to $8,320 in federal and provincial tax, leaving $47,340 after tax, CPP and EI. Then try the tax refund calculator to see whether a refund is even likely. If you work for yourself, the self-employed tax calculator gives a rough guide, though it leaves out EI and its deductions don’t reduce CPP.
What should you do once the return is filed?
Don’t just file and forget it. Open CRA My Account when the notice of assessment is due and compare it with the copy you were given. If the refund or balance differs from what the preparer told you, call the office that same week, while everything is fresh. Put the notice in the same folder as your slips, because next year’s preparer will ask for it.
What if the numbers disagree with your preparer’s?
Ask why, and ask early. Small gaps come from things any calculator skips: credits for a spouse, tuition carried forward, or a medical claim. Big gaps mean something was missed or entered twice. Ask for the federal and Ontario amounts shown separately, so you can compare each part with your own estimate.
Want to know what your next dollar costs? The marginal tax rate calculator helps with that, and it’s a good question for a preparer who suggests an RRSP contribution.
Sources and independence
The preparer advice comes from the CRA page linked above and its free tax clinic pages. Tax figures are from our own engine, which uses 2026 federal and Ontario rates. This site has no link with the CRA, the government or any firm named here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Softron a tax firm in Mississauga?
We assumed so from the name, but we couldn't verify the firm, its services or its fees. Check its own website and the CRA's EFILE provider directory.
Do I have to sign anything before a preparer files my return?
Yes. The CRA says you sign Part F of Form T183 to authorize your preparer to send the return electronically.
How long should I keep my tax records?
The CRA page says to keep slips, receipts and the completed T183 for at least 6 years.
Can I get my taxes done for free in Mississauga?
Free tax clinics run through the CRA's volunteer program for people with modest income and a simple return. Check the CRA page for the current rules.
What if my own estimate differs from my preparer's?
Ask for the federal and Ontario amounts separately and go through the gap. Small gaps come from credits a calculator skips, and big ones deserve an explanation before you sign.
- How Canadian income tax works: brackets and credits
How federal and provincial Canadian income tax stack up, what marginal and average rates mean, and how credits and deductions change your bill