Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Tax software in Canada has to be certified by the CRA if you want to file electronically with NETFILE, and it has to be certified for the tax year you’re filing. The CRA keeps a list of certified programs. StudioTax is one name on it, and there are others. Pick from that list and you’re choosing on features and price, not on whether the CRA will accept the file.
How do you pick tax software that fits your return?
Start with your own return, not the program. Do you have only a T4 and some receipts, or rental income, self-employment, foreign slips? The CRA says some software is free if your income is modest or your situation is simple, or if you live in certain provinces. Others charge a fee. We haven’t checked any provider’s prices or limits, so look at the provider’s own page for the year you’re filing.
Then ask three plain questions. Is it certified for this tax year? Does it handle every slip and form you have? And can it file an amended return later? ReFILE, the CRA’s service for amended T1 returns, covers 2022 to 2025 only, and the program has to support it.
What does the CRA say about the years and the window?
| Item | What the CRA lists |
|---|---|
| Years NETFILE can send as an initial return | 2018 to 2025 |
| Software rule | Certified for the specific year you file |
| NETFILE and ReFILE open | 23 February 2026 to 29 January 2027 |
| Amended returns through ReFILE | 2022 to 2025 |
| Filing due date, 2025 return, most people | 30 April 2026 |
The 2026 return’s dates aren’t published, so we can’t give them yet. If you can’t use NETFILE, you can print your return and mail it. The CRA’s service standard for a paper return is a notice of assessment within 12 weeks, against 2 weeks for an electronic one, so file online if you can and you’ll know where you stand long before the paper filer does.
Can you trust the number the software gives you?
Mostly. But the CRA is blunt about it.
The CRA cannot be held responsible if omissions or programming errors affect the calculation of amounts payable.
Certified tax software, Canada Revenue Agency, canada.ca
It also says the use of the software is the responsibility of the user and the software developer. So a quick sanity check is worth two minutes.
Here’s one way. Take an Ontario employee with $75,000 of employment income and $14,000 of tax withheld. The tax refund calculator gives $12,704.65 of tax and a refund of $1,295.35. If your program shows a refund of $400 or one of $3,000, don’t file yet. Look for a missing slip, a deduction entered twice or a wrong province.
The calculator won’t match your return to the dollar. It covers federal and provincial income tax and the basic credits, and it leaves out benefits and other claims. A small gap is normal. A big one means something’s off, either in the program or in what you typed.
What should you have ready before you start?
Gather the paper first, then open the program.
- Every T4, T5 and other slip you were sent
- RRSP contribution receipts, and the RRSP calculator shows how much room you have
- Receipts for medical costs, donations and child care
- Last year’s notice of assessment
The tax credits calculator is a decent prompt for amounts you might have forgotten, though it’s federal only.
What should you check after you file?
Your notice of assessment is the CRA’s answer to your return, and it’s worth reading line by line. The CRA’s standard is 2 weeks for electronic returns and 12 weeks for paper ones, counted from when it has your return and any support it needs. Compare the income and the refund or balance on the notice with what your software showed.
Spot a mistake, such as a slip you forgot? Don’t panic and don’t ignore it. An amended return fixes it, and if your software supports ReFILE you can send it online, for 2022 through 2025. Do it at tax time rather than months later, so interest on any balance stays small.
Mistakes people make with tax software
Using last year’s edition is the plain one. It won’t be certified for this year. Another is trusting the first-run summary. Read the final page and the credits and deductions list, since a program can only apply what you entered.
If you run a small business or work for yourself, check that the version includes the forms you need. Our self-employed tax calculator gives a rough figure, but it leaves out EI, so it’s not a substitute for the forms.
And what about “best” software? We won’t rank any. We couldn’t verify features, prices or free limits for named products, and those change every season.
Sources, and how we checked them
Certification, the filing years, the service window, the free-software conditions and the paper processing time come from the Canada Revenue Agency‘s tax software and NETFILE pages, read in September 2026. The example uses 2026 federal and Ontario figures from our own data files. This website has no connection with the CRA or any software company.
Frequently asked questions
Does tax software have to be certified?
To file with NETFILE it does. The CRA certifies software each year, and the program must be certified for the tax year you're filing.
Which years can I file with NETFILE?
The CRA lists initial returns for 2018 to 2025, with the service open from 23 February 2026 to 29 January 2027.
Is there free tax software?
The CRA says some software is free if your income is modest or your situation is simple. Check the provider's page for the year, since limits vary.
Can I fix a return I filed with software?
ReFILE handles amended T1 returns for 2022 to 2025. Older years go through Change my return or form T1-ADJ.
Who's responsible if the software makes an error?
The CRA says use of the software is the responsibility of the user and the developer, and the CRA can't be held responsible for programming errors.
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