Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
The best tax professional near you is the one who files your return electronically, has you sign a Form T183 and hands you a copy of what went to the CRA. Location matters less than that. The CRA keeps a directory of certified EFILE filers, so start there and ask a few blunt questions before you hand over a single slip.
Where do I look for a tax professional near me?
Begin with the CRA’s own tax preparer directory, which lists certified EFILE filers. That tells you a person or firm is set up to send returns to the CRA electronically. It doesn’t tell you they’re good, and we haven’t tried to rank anyone. We also couldn’t confirm any single national licence that a paid preparer must hold, so the letters after a name are worth asking about.
Word of mouth still counts. A neighbour who has used the same preparer for ten years can tell you whether calls get returned in April, and whether the return came back without surprises. Ask what kind of return that neighbour has, too, because a good fit for a retiree isn’t automatically a good fit for a landlord. Just check the preparer against the directory too.
A name in a search result is a starting point, nothing more. We can’t vouch for a price, a discount or a promised refund from any firm, and you should be wary of anyone who leads with those.
What should I ask before I hire someone?
Keep the list short. Five questions cover most of it.
- Are you a certified EFILE filer, and will you file my return that way?
- How will you get access to my CRA account?
- What will it cost, and is that in writing before you start?
- Will I get a copy of the return and the T183?
- Who do I call if the CRA writes to me next year?
The second question has a new answer. Since July 15, 2025, preparers can’t request authorization for individual clients through EFILE. You add your preparer as a representative in your CRA account, or you confirm the request they send, and the CRA says the preparer then gets instant access once the right information is given.
What happens at the first meeting?
A decent preparer will ask more than you expect. They’ll want your slips, last year’s notice of assessment, receipts for anything you plan to claim, and details of changes such as a move, a new baby or a job loss. Think of Tom in Winnipeg, who walks in with a T4, an RRSP receipt and nothing else. He may be out in half an hour, while someone with rental income and a side business should book more time.
Notice how they treat your questions. If they brush them off before tax time has even started, it won’t improve in April. Our guide to choosing a tax preparer goes through the same checks in a bit more detail.
What paperwork should I sign and keep?
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Form T183, Part F | Your declaration and authorization for the preparer to file electronically |
| Copy of the return | Lets you check what was sent against what you told the preparer |
| Level 1 authorization | Access to your account information only |
| Level 2 authorization | Access to information plus certain account changes |
| Slips, receipts, T183 | Keep for at least 6 years |
Read the electronic return and the T183 side by side before you sign. If the numbers differ, ask why. Level 1 is enough for many people, and you can go to level 2 later if the preparer needs to fix something.
How can I tell a bad preparer from a good one?
The CRA’s warnings are plain. Be suspicious of anyone who offers claims you can’t back up, such as donations you didn’t make, child care you didn’t pay or business expenses that don’t exist. Never sign a blank form. Ask for a copy of the return, and get a second opinion if something feels off.
Here’s the part people forget. You are responsible for what’s on your return, even when someone else typed it. A preparer who invents a deduction hasn’t taken the risk off your shoulders.
Pressure is another warning sign. A good preparer lets you take the draft home and read it. If you’re being hurried to sign before you’ve seen the numbers, walk out.
Some preparers work as discounters, who calculate your expected refund and pay you one amount before filing. We couldn’t confirm what any discounter charges for that, so get the figure in writing and compare it with the refund the return shows.
What is a good preparer worth on $80,000?
Take a salary of $80,000 in Ontario. The income tax calculator shows $14,127.85 of federal and Ontario income tax, before CPP and EI. Most of that isn’t negotiable.
What a preparer can change is the claims. Enter a $2,000 deduction you’d missed and the tax drops to $13,534.85, which is $593.00 less. That’s about 30 cents on each dollar, and it matches the marginal tax rate for that band.
So a fee well above that would be hard to justify for one missed claim. A fee for a messier year, with self-employment income or a sale of shares, is a different comparison. You can also test a refund with the tax refund calculator or look at what you may be leaving out with the tax credits calculator (federal credits only) before you pick anyone.
How we checked the figures
Facts about preparers, EFILE, Form T183 and authorization come from Canada Revenue Agency pages read in 2026. Income tax figures come from our calculator, which uses the 2026 federal and Ontario rates. It counts employment income only and ignores benefits, so treat the result as an estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a tax professional near me?
Start with the CRA's tax preparer directory of certified EFILE filers, then ask friends who they use and compare answers to the five questions above.
Do I have to sign anything when someone files for me?
Yes. You sign Part F of Form T183, which is your declaration and authorization to file electronically. Keep your copy for at least 6 years.
Can my preparer see my CRA account?
Only if you authorize it. Add them as a representative in your CRA account or confirm their request, and choose level 1 for information only or level 2 to allow certain changes.
Who is responsible if the return is wrong?
You are. The CRA states that even if someone else prepares your return, you are responsible for the information on it.
Should I worry about a preparer who promises a big refund?
Be careful with any promise made before your slips are seen. The CRA lists false donation, child care and business claims as warning signs.
- 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