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A tax service is any paid or free help with your taxes, from software that files your return to an accountant who deals with the CRA for you. The useful question is which service matches your year, and a return with one T4 needs very little while a self-employed year needs more.
What can a tax service do besides file your return?
Filing is the part everyone thinks of. But the CRA also lets you authorize a representative, and that opens up more. A representative can be an accountant, a bookkeeper, a lawyer, a spouse, another family member or a friend. Once you authorize them, they can see your tax information, your assessment or reassessment, and update some account details for you.
You give that permission in your CRA My Account, or through a form. There are different levels of access, so read what each one allows before you click. It’s a quick job, and you don’t need a lawyer for it.
That matters most when the CRA writes to you, and it’s the part people don’t think about until the letter lands. A letter about a reassessment is easier to answer with someone who can see the same file you can.
Which service suits which kind of year?
| Your year | Service to look at |
|---|---|
| One or two slips, no claims | Certified software, or SimpleFile Digital if you qualify |
| Low income, simple slips | A free tax clinic |
| Self-employed or rental income | A preparer or accountant who does business returns |
| Letters from the CRA | A preparer you’ve authorized as a representative |
| Payroll for employees | Someone who handles source deductions |
SimpleFile Digital is free, but it only covers specific income sources and limits that differ by province and age. For instance, the CRA page shows $22,631 in Ontario for ages 15 to 64 with the disability tax credit. Check your own limit before you plan around it.
Is a tax service worth paying for if you’re self-employed?
Usually, yes, and here’s why. Take $60,000 of net self-employed income in Ontario. Our 2026 estimate is $7,879.42 of income tax and $6,723.50 of CPP, for $45,397.08 left. The same $60,000 as an employee gives $8,320.50 of tax and $4,339.75 of payroll deductions. You pay both halves of CPP as a self-employed person, and that’s a surprise for a lot of first year freelancers.
Those figures leave out EI and any business expenses. Expenses are where a good preparer earns the fee, since they reduce your tax. The self-employed tax calculator lets you test the difference.
Self-employed filers also get a later filing date, June 15 for the 2025 return, but the CRA still wanted any tax owing by April 30, so don’t treat June as a payment deadline.
What about instalments and rental income?
If you owed more than $3,000 net (or $1,800 in Quebec) this year and in one of the two years before, the CRA may ask for instalments due on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. Late or short instalments can bring interest and penalties, so have someone track the dates. The tax instalments calculator splits the total into four payments.
Rental income is another job for a specialist. Try the rental income tax calculator to see how much a property adds to your tax, then bring that number to a preparer.
Mistakes when you pick a tax service
Skipping the fee question is number one. We found no official fee levels, so every price you hear is one to compare, not a benchmark. Get it in writing.
Number two is handing over a My Account login. Don’t do that. Authorize them as a representative instead, so you choose what they can see and can take it back later.
Third, forgetting that you still sign. It’s your return, and it’s your name on it.
Where do these numbers come from?
Representative authorization comes from the CRA’s pages on authorizing a representative. SimpleFile limits, filing dates and instalment rules come from the CRA pages on SimpleFile Digital, due dates and required instalments. Example figures come from our calculators on 2026 rates rechecked on 29 September 2026. This website has no connection with the CRA or any other government body.
Frequently asked questions
What does a tax service do?
It ranges from software that files your return to an accountant who prepares it, answers CRA letters and tracks instalments for you.
Can someone deal with the CRA on my behalf?
Yes. You can authorize a representative in My Account or by form, and you choose what level of access they get.
Should I give my tax preparer my CRA login?
No. Authorize them as a representative instead, so they use their own access and you control what they can see.
Is a tax service worth it if I'm self-employed?
Often. On $60,000 net in Ontario we estimate $7,879.42 of tax plus $6,723.50 of CPP, and expenses can lower the tax.
When are tax instalments due?
March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 for most people. Farmers and fishers have one due date, December 31.
- 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.