Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Searching for “the tax lady” usually means you want a personal tax preparer, someone who files your return for you. We can’t tell which business by that name you have in mind, so this page makes no claim about any one of them. It covers what applies whoever you hire: what the CRA says a preparer can be, how they get into your file, and how to check their work against your own numbers.
Who can prepare your return?
The CRA’s page on using a professional tax preparer says a tax preparer can be a firm, an organization, a discounter or any other certified individual. That’s a wide net. We couldn’t find anything on the CRA page that ranks these options or sets fees, and we won’t guess at prices or qualifications for you.
So ask. Ask what their training is, whether they file electronically, and what they charge before they start. If they dodge, you’ve learned something.
How do you vet a neighbourhood preparer you’ve only heard about?
Word of mouth is how most people find someone, and it’s a fine start. Your cousin swears by a woman who does returns out of her home office. Lovely. Now treat her like any other preparer: ask for her credentials, ask whether she files electronically, and ask for a price in writing.
A friendly name on a flyer isn’t a certification. If she files by EFILE she’ll be in the CRA’s directory, so a quick look-up settles it. If she doesn’t file electronically, ask how the return gets to the CRA, and how long that takes.
How does a tax lady or any preparer get into your CRA account?
Since 15 July 2025, authorization requests for individuals go through the CRA’s Represent a Client service, not EFILE. You have two ways to give access. You can add the preparer in your CRA account or confirm the request they send you. Or you can hand over details from a notice of assessment you received at least six months ago, and they use that to ask for access securely.
For individuals there are two levels. Level 1 lets them see your information. Level 2 lets them see it and make certain account changes. Start with the lower one if all you need is a return filed.
The access stays until you or they cancel it, or until it expires if you set a date. You can cancel from your CRA account at any time, and you’ll want to once the job is done.
What should you hand over?
Gather everything about your income and expenses before the first meeting, well ahead of the tax time rush. The CRA’s list is short:
- Your tax slips, such as T4s and T5s
- Receipts for credits and deductions you plan to claim
- Any other papers that back up something on the return
Check that your direct deposit, mailing address and notification settings are current with the CRA too. A refund sent to a closed account is a real hassle.
What does a signed return mean?
To let a preparer file electronically, you sign Part F, “Declaration and authorization”, on Form T183. The preparer keeps it, and the CRA says you should keep the completed T183, your slips and your receipts for at least six years. Read the return before you sign it. The declaration says the information is right, and it’s your name on it.
Once it’s filed, the CRA page says a notice of assessment and refund typically come in about two weeks.
How do you check the number you’re given?
Run your own estimate first. Say you earned $75,000 in Ontario and your employer withheld $14,000 in income tax. The tax refund calculator gives tax of $12,704.65 and a refund of $1,295.35. If a preparer says $3,000, ask why. There may be a good reason, such as a deduction the tool doesn’t include, but you should hear it.
The gap is simple to size: $3,000 minus $1,295.35 is $1,704.65 that has to come from somewhere, whether it’s an RRSP contribution, tuition or a big medical bill. If the answer is “trust me”, that’s your cue to ask for the line on the return.
The income tax calculator shows the same tax without the withholding, and the tax credits calculator covers federal credits only, so it won’t match an Ontario return exactly. An RRSP is the usual gap: the RRSP calculator shows what a contribution does.
Mistakes and limits
The biggest one is treating a promised refund as fact. A refund is tax paid minus tax owed, and nobody can promise it before they’ve seen your slips. Another is skipping the return copy: ask for it, every year.
We haven’t confirmed any preparer’s fees, reviews or free services, and we don’t compare businesses. Free tax clinics run through a CRA volunteer program, and their income limits differ between CRA pages, so check the current CRA page before you rely on one.
What this page is based on
Preparer types, Form T183, record keeping and processing times come from the CRA‘s “Using a professional tax preparer” page. Authorization rules come from the CRA’s Represent a Client pages and its 2026 tax tip on giving your preparer access. The refund figures come from our calculator using 2026 rates. This is an independent site with no tie to the CRA.
Frequently asked questions
How do I give my tax preparer access to my CRA account?
Add them as a representative in your CRA account or confirm their request in Represent a Client. You can also give them details from a notice of assessment received at least six months ago.
What is Form T183?
It's the form you sign so your preparer can file your return electronically. Part F is the declaration and authorization.
How long should I keep my tax records?
The CRA says at least six years, including your slips, receipts and the completed T183.
Can I cancel a preparer's access?
Yes. Access lasts until you or they cancel it or it expires, and you manage it through your CRA account.
How can I check the refund my preparer quotes?
Run your income and withholding through a refund estimator. On $75,000 with $14,000 withheld in Ontario, our calculator shows $1,295.35.
- 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