Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Can you file with TurboTax Canada for free? It depends on the product’s own terms for the year, and what its free version covers or costs changes by season and by your situation, so check the product’s page. (This page assumes you mean TurboTax Canada.) What we can lay out is how filing for free works in Canada, and what to ask before you type in a single slip.
Is there a way to file your taxes for free?
Yes, more than one. The CRA certifies tax software, and its page says that if you have a modest income, most software will prepare a basic return for free, otherwise there’s usually a fee. Some programs let you pay what you want. Others give away a free tier based on your tax situation or income.
So “free” rarely means free for everyone. It means free for a certain kind of return.
If your return is simple and your income is modest, there’s a second route. The CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program runs free tax clinics staffed by volunteers. The CRA’s page says they’re for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation, and it has a clinic search. The income limits are left out here because the CRA’s own pages don’t agree, so read them on the clinic page.
Who usually fits a free tier?
Picture Aisha, a part-time student in Halifax with one T4 from a campus job and a tuition slip. Her return is about as simple as they come, and that’s the kind of situation free tiers are built around. Now picture her cousin in Calgary with rental income, a side gig and a stack of investment slips. The free screen will likely stop her partway and ask for an upgrade. Same year, same software, different answer.
What should a free tax product cover?
Ask these before you start. They save you from reaching the last screen and finding a price.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is it on the CRA’s certified list? | Only certified software can send a return through NETFILE |
| Does the free tier handle your slips? | Ask about T4, T5, RRSP receipts, tuition and self-employment income, one by one |
| Does it cover your province or territory? | Confirm that your provincial return is included, not only the federal one |
| What does help from a person cost? | Ask whether support or a review by a person is included |
| Can you print or download a copy? | You’ll want one for your records |
The table lists questions, not claims about any product. What a given provider charges wasn’t checked.
How does a certified program send your return?
Through NETFILE. For the 2025 return, it opened on 23 February 2026 and runs until 29 January 2027, and it also accepts older returns back to 2018. The software does the maths and the sending. You’re still the one who signs off on every number.
That’s why a quick cross-check helps. An Ontario employee earning $60,000 with $8,500 of tax withheld should see a refund near $179.50 in the tax refund calculator. If your software shows something very different, look for a slip or a deduction you’ve entered twice.
Put in a $3,000 RRSP and the same person’s tax falls from $8,320.50 to $7,566.72. That’s $753.78 less tax, so the refund grows from $179.50 to $933.28. You can test your own figures in the income tax calculator.
Free filing mistakes to avoid
Paying for an upgrade you didn’t need. Read each offer before you click through, and decide if your return really needs it. A few bucks here and there add up faster than the refund you’re chasing.
Using software that isn’t certified. The CRA publishes the list of programs that work with NETFILE, and you can find it on its tax software page.
Skipping credits because the free screen doesn’t ask. Federal credits like the disability amount or medical expenses are worked out in the tax credits calculator, which gives you a number to compare. For the full filing steps, see our guide to the tax declaration in Canada.
And forgetting the date. For the 2025 return it was 30 April 2026. The 2026 date isn’t published yet.
How we checked the figures
Facts on certified software, NETFILE dates and free clinics come from the Canada Revenue Agency‘s pages on tax software, NETFILE and the volunteer tax program. Our examples use 2026 federal and Ontario tax data. No price, discount or feature of a named product was verified, and we have no link with any tax software company or the CRA.
Frequently asked questions
Is TurboTax free in Canada?
We couldn't confirm what its free version covers or costs this year. Check the product's own page and ask what your return needs.
Which tax software can file for free?
The CRA says most certified software prepares a basic return free for modest incomes, and some use pay-what-you-want. Free offers depend on your income or tax situation.
Are there free tax clinics in Canada?
Yes. The CRA's Community Volunteer Income Tax Program runs free clinics for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation.
How do I know software is CRA-certified?
The CRA lists certified software on its tax software page. Only certified programs can send a return through NETFILE.
When does NETFILE open and close?
For the 2025 return it opened on 23 February 2026 and stays open until 29 January 2027.
- 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