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Canada tax software is free to file with if your return is simple. The CRA says most certified programs will prepare a basic return at no charge for people with modest income, and charge a fee once things get more involved. Wealthsimple is one of the names people search for, and it’s a fine example to know, but we couldn’t confirm any product’s price, feature or ranking, so we stick to how to choose.
What makes tax software certified?
Each year the CRA certifies programs made by outside companies. Certified software can work out your return and send it to the CRA electronically. The CRA’s own list shows the options and the cost of each, so start there instead of with an ad.
Pick something off that list and you’re using NETFILE, the CRA’s service for personal returns. For this cycle it opened on February 23, 2026 and stays open until January 29, 2027, and it takes returns for 2018 through 2025.
Which Canada tax software should you pick?
There’s no best one, only the one that fits your year. Ask four questions.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is it on the CRA certified list? | Only certified software files through NETFILE. |
| Does the free version cover your slips? | Modest income usually files free, but extras can move you to a paid tier. |
| Can it import from the CRA? | Fewer typing mistakes, and faster. |
| What does it cost to add a schedule? | Self-employment, rental income or a tax year not the current one can change the price. |
The middle rows are checks, not promises. We can’t say which programs pass them, and the CRA page doesn’t either.
What if you also hold investments?
Investors tend to hit the paid tier first. Sales of shares, interest and dividends all need reporting, and a broker’s slips may arrive late in the season. A robo advisor or a bank may offer its own filing tool, and it might be tempting, since your slips sit in one place. Still, that’s a convenience, not a tax advantage, and the tax on your gains doesn’t change with the brand.
If you want to see the tax on a sale before filing, try the capital gains tax calculator. For dividends from Canadian companies, the dividend tax calculator shows what’s left after the credit. And if you’re deciding where to hold money in the first place, the TFSA calculator shows how the account grows without tax.
What does a worked example look like?
Take an Ontario employee earning $85,000. The income tax calculator gives $15,551.05 in federal and Ontario tax, plus $5,769.52 in CPP and EI, an average tax rate of 18.3%. Enter the same slips into any certified program and the tax line should land in that neighbourhood, once your own credits are in.
Good software should never disagree with the maths by thousands. If it does, you’ve mistyped a box, or a slip is missing. Check before you file, not after.
Where do people trip up?
The first mistake is filing without all your slips, because they haven’t arrived yet. Wait for them. The second is trusting a refund estimate before the return is finished. The third is paying for a premium tier you never needed, so open the free version first and see whether it accepts your slips.
And since you file for yourself, you’re the one responsible. The CRA says keep your slips and receipts for at least six years. A review letter can show up long after the return has been forgotten.
Before you sign up, use the tax refund calculator to get a rough figure. Then compare it with what the software reports on the first screen where it shows one.
Where the numbers come from
The NETFILE dates and the certified software rules come from the Canada Revenue Agency’s pages, read in September 2026. The tax figures come from the 2026 federal and Ontario rates in our calculators. This site is not linked to the CRA, Wealthsimple or any software maker.
Frequently asked questions
What does CRA certified tax software mean?
The CRA approves programs each year that can work out a return and send it to the CRA electronically. The official list shows the options and the cost of each.
Is Canada tax software really free?
The CRA says most certified programs prepare a basic return for free if your income is modest. Expect a fee when your return is more involved.
When can I use NETFILE?
For this cycle it runs from February 23, 2026 to January 29, 2027, for returns from 2018 to 2025.
Does it matter if my broker has its own filing tool?
It can save typing, but it doesn't change your tax. We couldn't confirm what any product costs or includes.
How long do I keep my slips?
At least 6 years. The CRA may ask to see them.
- How Canadian income tax works: brackets and credits
How federal and provincial Canadian income tax stack up, what marginal and average rates mean, and how credits and deductions change your bill
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.