Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
No accounting software follows Canadian tax rules by magic, and we couldn’t find any CRA grading of bookkeeping apps. What the CRA does certify is tax filing software, which it approves each year for sending personal returns electronically. So check any accounting software yourself, with a few test numbers you know are right.
What does CRA certified actually cover?
The CRA certifies software from outside developers every year. On its page, certification means the software can calculate a return and file it electronically. Certified products can send first returns for tax years 2018 to 2025 through NETFILE, and amended returns for 2022 to 2025 through ReFILE. For 2026, NETFILE and ReFILE are open from 23 February 2026 until 29 January 2027.
Notice what that leaves out. It says nothing about how well a product handles your invoices, your HST account or your payroll. We couldn’t find a CRA list that certifies bookkeeping features, so if a vendor says “CRA approved”, ask which service they mean.
The CRA also tells you to do some homework yourself. It says it doesn’t look at the developers’ privacy policies, so read them. It also says to confirm you have the latest version of the program, and to check which free offers apply to your income and province.
Which tax rules should accounting software get right?
For a small Canadian business the list is short but unforgiving.
| Area | What to test | Known answer |
|---|---|---|
| HST in Ontario | Sale of $1,000 | 13% HST, $130.00 |
| GST and QST in Quebec | Sale of $1,000 | $50.00 GST and $99.75 QST |
| GST and PST in British Columbia | Sale of $1,000 | $50.00 GST and $70.00 PST where PST applies |
| Employer payroll cost, Ontario | Salary of $85,000 | $4,646.45 CPP and $1,572.30 EI |
Rates depend on the province where the sale is taxed. A product set up for Ontario can be wrong for a Quebec customer, and a tax code that’s right for one product can be wrong for the next, so test more than once.
How do you test a program before you pay for it?
Enter the same sale in a trial and compare. Put in a $1,000 Ontario sale and you should see $130 of HST. Try the same invoice with a Quebec customer, and you should see $50 GST and $99.75 QST. If the software shows a single blended figure, find out how it splits them, because you report the two taxes separately.
Our GST and HST calculator and the GST and QST calculator give the answer for any amount. Note that our BC sales tax tool applies the 12% combined rate to everything, so it can overstate tax on goods that carry GST only.
Payroll deserves the same test. Put an employee on $85,000 in Ontario and compare the contributions with the payroll deductions calculator. Employer CPP should be $4,646.45 and employer EI $1,572.30 on our numbers. Then look at how your remittances line up using the payroll remittance calculator.
If the trial gets one of these wrong, walk away. It’s a cheap test and it takes ten minutes.
Mistakes and limits
The most avoidable mistake is leaving the default tax codes untouched. Treat them as a starting point, since a wrong province at sign-up means every invoice carries the wrong tax, and rates do change, so run your test again whenever one does.
Also, don’t assume the software files for you. It prepares the numbers, and you or your accountant still file. Finally, keep your own backup of the books. If you cancel the subscription, find out first what you can still export.
We haven’t compared prices, features or named products, because we couldn’t verify any of that, and products change faster than a page like this can follow. If you want a name to try, QuickBooks is one example of a program Canadian small businesses use. That’s a mention, not a recommendation.
Where the numbers come from
Certification details are from the CRA’s pages on certified tax software and NETFILE. The 5% GST, 13% Ontario HST and 9.975% QST come from our sales tax data, which cites Revenu Quebec and the CRA. Payroll figures use the 2026 CPP and EI limits and rates published by the CRA. We have no link with the CRA or any software maker.
Frequently asked questions
Does the CRA approve accounting software?
We couldn't find a CRA list that certifies bookkeeping features. The CRA certifies tax filing software for sending returns electronically, every year.
What does CRA certified software mean?
The CRA says it means the software can calculate a return and file it electronically. It also says it doesn't review the developers' privacy policies.
What should I test first?
Sales tax for your province, and employer CPP and EI if you have staff. Use a sale of $1,000 and compare with a calculator.
How much GST and QST on $1,000 in Quebec?
$50.00 GST plus $99.75 QST, so $149.75 in total tax.
Does the software file my return for me?
It prepares the figures and some products can send returns, but you or your accountant still have to file and check the result.
- Self-employed taxes in Canada: income, CPP and GST
How tax works when you are self-employed in Canada: reporting income and expenses, paying both halves of CPP, instalments and when to register for GST
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.