Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Want to compare tax software? Start by knowing the CRA won’t rank it for you. Every program that can send your return online must be certified for NETFILE, so the choice is yours, and it comes down to matching what your return contains to what a version covers. The same steps work for TurboTax and for every rival.
Where do you start with the certified list?
With the one the Canada Revenue Agency publishes each year. Each entry links to the developer’s own page, where you’ll find the versions on offer. The agency notes that some free programs work on a pay-what-you-want basis, and some paid programs have a free offer that depends on your situation or income level.
On a modest income, most software prepares a basic return for free. Otherwise there’s usually a service fee. The list doesn’t show prices, so read the price for your exact return on the developer’s page before you start. The list itself is the CRA’s certified tax software page.
How do you match a version to your return?
Look at what’s on your return, then confirm the version handles it.
| What your return contains | What to confirm in the version | Where to estimate the tax |
|---|---|---|
| T4 slips and standard credits | Slip import, RRSP and tuition claims | Income tax calculator |
| Interest or rent on the side | Rental forms, expense entry | Rental income tax |
| Freelance or business income | Business section, both halves of CPP | Self-employed tax |
| Dividends from shares | Gross-up and credit handling | Dividend tax |
A cheaper version is fine if it lists every form you need. One that leaves a form out makes you pay again, so check the coverage before you enter any data.
Which kind of filer are you?
Before you compare a single price, sort yourself into one of three groups. Ravi, a student in Halifax with one T4 and a tuition slip, needs the basics and should almost never pay. Mei, an Ontario nurse with a T4 and a small rental suite, needs rental forms and should confirm them first. Tom in Edmonton, who drives for a delivery app on weekends, needs the business section and a way to track instalments. Your group tells you which row of the table above to read, and it keeps you from paying for features you’ll never open.
What does one extra income source add?
Take an Ontario employee earning $60,000. The income tax calculator shows $8,320.50 of federal and Ontario tax. Add $8,000 of other taxable income, such as net rent, and the tax rises to $10,692.50. That’s $2,372.00 more, about 30 cents on each extra dollar.
The extra income brings extra forms with it. If a version can’t handle rent, or puts it in a higher tier, you now know whether that tier is worth its price. An employee with only slips may never need it.
Self-employment moves the numbers further. On $80,000 of net business income in Ontario, the self-employed tax calculator shows $13,233.57 of income tax and $8,892.90 of CPP for both halves, or $22,126.47 in all. Software for that case needs a business section, and you may owe instalments once tax owing passes $3,000 a year, so check the dates in the tax instalments calculator.
How do you try before you pay?
- Enter your slips first and look at the price screen only when the return is complete.
- Ask what the fee covers: support, a second family member, prior years and amendments.
- Save a copy of the finished return, because you may need it if the CRA asks questions later.
- Compare the total with an independent estimate before you send.
When should you pay anything at all?
Pay when the extra cost buys something you’d otherwise do by hand: a form the free version lacks, help from a person, or a way to fix earlier years. Skip it when the upgrade only adds convenience you don’t need. If an upsell shows up mid-return, close the screen and check whether the version you started with covers your forms. At tax time a few bucks saved on software is real money, and a cheap tool that handles your return is worth more than a fancy one that doesn’t.
Can certified software still get it wrong?
Yes. Certification means the return will arrive in the right format, not that the return is right. The program only uses what you type or import, so a missed slip carries straight through.
Deadlines don’t vary by product either: April 30 for most people, and June 15 for filing if you or your spouse is self-employed, though any tax owing is still due April 30.
We couldn’t check prices, discounts or feature lists for any named product. Those change every season, so read them on the seller’s own page. What we can do is tell you what to look for. Picking the brand is up to you.
Sources, and how we checked them
Facts about certification, free options and deadlines come from the Canada Revenue Agency‘s pages on certified software and filing due dates. Tax figures come from the calculators on this site, which use 2026 federal and provincial rates and were rechecked in September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does the CRA say which tax software is best?
No. It publishes a list of certified products, and the choice between them is yours.
Is there free tax software in Canada?
Yes. The CRA says some programs are free or pay what you want, and most prepare a basic return free for people on a modest income.
What if I have rental or business income?
Check that the version has forms for it, since these cases often need a higher tier or a paid version.
Can I check the software's answer?
Yes. Compare its total tax with an income tax calculator using the same income, province and deductions.
When's my return due?
April 30 for most people. Self-employed filers have until June 15, but tax owing is still due April 30.