Talk:Canadian tax preparation software for personal use

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unforgettable, this is technically just a list of software, it is not a compare as you suggest since no product is compared to the next. The title "Comparison of Canadian tax software" really does not work either. Reason is, this is personal use software only... there are other products.. ie.. efile, and corporate products that are not mentioned here. You cannot remove "for personal use" from the title. I suggest the existing title is a good representation of the page content.

I have adjusted for max of 20 returns with exception to one provider since I have no idea what they will do. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Barry123 (talk • contribs) 23:25, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Moved again

Barry, thank you for creating this excellent chart (and also for your reviews on your blog.) But I actually was curious whether a spreadsheet existed, and plus it allowed my choice of name to be relevant :-) -- I think it's a better article name because people usually search the web for words like "tax" or "income tax", not "NETFILE". Now that I have added MyTAX to the list I restored the old name. Yes, "solutions" is an awkward word, but IMO it makes it more apparent this list includes websites without being too wordy. (Or would "Comparison of various Canadian tax packages and websites" better? It's hard to remember that name, though, for linking to it from elsewhere.) What do you think? Cheers, --unforgettableid | how's my driving? 20:13, 30 April 2007 (UTC)


Unforgettable, I moved it back because it was created for NETFILE only. The blog you are looking at does not belong to me. My problem with your title is it will not be found by those looking for netfile software (which is the real term used for this by the Government of Canada). Non sanctioned software like the MyTax are great but they are never CRA certified and could potentially be rejected by the Government when filed... although that is unlikely for obvious reasons. I suggest you create a seperate page for this type of home grown software which is all free and really amounts to "income tax calculation programs" that may or may not print CRA like forms. The reason I have a certified column in the chart shown on this sheet is because early in each year, the products that are normally certified... are not (early Feb). I use the Y and N in the chart to differentiate between those that have been certified and those that are not yet certified (yet being the key).

Normal tax preparation software is certified and also bar coded. This barcoding stops the CRA from keying the return and since they do not input the return, there is less chance of keying errors (only those made by the preparer can occur). The non approved software does not have this bar code.

Here are the software "tax calculation programs" I know of (none of which are sanctioned by the government as far as I know).

I suggest that if you want to include these 3 products here, on this page, you rename the page "Canadian tax preparation software". Web applications still fit within the realm of the word software. I agree that people search the word netfile or "tax software". If you are going to add them you amend the chart to make it clear they are not certified for use and also indiciate if they have bar coding (some reasearch will be required). The current column is weak in that regard .. and I fear Canadians will use them without knowing .. (A) they cannot netfile.. and (B) that they may not count valid tax returns when CRA gets them if the forms are not acceptable and (C) they lack bar coding which leads to keying problems (each hand in the pot is a cause for error).

I certainly would be willing to help you out .. once we can agree on what this wiki page should include and not include. User_talk:barry123 23:27, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

One more came to mind... http://www.5dollartax.ca/default-e.htmUser_talk:barry123 24:19, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

I did a bit more research and found some had certified forms.. Taxman and 5 dollar tax ...where others do not seem to have them. To do this properly, I conclude it would be necessary to change the title to "Canadian tax preparation software", then add a column indicating Approved Forms Y/N ... Approved 2D barcode Y/N ... and Approved for NETFILE Y/N User_talk:barry123 22:33, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

Information on certified forms is found at this link. http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/ic97-2r6/ic97-2r6-e.html Information on bar coding is found at this link http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/newsroom/factsheets/2006/sept/fs060925-e.html In the end, anyone who uses Wiki should netfile ... which makes this information somewhat useless. User_talk:barry123 22:48, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

The title "Canadian tax preparation software" upon reflection is not good either. There is EFILE software, NETFILE software, and non certified software. At the moment, this one only included one of the three. Adding them all would not work since EFILE software cannot be used by the general public (plus that transmission method alrady has another page). Non certified software has its limits and should not really be included as equal in class to the other two Note .. I am going to stop tying to think of revision options until I hear back from you .... and also that the website http://krisabel.ctv.ca/blog/_archives/2007/2/19/2748528.html will not direct link which is why I removed the URL. User_talk:barry123 23:33, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Moved yet again

The page should contain "Comparison of" in its title as it is in Category:Software_comparisons. So I moved the page again. The page "Canadian tax preparation software for personal use" has, this time been moved to "Comparison of Canadian tax software". Barry123, if any issues, I would appreciate if you would please discuss here instead of just moving again.  :) Cheers, --unforgettableid | talk 14:47, 30 December 2007 (UTC)