How long do tax returns take?
 

I filled it all out using turbo tax and sent it off in the mail in good time. But I haven't heard anything since. Should I have heard something by now? Is there something I need to do if it got lost in the mail on its way there?

Getting worried I might lose the return. :(

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

You've not heard, there's a postal strike on?

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

Worth registering with them. That way you can check on line to see if it's done. This is available even if you don't netfile.

I used to use QuickTax - now TurboTax - and it was usually done within a couple of weeks of posting (one week of which was probably how long it took to get there :ohmy:)

This time I netfiled and it was done within 2 days.

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

If it's your first return it can take ages. It's not worth worrying until the end of august.

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

I got an $18 bill about a month after filing it(my first), but haven't heard anything since

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

Alan2005's right - first return usually gets sent to the Int'l Tax Office of CRA for further assessment (well, mine has anyway). I'm still waiting. 12-16 weeks they say ...

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

Yeah, it's my first return. Good to hear it's still likely to come through since I was owed about $1500. :)

Thanks for the help guys.

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

Mine wasn't. I did my return on paper, I can't see the point to software for a T1, Turbotax was invented for the US market where there are about a zillion different tax credits at the State and Federal level, in Canada there are only about half a dozen common ones, unless you live in Québec. I can never understand why people use H&R Block here either.

My first return did however cover a full calendar year, so there was no pro-rating required.

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

This was my first tax return - filled in Turbo Tax, printed it out, sent it off and received electronic payment in bank 6/7 weeks later. (Opted to have money paid straight into bank account).

Hope you get yours soon!

Poppit

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

Having just clicked on that link, it basically just made my case for me, because (a) they've totally changed that website including the usernames and passwords since the last time I used it and (b) nearly all the information listed in the "quick access" bit was completely wrong. But yet on the correspondence they sent me most recently it was correct.

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

There are a lot cheaper applications out there than Ufile and turbotax and the other name brand ones.

Once you have sent that first paper return its worth using a software package to be able to efile and get the rebate back in a week instead of months. Plus it saves on math errors on the paper form, and automatically works out the most tax efficient way to claim various incomes.

Ufile/ Turbotax and the other name brand packages are expensive for what you get compared to some of the apps out there. I use "Tax Freeway", I was tipped off about it by a "thrifty" friend. You can do up to 20 returns for $10, plus it saved me a few hundred dollars compared to what Ufile was generating first time I used it. He used to runs a couple of businesses and its sophisticated to deal with that, and I get my taxes done in about 5 minutes now Im used to the interface. Finding my receipts is more time consuming.

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

I have an aversion to paying for any sort of govt. service I can get for free, plus I also think that the whole thing could be more automated than it is, so basically as a protest I do it all on paper.

I also found when I lived in the US that doing it on paper is quite a useful tool if you get into arguments with the tax people because you can put down mistakes to a transcribing error made by the person who keyed it in. If you do it electronically, the liability is entirely on you, the CRA aren't liable for a mistake in the software you used.

If you're doing a T2 or you're self-employed I can see why you might want to use preparation software, but for the average punter with a T4 and maybe a couple of T5s or T3s doing a T1, I can't see the point myself.

Can Turbotax even do a T1135?

Strangely if you do a return on paper, you can actually end up with less papework, because if you do it electronically you have to keep your receipts in case the CRA wants to see them. Do it on paper, send the receipts in, as soon as they accept the credit, that's it.

I remember talking to the CRA recently and the kid who answered asked me what software I used to prepare my T1. So I told him I did it on paper and he told me would have to refer me to a "specialist". :rolleyes:

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

The point for me is I earn more in interest on what I get back than it costs me for the software... Its just paying a small amount for the convenience.

Of course now I've finally got around to giving work an accurate TD1 that's probably not going to be true next year...


Are you sure you cant be audited for a paper return once they have accepted it? That doesnt sound right to me. I think you should keep a copy of everything for the mandated 7 years or whatever it is.

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

What intervening months? It doesn't take that long to process a paper return. Can't remember it taking more than a month.

Re: How long do tax returns take?
 

Used to take them two or three months to get money into my account, maybe its different now but in any case the efile is usually rebated back in a week or ten days.