Hi all,
this is our first time doing the tax return, my husband tried to use the Ufile and quick tax if I am not wrong. but it has been very complicated because of all the informations we must fill in like our earnings in the UK last year, the tax and we got our tax refund from UK as well, we submit everything and it came out that we got 0 dollars return, and on the other software it came out that we have to pay some money instead, it's very confusing as the results are so different for both softwares.

I would like to know how do you guys do it the very first time? did you guys did it yourself with the online softwares? or did you do it with the tax agencies?

Any advice would be appriciated. thanks!

rjohan

Myself

I'd consider paying someone to do your first return - it's not that much really - think I paid about $60 last year (and got a refund of $69 - woohoo ) - but hubby got a decent enough cheque back to make it very worthwhile.

I've used UFile myself this year, and found it very easy - but this year, things were much more straightforward!

We are using a accountant and costing approx $60 and our first year.

Didn't think for the first you you could file online?

You can't, but there is nothing to stop you using something like QuickTax to calculate your taxes and printing off the return to mail to the CRA.

To the opening poster, go and see an accountant if you don't understand what you are doing (this is not meant to be offensive - you won't be the only one).

I am not sure why you are worrying about UK income and taxes for last year - they are only relevant for the child tax credit and would not affect your refund/amount owing this year.

well the reason we were trying it ourself first is cos the tax agency in the mall told us that the fee is about 100 dollars or so and they cannot let us know more or less how much return we would get. so... as it is our first time, we really dont know what to do. we have no idea at all how to fill in this thing, when we try to use Ufile the program ask us to fill in our foreign earnings last year (cos hubby arrived in canada in June). and also mine ( i came to canada in sept). also the taxes we paid in UK and tax refund we got from UK. It was my husband who used to software, but I was with him when he did that. so are you saying that there is no need to fill in our foreign earnings and tax?

Hi all

Just a quick question - do you receive your tax return through the post just the same as UK or do you collect it from the local tax office - I know it is a daft question but I am not feeling too good and everything is getting blown out of proportion with me at the mo!
Mike

Hi

Mail, or direct deposit.

Knew I wasn't feeling very good - didn't explain myself properly as usual! I mean does the form I need to complete come through the post - the return we have to do in UK gets posted here for us to complete just wondered if it was the same here as not heard anything. Mike

You won't get anything through the post from CRA - you need to take it upon yourself to send one in. Look for the Newcomers to Canada Guide on the CRA website - also in print at post offices I believe.

Yes, if you want to do it the long hand way then you can pickup the paper forms from a post office or, better still, download them from the CRA's website. If you are a newcomer to the country you can't expect the CRA to know who and where you are. As G77 says, the onus is on the taxpayer.

$100 is a very reasonable fee to prepare a spouse+spouse tax return. If you both became tax resident in Canada in 2008 there is a very good chance that you will get more than that back as a refund.

However, I would caution you on using the tax preparers that hang out in the malls at this time of year. They are OK for basic returns, but don't expect them to know anything about international taxation issues.

A quick question. Do you have children? If not, there is no way that the CRA are interested in your earnings before you became tax resident in Canada.

I have a pile of tax returns on my desk that will ensure I will not sleep between now and April 30th, so I am not trawling for business. However, if you want to post questions on this thread I will do my best to answer them as and when I can (and everyone can benefit from the knowledge).

I decided to do it with the ppl at H&R Block at the mall, they are pretty good and didnt ask anything about our earnings in the UK, so the result we got a good amount return, definitely worth to pay the 130 dollars fee. Thanks all for your replies and help!

The hard copy forms are available in post offices sometime after the New Year. You won't get the UK-style blue plastic envelope.

I've just done it with H&r block............
seemed ok yesterday..........
now they want UK earnings info........?????????