Re: Taxes
 

Yeah I don't know why it's so expensive... UFile include all the business/self employment stuff in their standard package, so it's only $20 to do everything. Which I think is why I'm going to try them this year, see how they compare to Turbotax.

Re: Taxes
 

Let us know how that goes, izzi! :)

Re: Taxes
 

For people who are filing for their first year. UFile is free

Re: Taxes
 

This is our second year of filing, and unfortunately I didn't know about UFile being free for first year filers and chose Turbotax last year, which cost me $99.

I'm going to buy UFile today (cheaper to buy their download than use their online version for 2 people) so I'll let you know what they're like Dishwashing!

Re: Taxes
 

:thumbup:

:cool:

Re: Taxes
 

I bought UFile yesterday and put our basic info into it to see how it works. It works fairly well, though I would say it's probably not quite as simple to use as Turbotax; it does occasionally make assumptions that you know what something is when you might not. However it does get the job done. It also has an 'interview' format so it asks you questions rather than just gives you sections of the forms to fill in, which definitely helps! I managed to put in info from my T4 employment, my sole proprietor business I started last year, and the small business I run with my partner. It does seem to allow for foreign income as well (though I haven't put any in) so it does seem all-encompassing.

So the only pro I'd say Turbotax has is it's the most user friendly for someone who knows nothing about the tax system. If all things were equal I'd probably use Turbotax, but (with our finances currently!) it's not worth the extra $89 just for that.

Re: Taxes
 

I think with some banks, they offer a TT discount, but TT has also increased prices and all and $89 is a lot of extra in this case. izzi - you have made me realize I now need to move to action :lol: Thanks for the update back!

Re: Taxes
 

No problem :) Definitely don't wait too long though, it's always a longer process than you think!

Re: Taxes
 

I like the questions but sometimes it's a bit like being spoken to as if I'm 5 years old.

I wish it would retain more information from the previous year and just allow for over-typing where amounts are different.

For rental income, if I'm inputting rent income & expenses and naming the other 50% joint owner, who is also the same person on the joint return, I don't understand why all that information isn't included in both without having to be typed in a second time.

I also think there should be a quick way back to a particular page. Several years ago I was using something very similar for Family Credit (UK) purposes and for each group of questions there was a drop down menu to go to a specific part rather than going to the section and then clicking next until you find the right bit.

And why not a "quick" version where one can tick half a dozen boxes and only get questions for those identified? One can include a double check at the end and there could even be an "are you sure?" at various points.

Of the five returns we do, one has a wage and nothing more and another has no income, nor anything else of relevance at all.

Considering the varied stuff that goes on the other three returns, the two simple ones don't appear to be that much quicker - other than us recognising a particular page and moving quickly on with little input.

Although I can't really complain because it's free for us, I'd want these improvements if I was paying. :)

Re: Taxes
 

lol that's just how I want it to be! Then I know I'm not getting it wrong :lol:

I was able to transfer last year's tax return info from Turbotax into UFile, and it remembered most of the generic stuff (like names, addresses, SIN etc.) and I have just been putting in the figures.

I have a business partnership with my partner, and was very impressed to find this year UFile made a point of saying 'don't create anything to do with this business in the 2nd person's return, we will do that for you'.

Re. quick indexing, both Turbotax and UFile have a quick way to jump to any page; the index is there as a side panel and you can click on any section to get straight there.

For a complete newbie to Canadian taxes, as I was last year, the software is pretty good. I'll probably keep using them to do it myself for the next few years, then hopefully the businesses will be doing well enough that it would make more sense (and be affordable) to pay someone else to do it for me :)

Re: Taxes
 

Nice :)

Perhaps these features come with your super duper version ;)

I vaguely recall a side panel but it looked like the one across the top. It's possible the categories might be further divided. I'll check when we do the others.

What about an "other than employment/wage details, has anything else changed for you since last year's return?" allowing you to click NO and then having to do no more than over-typing a few figures and not even having to visit 90% of the pages. :thumbsup:

Re: Taxes
 

Well after all that, I have ended up switching back to Turbotax for this year, which includes paying the extortionate fee. I had forgotten we had a small amount of UK income in 2014 (the last year we will have thank goodness) and when I tried to enter this into UFile it just threw up so many questions that Turbotax must have dealt with itself last year. I just want to get the returns done and filed now, so can't be bothered raking around online or posting on UFile forums to try and get answers.
Next year, when there is no foreign income, I will use UFile. This year, well I guess it's all a learning curve :blink:

Re: Taxes
 

Half my return concerns UK income - it's pretty straightforward on Turbo (and Quicktax as was).

Just entering the figures and then an average exchange rate over 2014. What was UFile asking?

Re: Taxes
 

A good reason to use a professional. If you don't know all the deductions you can claim, the cost could be higher than an accountant. If you are entitled to CCAs, home as office etc. and to make sure you don't claim too much and have to pay some back or end up with a capital gain liability.

Re: Taxes
 

I used simple tax this year since the usual one I use wanted to charge me this year and I am not paying for it, simple tax lets you pay nothing, or lets you pay whatever you desire to pay.

It seemed to work fine, found their link on CRA website, and CRA ha emailed saying they received it, so far so good.

Only deduction I had was student loan interest, but not much and didn't change the refund amount due.