Canada Revenue Agency
www.cra.gc.ca
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Software
The CRA does not look at the privacy policies of software developers. It is your responsibility to research such policies before buying or using a software product or Web application.
Use of the software, and any omission or error in the information provided, are the responsibility of the user and the developer. Consequently, the CRA cannot be held responsible if programming errors affect the calculation of income tax and contributions payable.
Always make sure that you are using the most recent version of the software to prepare tax returns. If you encounter difficulties with the software, contact the developer for technical assistance.
It is your responsibility to find out from the software developer what restrictions there are, if any, on the software.
The NETFILE-certified software products are listed below alphabetically.
Certified Software for the 2012 NETFILE Program (2011 tax return)
Windows:FutureTax 2011, H & R Block At Home, myTaxExpress, TaxFreeway, TaxTron, TurboTax, UFile for Windows
Web applications: (for Windows and Macintosh)
EachTax.com, TaxChopper 2011 from CuteTax,WebTax4U.ca
Macintosh:
TaxFreeway for Mac
View the software developers' Web site to see if you qualify for their free offerings.
Limit of 20 Returns
NETFILE is an electronic filing service that taxpayers can use to file their own personal income tax and benefit return with the CRA. To protect the integrity of this service, the CRA has set a limit of 20 returns per computer that can be prepared with a NETFILE-certified tax preparation software each tax year. The limit may help prevent some tax preparation service providers from using NETFILE. Software developers must respect this limit to be certified for NETFILE.
For more information on the limit of 20 returns please visit our News and Program Updates Web page.
Testing Time Frames
The CRA tests commercial tax preparation software packages and Web applications for use with the NETFILE service from December through March each year. The testing process takes between four to six weeks, and it is usually late January before a tax preparation software package is certified for use with the NETFILE service.
NETFILE has been designed to accept a specific file format ".tax", and the NETFILE-certified software or Web application will include instructions on how to save your tax return in that format.
Certified Software
Check this Web page on a regular basis during the tax-filing season. As our testing progresses, we will update the list of NETFILE-certified software packages and Web applications.
You should also be aware that unless you are using a Web application, you will have to download an update from your software developer. Information on how to upgrade your software is available from your software developer's Web site or from within the software itself.
The software will ask you to select your preferred language of correspondence with the CRA. Please make sure you choose the correct language to ensure you receive your Notice of Assessment and other correspondences from the CRA in your preferred language.
For your information here is the complete list of certified software for the 2011 NETFILE Program (2010 tax return). Please visit the software developer's Web site if you want to know if they plan to submit their software for certification this year.
Software Developers
It is now too late for software developers to register for the 2012 NETFILE program (2011 tax return). However, if you are interested in developing software for NETFILE use, you may contact us in June 2012 at cs-sh@cra-arc.gc.ca in order to receive an application form for the 2012 tax year. You may send us your completed application between June 18, 2012 and June 29, 2012. We will not accept applications before or after these dates.
