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Email this6:03 am
January 3, 2013
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Hello Fellows,
I do my Income Tax using two softwares every year just for the sake of comparison. So far, it was identical. This year I did and submitted it with TurboTax last month. However, last night I had time and did it using H&R Block which surprisingly giving me ~1K more in income tax return. I double checked everything multiple times and even called H&R to see if there is any bug or issue with their software.
My question is, should I send the new return as an assessment? Anyone had the same issue before?
Thank you,
7:13 am
February 24, 2015
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I don't think you should request an adjustment until you get your Notice of Assessment. Anyway, if the same numbers were input, the difference must be something like RSP contribution entered but deduction not claimed, carry forward amount not applied.
8:55 am
April 1, 2015
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The CRA does not test third-party software for programming errors, resulting in wrong calculations. This is the user's responsibility. I'd get a third opinion.
11:14 am
June 24, 2014
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Yas said
Hello Fellows,
I do my Income Tax using two softwares every year just for the sake of comparison. So far, it was identical. This year I did and submitted it with TurboTax last month. However, last night I had time and did it using H&R Block which surprisingly giving me ~1K more in income tax return. I double checked everything multiple times and even called H&R to see if there is any bug or issue with their software.
My question is, should I send the new return as an assessment? Anyone had the same issue before?
Thank you,
Which one, Turbo Tax or H&R, do you think is the correct refund?
11:36 am
January 3, 2013
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I think H&R with more refund is correct as it is closer to what I expected.
11:53 am
June 29, 2013
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I also do tax returns with software and I try several of the various software to see if there is any difference in result. While the software are not all equal in their approach, ultimately I do get exactly the same result from H&R Block, Turbotax, Ufile, Simpletax, and Studiotax. Some of the software require some manual calculation, while others do it all for you. You should compare the summary figures you end up with, for each and you will see where the difference is - you may have input something differently, or forgotten an input, or not done a manual adjustment.
1:26 pm
December 23, 2011
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Yas said
I think H&R with more refund is correct as it is closer to what I expected.
Did you contact Turbo Tax? I'm sure they would be interested in the difference.
7:11 pm
September 11, 2013
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This may be superfluous but here's the link to CRA's certified software for e-filing via desktop, online and mobile:
10:04 pm
April 6, 2013
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Differences in calculated taxes among NETFILE certified software is not new.
I came across this many years ago about what is checked when tax software is certified by CRA: Canadian Financial DIY: CRA Comments on "Accuracy" of NETFILE Certified Web Tax Software
NETFILE certification does not mean the software will do every possible tax optimization. Sometimes, there's even actual bugs. I've seen such bugs first hand.
7:50 am
April 1, 2015
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Today, for someone who decides to file online using one of the so-called "certified" packages, the onus is on the user to make sure that all the calculations are correct. This misplaced liability, in my opinion, will only change if the CRA decides to develop its own software package. Then and only then will it be able to be held accountable for incorrect results. Until then, it's the old adage of Buyer Beware.
8:04 am
December 23, 2011
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Ed said
Today, for someone who decides to file online using one of the so-called "certified" packages, the onus is on the user to make sure that all the calculations are correct. This misplaced liability, in my opinion, will only change if the CRA decides to develop its own software package. Then and only then will it be able to be held accountable for incorrect results. Until then, it's the old adage of Buyer Beware.
Good point. They used to supply the forms at the Post Office...does that still happen? Nevertheless a lot of folks use software and has reduced the cost of CRA to print and distribute the forms and I imagine the software version is easier for them to check than hand written etc. But as it is their job to ensure you have reported your income etc and paid the required amount is it also not their responsibility to see and refund any errors you may make?
Also since they know almost all of your income would it not be easier for us to report the manual stuff like, medical, interest with no T5, income splitting Y/N, and they generate the tax forms, deliver them to us with a refund or invoice?
8:54 am
April 1, 2015
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Yes, the Forms package is still available at the Post Office. Forms not included in the package are only available directly from the CRA by phone. However, these forms, along with the tax package that we send in, have to be input manually into the CRA's in-house software program and data bank to check for errors and omissions. My question is why aren't Canadians allowed to submit their taxes online directly to their own government, instead of paying private third-party operators, some of whom only have a post-office box number in Canada. Direct Netfiling to the CRA would not only save our government time and money, but would also be more patriotic.
10:02 am
September 11, 2013
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All CRA is saying is you are responsible for the accuracy & completeness of your return, regardless how you choose to file. And it's not CRA's responsibility to find all the possible numbers that should have gone on your return, it's yours - again, no matter the method of filing you choose. The Income Tax Act provisions are in charge here, not CRA's bureaucrats or workers, or you or me. If your filed return has a calculation error, CRA will adjust to the right number and issue a refund or ask for additional payment. Also, all packages, forms, etc can be downloaded from their website, no need to call usually.
12:53 pm
October 21, 2013
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You can be darn sure CRA employees aren't sitting there sharpening pencils. They use software, and they consider it extremely reliable, reliable enough to levy fines with, if we or the programme we used don't agree.
My question is, why can't they provide a version that we can use? It would be a lot more efficient all-round, and would save us money both for not paying 3rd parties and also because less bureaucracy would be needed to process them with an accurate result.
1:08 pm
December 23, 2011
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Loonie said
You can be darn sure CRA employees aren't sitting there sharpening pencils. They use software, and they consider it extremely reliable, reliable enough to levy fines with, if we or the programme we used don't agree.
My question is, why can't they provide a version that we can use? It would be a lot more efficient all-round, and would save us money both for not paying 3rd parties and also because less bureaucracy would be needed to process them with an accurate result.
I guess I was trying to say the same thing and did a poor job. If they used to supply forms and a reference book years ago......free. Why don't they offer a free download of "their" software for us to submit? Just think how much CanTax, Turbo Tax, etc has made off of us (a whole new industry) ...income tax preparation is not that simple to do any more and who can really remember year to year what to do along with any changes....software is the way to go for sure.
1:50 pm
April 1, 2015
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I agree. What's the sense of allowing all packages, forms, etc. to be downloaded from the CRA website, if we can't fill them out online and return them the same way - electronically, instead of having to print them out and mailing them in. What a waste of everyone's time and money. 98% of the population in Estonia files their taxes online, directly to their government. And Estonia has only been a free and democratic nation since after the fall of the Berlin Wall. So, c'mon Canada, move it!
9:01 am
April 6, 2013
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kanaka said
Yas said
I think H&R with more refund is correct as it is closer to what I expected.
Did you contact Turbo Tax? I'm sure they would be interested in the difference.
I would make sure it wasn't a data entry error.
One of the comments to Canadian Financial DIY: CRA Comments on "Accuracy" of NETFILE Certified Web Tax Software was that TaxChopper produced a $117 bigger refund than StudioTax.
On closer examination, the bigger refund was caused by TaxChopper incorrectly treating interest from a savings account as dividends.
Someone from TaxChopper responded that those slips for interest have been there for years and are heavily used and tested. He asked to confirm that the savings interest were entered into the correct place in TaxChopper.
10:06 am
June 24, 2014
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Norman1 said
kanaka said
Yas said
I think H&R with more refund is correct as it is closer to what I expected.
Did you contact Turbo Tax? I'm sure they would be interested in the difference.
I would make sure it wasn't a data entry error.
One of the comments to Canadian Financial DIY: CRA Comments on "Accuracy" of NETFILE Certified Web Tax Software was that TaxChopper produced a $117 bigger refund than StudioTax.
On closer examination, the bigger refund was caused by TaxChopper incorrectly treating interest from a savings account as dividends.
Someone from TaxChopper responded that those slips for interest have been there for years and are heavily used and tested. He asked to confirm that the savings interest were entered into the correct place in TaxChopper.
Good point. I believe a Tax software is not rocket science. It is not so easy to have a software bug.
5:42 pm
June 6, 2014
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I have an accountant do my taxes, but have found http://taxtips.ca/calculators/.....ulator.htm to be accurate (the only difference being rounding errors) as a way to estimate my tax return throughout the year.
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