Key takeaways
- The CRA certifies 17 products for NETFILE for 2025 returns; 3 are free for everyone
- Wealthsimple Tax Basic is pay-what-you-want; Plus is $40 + tax and Pro (expert review) is $80 + tax (as of October 2026)
- Most other products are paid, with free versions for some situations
- For a first return, the software must ask for your date of entry and world income before arrival
- With a modest income and simple return, a free tax clinic is another option
Quick answer: which tax software should a newcomer use?
- Simple return (job, bank interest, maybe tuition): a free product such as Wealthsimple Tax, Better Tax or GenuTax Standard.
- Want someone to check your return: a paid plan with expert review, or a tax professional.
- Foreign rental income, a business, or large foreign investments: software can handle it, but a professional review for your first year is often worth the cost.
- Modest income and simple return: a free tax clinic (CVITP) can file it for you.
Not sure? Our tax software quiz makes a shortlist.
CRA-certified tax software compared
This is the CRA’s list of certified software for 2025 returns (the returns filed in 2026), checked October 5, 2026. The list for 2026 returns comes out early in 2027.
| Software | Price (CRA category) | How you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Better Tax | Free | Online |
| GenuTax Standard | Free | Computer download |
| Wealthsimple Tax | Free, optional paid services | Online |
| CloudTax | Free, optional paid services | Online, mobile app |
| StudioTax | Free mobile app; paid download; free offerings | Download, mobile app |
| TurboTax | Paid; free for some situations | Online, download, mobile app |
| H&R Block Tax Software | Paid; free for some situations | Online |
| UFile | Paid; free for some situations | Online, download |
| TaxTron | Paid; free for some situations | Online, download |
| FutureTax, myTaxExpress | Paid; free for some situations | Download |
| TaxFreeway | Paid; free for some situations | Download, mobile app |
| FastnEasyTax | Paid; free for some situations | Online, mobile app |
| AdvTax, EachTax, Tax Chopper, WebTax4U.ca | Paid (EachTax also free); free for some situations | Online |
“Free for some situations” usually means a modest income, a simple return, a student, or a certain province. Each company sets its own rules, and they change every season, so check the provider’s own page before you start.
Wealthsimple Tax plans (as of October 2026)
Wealthsimple publishes its prices on its own site:
| Plan | Price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Pay what you want (including $0) | Up to 2 returns, all tax forms, CRA auto-fill, email support |
| Plus | $40 + tax | Up to 8 returns, audit protection, priority support |
| Pro | $80 + tax | 9 or more returns, one-on-one help and a review by a tax expert; not available in Quebec or in French |
Source: Wealthsimple Tax pricing. We could not confirm current 2026 prices for other paid products directly, so we do not list them. Check each provider’s site.
What newcomers should check before choosing
- Date of entry: the software must ask the date you became a resident. This prorates your credits.
- World income before arrival: it must let you enter net world income for the part of the year before you arrived. This sets your benefits.
- Foreign forms: if you had foreign income or tax, you need T2209 (foreign tax credit). From your second year you may need T1135 (foreign property).
- Spouse returns: filing for both of you together saves time and avoids errors in benefits.
- Quebec: you file two returns. Choose software certified by Revenu Québec too.
- Language and support: some products offer French, chat or phone help. Free plans often have email support only.
Free vs paid: is paying worth it?
Every certified product uses the same CRA tax rules, so a free product does not give you a smaller refund on the same information. What you pay for is help: guided questions, expert review, audit protection, and support. For many newcomers with one T4 slip, free software is enough.
Paying can make sense if you are unsure about your residency date, you have income or property in more than one country, or you are self-employed. In those cases, consider an accountant for your first return, then use software later.
Which option fits your situation?
| Your situation | Good fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One job, arrived mid-year, no foreign income after arrival | Free certified software or a free clinic | You need the date of entry and pre-arrival income boxes, but nothing complex |
| Student with tuition slip (T2202) | Free certified software | Tuition credits are standard; check the software lets you carry forward or transfer them |
| Savings or investments still at home | Software that supports T2209 and T1135 | Foreign interest is taxable after arrival; foreign tax may give a credit |
| Rental property abroad | Paid plan with expert review, or an accountant | Rental income (T776), foreign tax and property cost rules are easy to get wrong |
| Freelancer or business owner | Software with T2125 support plus expert review | Self-employment means CPP on your profit and possibly instalments |
| Living in Quebec | Software certified by the CRA and Revenu Québec | You file two returns |
Auto-fill and your first year
Many certified products can use the CRA’s Auto-fill my return service. It downloads your slips, such as T4 and T5, straight from the CRA into the software. To use it, you need a CRA My Account.
For your first return, Auto-fill may not help much. The CRA says you can register for My Account once you have your first notice of assessment. So in your first year, you usually type in your slips yourself. Keep paper or PDF copies of every slip, and check that your employer has your correct SIN.
From your second year, Auto-fill saves time and reduces errors. It also shows your RRSP limit and any carry-forward amounts, such as unused tuition.
Free tax clinics
The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) runs free clinics, in person and virtually, for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation. Settlement agencies often host them, sometimes in several languages. Clinics usually cannot help with self-employment, rental income or complex foreign income. Find one through the CRA’s clinic search.
Next: follow our first tax return guide and read taxes for newcomers.