Tag Archives: UFile

Buying Corporate Return Tax Software?

If you have a reasonably simple company return to do, you’ll need to file a T2 return. If you have a reasonable understanding of assets, liabilities, and your income statement, there isn’t a reason you can’t do it yourself in about an hour or two. If so, it’ll save you around $500 over an accountant doing your return – but only if you’re comfortable with it.

Two companies sell T2 tax software. You’ll need to buy the “business incorporated” program. The two are from UFile or Intuit (Quicken). They both do the same thing – obviously – but are VERY different prices.

UFileT2 is $147 with a $25 coupon (below). Intuit Turbotax Business is $250. I have no idea why it’s double the price for something that does the same thing. Their media relations spokesperson Bryan Tritt promises to get back to me with an answer to that question. I’ve been waiting over 90 days to hear back as of today…Guess no answer is still an answer…

If you’re not sure you have the basic knowledge to do it, the UFile program is on-line for free. You only pay once you’re ready to press the “submit to CRA” button. So give it a go…and both programs have warnings if something is missing or incorrect in your numbers…

George Boelcke – Money Tools & Rules book – yourmoneybook.com

Three Money Saving Heads Up Tips

If you buy your own tax software, here’s a big heads up. One of the more popular Canadian programs is Turbo Tax by Intuit. Usually tax software is $20. This year, Turbo Tax has a $10.00 program for sale. But be careful! It is so barebones that you can’t even put RRSPs in there – I’ve seen it. Clark  Howard, on 400 radio stations in the US, calls it rotten behavior that stabs loyal repeat customers in the back by making them then call to pay a lot extra for an upgrade they can actually use. Apparently when you call to complain that the $10 one is useless, customers are often getting the upgrade for free…Buy the more expensive version, call them to complain, or purchase UFile for $20.

Have you had your 59th or 60th birthday? A good reminder from a Marketplace story that we talked about a couple of years ago. With every bank, when you reach that milestone birthday, you’ll get a ton of free service charge packages – depending on who you deal with. Only one or two banks give them to you automatically. With the rest, they’ll happily keep ripping you off until you go in to turn off the ‘charge’ button. You have to be pro-active and ask! I’ve personally seen stories of seniors paying $20 or $30 a month for years and years because the banks aren’t going to give up their profit voluntarily. And remember that when you do find out, the most you’ll get refunded two months. That’s as far back as you can challenge incorrect items on your statement. If it doesn’t apply to you – call your parents or grandparents and tell them!!

For three years, I’ve had an unloved, unused gift card here on my desk for Fairmont Hotels. It’s $150, but unfortunately, that amount doesn’t get you in the door at that hotel chain. I’m more of a $50 hotel person. We’ve talked previously about selling your unused gift cards online, and about a fundraising idea for gift cards. But Walmart has a better idea that they just rolled out. Wal Mart will take your unused, leftover, unloved gift cards and exchange them for a Wal Mart card. You might not be the biggest Wal Mart fan, but you know there are things in their stores you can actually buy and use. What a total win-win and I can’t wait for that to roll out across all their stores.