The CRA has approved two programs that run on your Windows PC or laptop that calculate your 2013 income taxes and let you NETFILE the results for free. Earlier this year, I downloaded one of the programs, called StudioTax 2013. Today I am downloading the other program which is called GenuTax Standard 2013.
How to Use GenuTax Standard 2013 to NETFILE Your Taxes by April 30, 2014: Part 1: Get the Program
I will be writing more articles about using the software to do your tax math and how to NETFILE your return once you’ve finished and you’re sure your return is correct. This article describes how to get the software onto your computer.
GenuTax Standard 2013 is available in editions to run on
- Windows 8.1
- Windows 8
- Windows 7
- Vista
- XP
The program is about 40 MB.
Like StudioTax, GenuTax isn’t for everyone. It lists some restrictions as
- It is not suitable for a farmer using the AgriStability or AgriInvest programs.
- It is not suitable if you run a business which had its permanent establishment outside of the province or territory where you were resident on December 31, 2013.
- It is not suitable for reporting a Nova Scotia Research and Development Tax Credit Recapture.
- It’s not a great program for Quebec residents because it cannot be used to file the Quebec provincial income tax return.
How to Get the GenuTax Standard Program for Free to Calculate Your 2013 Income Taxes
To Download the GenuTax Standard Program
- Open your internet browser, and go to http://www.genutax.ca/Default.aspx
- Read the information and if you’re ready, click on the link called Click here to download and install this version.
- There is a list of links each named after a Windows operating system. To download the software, click on the link for the operating system you are using.
For example, I clicked on XP. - A page of information about downloading and installing the program will open. Read through it. Then look for the link near the beginning that is called Download GenuTax Standard. Click on that link.
- In the dialog box, click on the Save File button.
- Navigate to the folder within which you want to save the program.
For example, I navigated to my Taxes folder.
Then click on the Save button. - If you saved the program
- in your Desktop directory, it will put an icon on your screen called GTStandardSetupV140.exe.
- in a regular folder, go to that folder and look for the file called GTStandardSetupV140.exe.
Either way, when you are ready to install the program you will want to double click on the icon.
To Install the Program Files for GenuTax Standard 2013
- Open the directory where you saved the file, and double click on the GTStandardSetupV140.exe file.
NOTE: If you open your folder too quickly, you may see two files named. This is while the download is still in progress. Wait until you have a blue icon with two shark fins and a crescent moon before double clicking.
(Do you want to guess how I know this? Yep, I did.) - The InstallShield Wizard will open. Read the greeting and click on the Next button.
- Review the License Agreement. Note that if you mess up your taxes you cannot blame anyone except yourself. (Remember: you get what you pay for and GenuTax Standard is free!)
- If you’re grown up enough to handle your own taxes responsibly, select the radio button for I accept the terms in the license agreement.
- If not, click on the radio button for I do not accept the terms in the license agreement.
- Click on the Next button.
- If you agree with installing the program in the suggested directory, click on the Next button.
- Click Install.
- If desired, click to select
- Launch GenuTax Standard and/or
- Show the Read Me file
Then click the Finish button.
I strongly recommend you make a donation if you use the program to file your taxes. Info is at https://www.genutax.ca/Donate.aspx
Related Reading
- In case you’d like to check out the (free) competition: How to Download and Install StudioTax Software to Calculate and File your 2013 Canadian Income Taxes Online for Free
Join In
Have you downloaded this year’s GenuTax Standard? Did all go well? Please share your experiences with a comment.
I have a question…I am filing with Genu tax standard for the 2nd year. I am trying to add an “information slip” for a T4A (P), CPP benefits. This is the first time for me to fill out this form. When I go to T4A slips to enter data a T4A slip comes up but not the T4A (P). And I do not have the option to add a new slip….not click-able. Can you help? Right away? Thank you.
Hello,
Just to clarify for all readers I do not work for GenuTax nor do I receive anything whatsoever from them. It is purely luck whether I see a question soon after it is submitted and whether I have time to investigate it. I’m just a regular taxpayer who enjoys looking at software from a user’s point of view.
That said, I did get your question and I did have time to check into it!
Here’s what I found out.
Getting at the T4A(P) and T4A(OAS) screens in GenuTax Standard 2013
From what I can see the only way to get to the screen for the T4A(P) slip is to use the Comprehensive Interview not the Streamlined Interview.
You would probably have to open your tax return file, then click on the button at the bottom of the screen called Jump to Section (F9).
Scroll up the list to click on Type of Interview, then click on the OK button.
Click Next.
On the Type of Interview screen, click to select the radio button beside Comprehensive Interview, then click Next.
Click Next through about 20 screens to get to the Income section.
Then click through the following screens to get to the Pension Income screen as described below:
Employment Income
T4 slips
Wage-loss replacement plan income
T4a slips
T4ps slips
T5 slips
Quebec RL slips
Tips
Research Grants
Clergy’s Housing Allowance
Prior-year Employee GST/HST Rebate
Prior-year Quebec Provincial Tax Return
Foreign Employment Income
Other Employment Income
Making Additional CPP or QPP Contributions
Employment Income Received as a Major Stockholder of a Corporation
Pension Income
===================================
Pension Income
Did you have any income from pensions in 2013?
Note that this also includes any amounts you withdrew from an RRSP as shown on a T4RSP slip.
Information slips: Pension income may be reported to you on T4A(OAS), T4A (P), T4A, T4A-RCA, T4RIF, T4RSP, T3 and/or T5 slips.
Yes
No
=========================================
Click to select the radio button beside YES, then click on the Next button.
The following screen opens:
Old Age Security Pension (if you had OAS and select Yes and click Next, it will ask for further info about your T4A(OAS) slips)
Click Next.
The following screen opens:
Federal Supplements (GIS, Allowance, Allowance for Survivor; if you select yes and click Next you will be asked for further info on your T4A(OAS) slips)
Click Next
The following screen opens:
========================================
T4A(P) Slips
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) benefits are reported to you on a T4A(P) slip.
If you have a T4A(P) slip for 2013, click on the button below to enter your data.
NOTE: You may be able to view your T4A(P) slip online by going to http://www.cra.gc.ca/myaccount. See Help for more information.
T4A(P) Slips
================================
Click on the T4A(P) Slips button.
Fill in the boxes with the values from your original form.
If you only have one slip, click on the Close button.
If you have another slip, instead, click on the Add a New Slip button.
When you have added the second slip, if that is all the slips you have, click on the Close button.
Click Next.
The following screen opens:
T4A Slips
Etc.
Please be sure to thoroughly review your tax return before NETFILEing it or before printing and mailing it in! I am not a tax accountant or a tax professional. I am just a taxpayer experimenting with free software.
As an interesting update: Strangely enough, even with the Comprehensive Interview the screens you will see listed for T4A(P), T4A(OAS) etc. depend on the age you have entered in the personal information section. For example, if you are too young to qualify for OAS, the Allowance, the Allowance for the Survivor, and GIS, you will only be offered the T4A(P) slips screen. (That’s because children can get the CPP Children’s Benefit if their parent dies.)
I hope this helps you and perhaps other readers.
How do I print my tax return? It is saved on my USB drive and also on my computer but I don’t have a printer at home and I can’t access my return on my USB when I open it on another computer.
Hi, I haven’t downloaded the 2016 version yet, but in previous years, when you have your working file open on your computer, you click on File in the upper left list of choices (e.g. File View Tools Help). From the drop-down list you click to select Print Return. You then click to select to either print everything, or to print just the part the CRA wants you to mail in. Then click on the OK button. Choose your printer options as usual.
Hopefully that also works with this year’s version. If not, you may have to contact GenuTax for the info.