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How to Download and Install Free GenuTax Software to Do and File Your 2012 Canadian Income Taxes

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There are currently two Windows-based programs that will let you calculate and NETFILE you 2012 Canadian Income Taxes online, for free! The first program I reviewed is called StudioTax. This second program is called GenuTax Standard 2012.

UPDATE: I hope to review GenuTax Standard 2013 in early 2014. In the meantime, here’s the results of my work with GenuTax Standard 2012 in early 2013.

How to File Your 2012 Taxes by April 30, 2013 Using Free GenuTax Standard Software

GenuTax software runs on Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 operating systems.

GenuTax does not handle a few specific situations, including

  • It is not suitable for a farmer in the AgriStability or AgriInvest programs.
  • It is not suitable if your business has its permanent establishment outside of the province or territory where you were resident on December 31, 2012.
  • It is not suitable if you are reporting a NS Research and Development Tax Credit Recapture.
  • While it can be used to NetFile federal taxes for residents of Quebec, it cannot file the Quebec provincial income tax return. That must be sent to Revenu Quebec.

The program is 37.05 MB. You will probably need a broadband (high speed) internet connection to download the file successfully. Users with only dial-up connections may find the time to download the file makes it difficult or impossible.

System Requirements for GenuTax Standard 2012 Software

If you want to check the computer system requirements and specifications before downloading the file, you can see them at http://www.genutax.ca/SysReq.aspx

To Get the GenuTax Standard Software to Calculate Your Canadian 2012 Income Taxes

To Download the Program

  1. Go to: http://www.genutax.ca/Downloadp.aspx
  2. Click on the link for the operating system for your computer. For example, click on Windows
    • 8
    • 7
    • Vista or
    • XP.
  3. For the purposes of this article, I will continue with the details for downloading to XP.
  4. Click on the Download GenuTax Standard link.
  5. When prompted, click on the Save File button.

To Install the Program

  1. Navigate to the directory where you want to store the program, then click on the Save button.
  2. Open the directory where you saved the file, and double click on the GTStandardSetupV138.exe file.
  3. When prompted, click on the Run button.
  4. When prompted by the GenuTax Standard InstallShield Wizard click on the Next button.
  5. Read and review the License Agreement.
    If you agree, 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.
  6. Click on the Next button.
  7. If you agree with installing the program in the suggested directory, click on the Next button.
  8. Click Install.
  9. If desired, click to select
    Launch GenuTax Standard and/or
    Show the Read Me file
    Then click the Finish button.
  10. Review the ReadMe rtf (rich text format) file. When you are done, you can close the file.

For further information on downloading the software, please consult the GenuTax website at  http://www.genutax.ca/Downloadp.aspx

Remember you can make a donation to support the software if you like it. Information is at https://www.genutax.ca/Donate.aspx

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How to Download and Install StudioTax Software to Calculate and File your 2012 Canadian Income Taxes Online for Free

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How to File Your 2012 Taxes by April 30, 2013 Using StudioTax Software: Part 1: Getting the Software

The Canada Revenue Agency is sending clear signals that it wants us all to file our taxes electronically. For instance this year they are not sending the paper tax forms out by mail, you have to telephone (1-800-959-2221 M-F 8:15-5:00) to order them, visit a post office to pick them up, or order them online. So I decided to check what software I can use for FREE to file my taxes online. This article is about one of the two approved FREE programs. The article describes how to download and install the software.

In the next article I will describe what happened when I used this software to calculate my husband’s taxes.

Here are some limitations of the StudioTax 2012 software as listed on their website:

  • StudioTax software only runs on Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is compatible with most Windows versions including Windows 7 and Windows 8.
  • If you are not running Win 7, 8 or Vista, StudioTax will attempt to download and install the required .Net 2.0 SP2 if it’s not already installed on your computer.
  • The following form is not handled by StudioTax
  • Form T1273 STATEMENT A – Harmonized CAIS Program Information and Statement of Farming Activities for Individuals

To Get the StudioTax Software to Calculate Your Canadian 2012 Income Taxes

  1. Go to http://www.studiotax.com/
  2. Click on English or French as applicable. Read the information about StudioTax.
  3. Click on the Download link.
  4. If you want the file installed in a specific directory, you may want to make the New Folder before downloading.
    The program can be downloaded in two formats.
    If you want to download the file using the least bandwidth download the Zip file. The ZIP file is about 23 MB.
    If you don’t want to have to unzip the file, download the Exe file. The Exe file is about 25 MB.
  5. To download, click on the EXE or ZIP link in the Latest 2012 row.
  6. If you click on EXE:
    1. Click on the Save File button.
    2. Select the directory within which you want the file saved and click the Save button.
  7. If you click on ZIP:
    1. Select the radio button beside Save File.
    2. Click on the OK button.
    3. Select the directory within which you want the file saved and click the Save button.
    4. Unzip the file. For example: Navigate to the StudioTax2012Install.zip file. From the File menu, select Extract All.

To Install StudioTax Software on your PC

  1. Complete instructions are given on the StudioTax website at: http://www.studiotax.com/en/?page=2 .
  2. Navigate to the folder where you stored the EXE file.
  3. Double click on the EXE file called StudioTax2012Install.exe.
  4. If you receive a message asking if you want to run this file, click on the Run button.
  5. If you receive a message that says Please select a language:
    from the drop-down list select English or French and click the OK button.
  6. The Welcome to StudioTax 2012 Setup wizard will open.
    Click on the Next button.
  7. It will suggest storing the program in C:\Program Files\BHOK IT Consulting\StudioTax 2012\
    You can browse to select a different location, if desired.
    When the correct folder is listed, click on the Next button.
  8. Review the license agreement and Click to set the radio button to I accept the terms in the License Agreement or I do not accept the terms in the License Agreement.
  9. Then click the Next button.
  10. To install the program, click on the Install button. Wait.
  11. After the program installs, if you want to open StudioTax 2012 immediately, click to check the box beside Launch StudioTax 2012.
  12. Click on the Finish button to exit the Setup Wizard.

The Welcome to StudioTax 2012 window will open.

You have now downloaded and installed StudioTax 2012 the free program to calculate your 2012 Canadian Income taxes before the April 30, 2013 deadline. You can use this program to file your taxes online, also for free.

Please consider making a donation to Bhok It Software if you like the product so that they can keep offering this product.

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Are you using StudioTax for your return this year? Did it work the way you expected? Have you ever used any other programs? How did they compare? Please share your experiences with a comment.