Tag Archives: StudioTax

How to Get StudioTax 2013 Software to Do your Canadian Income Taxes for Free

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If you’re cheap spending-averse like me, you may have been doing your taxes by hand for years. Now that the government is pushing us all to NETFILE our forms, I’ve finally caved in and started using a program to submit my return to the CRA. (I still calculate it by hand, though, to stay in practice.) When I went looking for a free way to NETFILE, I found StudioTax. It’s approved for NETFILEing and the only cost is a voluntary donation to the programmer. Since I support small businesses, I make the donation. Here’s how you can get the free StudioTax 2013 software for Windows to calculate and file your own income taxes.

StudioTax is certified by both the CRA and Revenue Quebec for NETFILE. You can also print returns to mail in.

How to Use StudioTax 2013 to NETFILE Your Taxes by April 30, 2014: Part 1: Get the Program

Future articles will talk about using the software to do the math and how to NETFILE once you’re sure your return is accurate.

StudioTax 2013 isn’t for everyone. Here are some of its limits as listed on the website:

  • It needs a Microsoft Windows operating system to run.
  • It can’t handle Form T1273 AgriStability  AgriInvest Programs STATEMENT A – Harmonized CAIS Program Information and Statement of Farming Activities for Individuals. (Neither can I.)

How to Download StudioTax 2013

  1. Go to http://www.studiotax.com/
  2. As desired, click on English or French. Read the details.
  3. Click on the Download link.
  4. If you want to save the program in a specific folder on your hard drive, make the folder now.
    • If you download the file as a ZIP file you will have to unzip it.
    • If you download the file as an EXE file you will not need to unzip it.

    To start the download, click on the EXE or ZIP link in the Latest 2013 row.

  5. If you click on EXE:
    1. Click on the Save File button.
    2. Select the directory where you want the file saved and click the Save button.
  6. If you click on ZIP:
    1. Click to select the dot beside Save File.
    2. Click OK.
    3. Select the directory where you want the file saved and click the Save button.
    4. Unzip the file.
      For example: Navigate to the StudioTax2013Install.zip file.
      From the File menu, select Extract All.

To Install StudioTax 2013 Software on your PC

Complete instructions are given on the StudioTax website at:  http://studiotax.com/en/?page=2

  1. Go to the folder where you saved the EXE file.
  2. Double click on the EXE file named StudioTax2013Install.exe.
  3. To run the file, click on the Run button.
  4. Select a language from the drop-down list and click the OK button.
  5. The Welcome to StudioTax 2013 Setup wizard will start.
    Click Next.
  6. It will suggest storing the program in C:\Program Files\BHOK IT Consulting\StudioTax 2013\
    You can use the Browse button to move to a different folder if you want.
    When the folder is ok, click Next.
  7. Review the license agreement (it’s short!) and select the dot beside I accept the terms in the License Agreement or I do not accept the terms in the License Agreement.
    Click Next.
  8. Click Install. Wait.
  9. Click Finish.

The program is now installed in the folder you chose (or in the default folder on C:\ drive.)

An icon has been added to your Desktop called StudioTax 2013. It’s a dark red X in a Blue circle over a maple leaf.

To use the program, you double click on the StudioTax.exe in that folder or double click on the icon.

Please make a donation to Bhok It Software if you like the program so that they can keep offering it each year.

Related Reading

Coming soon, once I use the program:

  • Using StudioTax 2013 to Do Your Tax Forms
  • Sending a NETFILE Return Using StudioTax 2013

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Is this your first year using StudioTax or your fifth? Have you ever tried another program? Please share your experiences with a comment.

Why Expecting Canadians to NETFILE Using Private Software is Unfair and Divisive

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The federal government seems to be moving towards forcing Canadians to file their tax returns electronically. At the same time they are doing little or nothing to facilitate such a change. I think the government is creating an unfair and divisive situation where some people can afford to get their taxes done properly, on time and with the maximum benefit or minimum owing, and others are spending money they cannot afford just to get their taxes filed.

The Government Must Offer a Government Mechanism to File Electronically

The first logical step to automating Canada’s tax return system would be to provide every taxpayer with access to a government-run website to enter their tax data.

As a first step, it should be possible for a taxpayer to open a folder and within that folder to open each Schedule and Form needed to submit a paper return. They should then be able to simply type the data from their paper return into the appropriate spaces on this electronic mirror image. This should be an encrypted internet-accessible program similar to an online banking program. The taxpayer should not have to download any programs or install any software. It should be able to run on the common platforms available in public libraries and community access locations.

The next step would be for the government to simplify what the taxpayer needs to type into the mirror replicas of the paper forms so that the mathematical calculations are done automatically. The taxpayer should just have to review those fields against their paper return and make sure they match.

Ideally, later, the government should provide a free full-featured program similar to those commercially available to guide taxpayers through paying their taxes.

Why Even Government-Provided Programs Are not an Ideal Answer

Even this is not a great solution. Taxpayers without personal computers would be forced to have their personal financial information on display at a public place such as a library. I can foresee some criminal minds realizing they could place secret video cameras to capture this identity and financial information.

The amount of time available at places like libraries is also very limited. It’s not always possible to get internet access at a library now, much less if hundreds of people were lined up waiting to file their taxes. (Remember most forms required to file taxes are only available after February 28, yet the tax filing deadline is April 30.)

Private Enterprise should not be the ONLY Option

The current system is not working.

Most people have to pay to buy software, install it on their own computer and use it to calculate and file their taxes. Or they have to take their information to a third party’s office and pay them to fill out and file their return. (Or they have to file a paper return, which works perfectly well but which is what the government is trying to force users to stop doing.)

Why should a taxpayer have to pay a private company to pay their taxes?

Why should a person who cannot afford a computer have to pay someone to file their taxes?

Why should someone who cannot use a computer due to age or disability but not lack of money have to pay someone else to file their taxes?

If the government wants to allow third party software programs to continue to be used, that’s fine. There are many tasks in life where people prefer one type of program over another. But there should be an option to use a free accessible government program. The only option right now is to buy a program from a third party. (Or use free software from a third party knowing that morally they should make a donation to keep those companies open.)

Using Third Party Software is Frightening to Many Taxpayers

Why should taxpayers have to take a chance that they may download a virus to their computer when they use a non-government program to pay their taxes?

Why should taxpayers have to worry that some private company may embed (knowingly or unwittingly) a malicious program inside their tax return program that provides personal and private information illegally to another person?

Why should taxpayers have to worry that software is not properly calculating their taxes? I have had readers ask me whether the personal exemption was being applied, whether credits were being properly shared between spouses and other questions that suggest a basic lack of faith in the program.

Free Software is NOT Available to Everyone

Only two programs were available for free in 2013 (for 2012 returns) for taxpayers making an income of over $35000: GenuTax Standard 2012 and StudioTax 2012. Both of these programs require the user to download and install software.

You cannot download software and install it on most publicly accessible free computers. For example, you cannot do this at a public library or at any public accessibility computer I have ever seen. (If you disagree with me, please provide information about where this can be done with a comment.)

That means if

  • The taxpayer does not have a computer
  • The taxpayer does not have a computer with an operating system compatible with the software
  • The taxpayer does not understand how to download and install programs

 

They cannot use these free programs. (NOTE: These programs are actually “pay what you can” programs. Without donations their programmers will have to stop offering them.

Free Software Cannot Provide Customized Service

Free software has very limited resources to provide technical assistance to users. You can’t expect a company that is already offering tax software for free to also employ hundreds of people to deal with the inevitable questions and errors. The government should provide the software and the government should provide the technical assistance because it is the government that is forcing this shift in usage.

Community Tax Volunteers are Already Stretched

There are many kind persons in Canada who take a course and help others file their tax returns. These are wonderful volunteers who deserve to be applauded.

However, there are not nor can there ever be enough volunteers to help everyone file their taxes. As it stands now, most volunteer groups have to limit their help to those with very low incomes and very simple returns.

Conclusion
The government should take responsibility for making tax filing simpler and easier so people can file their own taxes without assistance.

Related Reading

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Do you think the government is pushing the “free enterprise” envelope too far by expecting us to buy software just to file our taxes? Please share your views with a comment.