TaxTron

What TaxTron does

TaxTron provides Canadian tax-preparation software for individuals, tax professionals and corporations. Individual returns can include self-employment, investment and rental income, and the product also supports corporate returns.

Individual tools include CRA Auto-Fill My Return, ReFILE, T1135 electronic submission, pension splitting and carry-forward of a prior-year return. Corporate tools include GIFI import, diagnostics and complex forms such as SHRED and associated corporations.

Fees and plans

TaxTron offers its individual software free to people with total income under $31,000, and qualifying full-time students may also qualify. Printing or NETFILEing other returns requires a license. There is no free trial.

For Windows, the Individual License costs $19.99 per month and covers one return with income of $31,000 or more, plus 19 additional returns under $31,000. The Macintosh Individual License has the same price and return limits. Family licenses on either platform are $39.99 monthly, covering up to five family members with income of $31,000 or more and 15 additional members under $31,000.

A one-time Windows T1 Individual License is $19.99 for one return with income of $31,000 or more and 19 additional returns under $31,000 each; federal and provincial returns, including Québec TP1, are included. The T1 Personal Tax Return for Web costs $19.99 one-time, with the page saying “Starting from $19.99.”

The Macintosh T1 Family License is a $39.99 one-time purchase for up to five family returns with income of $31,000 or more and up to 15 additional returns under $31,000 each, including Québec TP1. Windows T2 Corporate Single costs $129.99 one-time for one corporate return per year and covers federal and Alberta returns; Québec CO-17 is not supported.

Where it runs

TaxTron offers Windows, macOS and web versions. For the available individual downloads, the listed requirements are Windows 10 or 11 and macOS 10.14 or later.

Mobile access is web-only.

Protection and rules, as TaxTron publishes them

TaxTron says desktop software communicates with its website only for license registration. It says tax return files go to the Canada Revenue Agency through a secure browser session.

Its privacy policy says the company follows PIPEDA, provides annual privacy and security training for employees, and gets consent before sharing client information with third parties.

TaxTron says its software undergoes certification testing for CRA and Revenu Québec rules, and that its filing software offerings are certified by CRA annually. Support is listed Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM EST, with no weekend hours.

Strengths

Qualifying low-income individuals and full-time students may use the software without charge.

For individual filers, the software supports self-employment, investment and rental income alongside Auto-Fill My Return, ReFILE and T1135.

Web features include diagnostics, Québec filing and a tax return summary. Desktop versions support Windows and macOS.

Catches

The free version is subject to an income limit, and printing or NETFILEing other returns requires a license.

The corporate Windows T2 license supports federal and Alberta returns, but excludes Québec CO-17.

Monthly and one-time licenses have different return and family limits. Check the income thresholds, number of returns and province before choosing one.

Mobile use is through the web, and desktop individual software requires Windows 10 or 11 or macOS 10.14 or higher.

Who should skip it

Taxpayers who need a native phone app may not fit because mobile access is web-only. People who must file a Québec corporate CO-17 return should seek a product that supports that filing.

Verdict

TaxTron fits Canadian individuals seeking desktop or browser filing, including those who may qualify for its free version, and people with self-employment, investment or rental income. Its licenses span individual, family and corporate returns, using both one-time and monthly pricing models.

It is less suitable for anyone requiring a dedicated mobile app or Québec corporate CO-17 support. The applicable price depends on income thresholds, return counts, provincial coverage and license type.

Questions