TurboTax Canada Review 2025

Is TurboTax Canada worth the price? An honest look at features, pricing, and whether free alternatives do the job just as well.

TurboTax Canada 2025 Pricing

Plan	Price	Best For
Free	$0	Simple T4 returns only
Deluxe	~$20.99	Credits, donations, medical
Premier	~$34.99	Investments, rental income
Self-Employed	~$49.99	Freelancers, small business
Assisted (with expert)	$89.99+	Complex returns with CPA review

What TurboTax Canada Does Well

TurboTax Canada has been a market leader for decades. Its interview-style interface walks you through every section with plain-language questions, making it accessible even for first-time filers. Key strengths include:

• Step-by-step interview format eliminates guesswork
• SmartLook feature connects you to a live tax expert via video (paid plans)
• Extensive error-checking before submission
• CRA Auto-fill integration pulls your slips automatically
• Maximum Refund Guarantee (they will find missed deductions)
• Available on web, iOS, and Android
• Handles complex situations: rental income, investments, self-employment

TurboTax Canada Drawbacks

• The free version is extremely limited — only basic T4 employment income
• Upsell prompts throughout the filing process are aggressive
• Paid tiers are significantly more expensive than competitors
• Most Canadians pay for features available free in Wealthsimple Tax or GenuTax
• Pricing has increased year over year

TurboTax vs. Free Alternatives

Feature	TurboTax (Paid)	Wealthsimple Tax (Free)	GenuTax (Free)
Self-employed income	Yes ($50)	Yes ($0)	Yes ($0)
Rental income	Yes ($35)	Yes ($0)	Yes ($0)
Capital gains	Yes ($35)	Yes ($0)	Yes ($0)
Live expert help	Yes ($90+)	No	No
Auto-fill from CRA	Yes	Yes	Yes
NETFILE certified	Yes	Yes	Yes

When TurboTax Is Worth Paying For

For most Canadians — especially those with employment income and simple returns — free software is entirely sufficient. TurboTax Canada is genuinely worth paying for in these cases:

• You want access to a live CPA or tax expert for complex questions
• Your return involves multiple rental properties, foreign income, or business income with inventory
• You have had CRA audit issues and want professional backing
• You simply prefer a highly polished, guided experience and don't mind paying for comfort

TurboTax Canada Accuracy Guarantee

TurboTax offers a 100% accuracy guarantee — if the software makes a calculation error that results in a CRA penalty, TurboTax will reimburse you. This is worth noting for complex returns where the stakes are higher. Free software providers generally offer no such guarantee.

Our Verdict

TurboTax Canada is a solid, well-designed product. But for the vast majority of Canadian filers, Wealthsimple Tax (free) or GenuTax (free) will handle your return just as accurately at no cost. Save TurboTax for situations where you genuinely need expert access or have an unusually complex filing situation.