TurboTax is the most widely used tax software in Canada, but with free alternatives available, many filers wonder whether paying for TurboTax is actually worth it. This review breaks down TurboTax Canada's pricing, features, and who should use it in 2025.
TurboTax Canada offers several tiers to match different tax situations:
The free version handles simple returns with a single T4 slip, basic credits, and no complex situations. It is genuinely free but quite limited. If you have multiple income sources, investment income, or self-employment income, you will need to upgrade.
Handles most personal returns including employment income, RRSP deductions, rental income, investments, medical expenses, and charitable donations. This is the right tier for most employed Canadians with a moderately complex return.
Adds support for investment income including the sale of stocks, capital gains, and foreign income. Good for investors and people with rental properties.
Designed for freelancers, contractors, and small business owners. Includes a business income and expense section, home office calculations, vehicle expense tracking, and guidance on self-employment deductions. Also includes one free return for a spouse.
Adds access to real tax experts who can review your return and answer questions in real time. Pricing varies but expect $50 to $120 depending on complexity. For people anxious about getting their return right, this is a genuinely valuable option.
A tax expert prepares and files your return for you. This starts around $150 and goes higher for complex situations. Comparable to hiring an accountant but more convenient.
TurboTax guides you through your return with plain-language questions rather than asking you to navigate tax forms directly. This is ideal for people who are not familiar with tax terminology. You answer questions about your life and TurboTax translates those into the correct tax form entries.
By connecting to CRA My Account, TurboTax can automatically import your T4, T5, and other slips directly into your return. This saves time and reduces the risk of entering numbers incorrectly. This feature is also available in most other NETFILE-certified software.
TurboTax guarantees it will find every credit and deduction you are entitled to, or it will refund the cost of the software. This is a reassuring promise, though any quality tax software should accomplish the same thing.
If you receive a penalty because of a TurboTax calculation error, TurboTax will pay the penalty. Note that this applies to calculation errors, not mistakes you made in entering information.
TurboTax has a solid mobile app that lets you scan your T4 slips with your phone camera, complete your return on a smartphone, and track your refund. The mobile experience is polished.
TurboTax is well suited for people filing their first return who want guided assistance, self-employed individuals and small business owners who need robust expense tracking, investors with capital gains, foreign income, or multiple investment accounts, and anyone who wants the peace of mind of the expert review or audit support options.
TurboTax is less necessary for straightforward returns with a single employer and no investments. In those cases, free software like Wealthsimple Tax handles everything TurboTax does at zero cost.
Wealthsimple Tax (formerly SimpleTax) is completely free for all Canadians and handles the same tax situations as TurboTax Standard or Premier. It uses a similar interview-style approach and supports Auto-Fill from CRA. The interface is sleek and modern, and it handles employment income, investments, self-employment, and rental properties.
The main advantages of TurboTax over Wealthsimple Tax are the live expert assistance options, the guided walkthrough for complex business situations, a longer track record, and slightly more detailed help text for unusual situations. For straightforward returns, the two products produce identical results.
H&R Block Online offers similar pricing to TurboTax and includes the option to have a tax professional review your return at a physical H&R Block location. This appeals to people who prefer in-person support. The software itself is comparable in quality to TurboTax at a similar price point.
For most employed Canadians with a T4, some credits, and no complex situations, free software like Wealthsimple Tax is the smarter choice. It produces the same return at zero cost.
TurboTax earns its price for self-employed individuals who need detailed expense guidance, investors with complex capital gains situations, and anyone who wants the option of expert help or audit support. The TurboTax Live tier is genuinely valuable for anxious filers who want someone to review their work before submitting.
While you are optimizing your tax return, stop paying banking fees too. KOHO offers a free account with no monthly fees so you keep more of your refund. Use code 45ET55JSYA for a bonus when you sign up.
Open KOHO Free — No Fees — Code 45ET55JSYA