Topic 'Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?' in forum 'Canadian Chat' - dslreports.com

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:55:19 EDT

loosedobbs posted : sorry man. getting old.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:48:34 EDT

urbanriot posted :

I dunno, I've been using CRA E-services for years and still have all my messages mailed to me.

This was a new change and there's a notification of this change on their web site. If you call them, they'll tell you (whoever calls) they switched you over since you've used, at least once, their electronic services.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:54:15 EDT

dirtyjeffer posted :

said by loosedobbs:

Yesterday received mail from CRA and they don't issue the security codes for e-file.

psst...i already said that...9th post in on page 1.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:27:02 EDT

corster posted :

said by J E F F:

said by urbanriot:

You know what else those bastards are doing?

If you've ever, once in your life, utilized one of their online services they automatically remove you from their physical mailing list and automatically consider you an electronic filer and send messages to your login there!! You don't get a choice.

LOL!

I had like 19 unread messages last time I logged in.

I dunno, I've been using CRA E-services for years and still have all my messages mailed to me.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:13:58 EDT

J E F F posted :

said by urbanriot:

LOL!

I had like 19 unread messages last time I logged in.
--
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Albert Einstein

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:13:13 EDT

J E F F posted :

said by I_H8_Spam:

Not a pitch, but i've used »www.studiotax.com/en/ for years.

As always, StudioTax is made available FREE for personal use and regardless of level of income. NO questions asked, NO registration, NO key, and NO activation.

Handles all my households needs nicely.

Concur. I've used Studio Tax for about 7 or 8 years now. It's perfect.
--
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Albert Einstein

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:49:25 EDT

corster posted :

said by Guspaz:

Well, doing it on paper sucked mainly because in Quebec you have to fill out two complete sets of income tax papers (federal and provincial), each as complicated as the other. So that sucked. But when you do it electronically, the software copies all the duplicate information between them.

I'm filling out a Quebec return for the first time this year and Ufile seems way more intimidating than it used to. Maybe i'll try Turbotax instead.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:42:10 EDT

shepd posted : Many countries do the taxes for you and nobody gets lawsuit happy. Of course, those countries do permit you to prepare your own taxes should you feel you have a special situation, or you're just bored to tears.

Nobody would sue if the answer was "Uhhhh, we did them for you so you didn't go to jail for being late with them, dumbass".

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:57:45 EDT

loosedobbs posted : Yesterday received mail from CRA and they don't issue the security codes for e-file.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:53:45 EDT

ekster posted : They can't exactly know what's applied to your situation or not. And if they assume something that a person doesn't like, they'll start getting lawsuit happy. So it's your responsibility to declare everything you have to declare.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:47:18 EDT

Guspaz posted :

said by IamGimli:

Because they don't know if you made any charitable donations, if you had revenues outside your province, if you purchased medication, etc.

Then how about they only make me do taxes if those kinds of things are the case? Because they generally (for me) are not.
--
Developer: Tomato/MLPPP, Linux/MLPPP, etc »fixppp.org

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:37:33 EDT

IamGimli posted :

said by Guspaz:

EDIT: Of course, I wonder why I have to do taxes to begin with, because the government already gets copies of all the slips I use to fill out my taxes, and occasionally corrects my submission if I made a mistake. So if they have all the info why don't they just calculate it themselves and tell me how much I owe or am owed by them at the end of every year?

Because they don't know if you made any charitable donations, if you had revenues outside your province, if you purchased medication, etc.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:10:03 EDT

mr weather posted :

said by lugnut :

BTW, how much advance notice did you expect to receive about this year's changes? Taxes aren't due til April 30th. Chances are you'll still probably receive a letter sometime this month informing you of the changes if you weren't already clued in by the article.

The article was the first I had heard about CRA doing away with mailing out paper returns.

And as far as getting notice, for the last couple of years both my wife and I got our T1 packages in the first week of January. This year we're almost at the end of the month and nothing has shown up yet. Hence my inquiry.
--
"It's all coming down!!" - Mike Holmes

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:50:39 EDT

MichelR posted :

said by corster:

said by Guspaz:

For me, the current problem is that I have not, as far as I know, received my T4 or RL-1 slips yet, so I'm kind of missing the two most critical documents.

Ugh... forgot I have to wait for two slips this year... gotta love Quebec...

I think the MRQ is just a disguised subsidy for the forest industry.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:49:50 EDT

Guspaz posted : Well, doing it on paper sucked mainly because in Quebec you have to fill out two complete sets of income tax papers (federal and provincial), each as complicated as the other. So that sucked. But when you do it electronically, the software copies all the duplicate information between them. Doing your taxes ends up coming down to typing a few numbers in and hitting submit. I think it took me 15 minutes to do my taxes last year, whereas the worst time I did it by paper, when I filed 3 years at once, for six sets of taxes, it took me altogether maybe 10+ hours, plus the time to go to the post office and mail them.
--
Developer: Tomato/MLPPP, Linux/MLPPP, etc »fixppp.org

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:49:02 EDT

MichelR posted :

said by Guspaz:

Quebec is still requiring the netfile code, so CRA getting rid of their netfile code doesn't change much. Slightly less hassle, I guess.

I switched from doing it on paper to doing it via quicktax the year before last... loved it. It took me a fraction of the time to do my taxes, saving me many hours.

Word of advice, the "desktop" version of quicktax (now turbotax) is identical to the web version. In fact, the desktop version of quicktax is just a web browser embedded in an application, so there is really no difference between the two. Save yourself the money and just use the web version. At $18 to save me many hours of work, totally worth it.

For me, the current problem is that I have not, as far as I know, received my T4 or RL-1 slips yet, so I'm kind of missing the two most critical documents.

Seriously, StudioTax. They started supporting the Quebec returns a couple of years ago. $0 still beats $18. :D surprised to hear that TurboTax has turned into some kind of glorified web app.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:46:22 EDT

corster posted :

said by Guspaz:

For me, the current problem is that I have not, as far as I know, received my T4 or RL-1 slips yet, so I'm kind of missing the two most critical documents.

Ugh... forgot I have to wait for two slips this year... gotta love Quebec...

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:44:14 EDT

Guspaz posted : Quebec is still requiring the netfile code, so CRA getting rid of their netfile code doesn't change much. Slightly less hassle, I guess.

I switched from doing it on paper to doing it via quicktax the year before last... loved it. It took me a fraction of the time to do my taxes, saving me many hours.

Word of advice, the "desktop" version of quicktax (now turbotax) is identical to the web version. In fact, the desktop version of quicktax is just a web browser embedded in an application, so there is really no difference between the two. Save yourself the money and just use the web version. At $18 to save me many hours of work, totally worth it.

For me, the current problem is that I have not, as far as I know, received my T4 or RL-1 slips yet, so I'm kind of missing the two most critical documents.

EDIT: Of course, I wonder why I have to do taxes to begin with, because the government already gets copies of all the slips I use to fill out my taxes, and occasionally corrects my submission if I made a mistake. So if they have all the info why don't they just calculate it themselves and tell me how much I owe or am owed by them at the end of every year?
--
Developer: Tomato/MLPPP, Linux/MLPPP, etc »fixppp.org

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:31:19 EDT

shepd posted : I might be a sysadmin, but I still do my taxes by hand. Mostly because it costs the government more that way, so it's a form of protest. :P Also, because the government spends a few minutes to look through it and every time they end up just rewriting it again (each time the amount they send to me is EXACTLY what I totalled, anyways--seems they just want the numbers in different boxes). Lastly, because I'm just that effin' cheap.

Sent in my request for the usual 4 of them. 2 each for me and the wife. 1 as a draft, 1 to send in, each.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:00:12 EDT

urbanriot posted : Yea, the unfortunate part is that small business owners or entrepreneurs are clueless when it comes to this sort of thing and don't have the money to regularly hit up an accountant when they're getting their business off the ground.

The CRA should be consistently communicating with them via letter mail unless they specifically ask to have something as significant as returns switched to something else.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:31:51 EDT

neochu posted : I think at some point though, and with with a large enough buisness/unique situation you would have an accountant on retainer already.

Electronic services though just means a "My Account" on the CRA website. The complexity is wither or not your communication/filing preference is by paper or electronically.

The default now is electronic which is causing the confusion.

(I have efiled since I have been required to make one. Luckily I don't have an aforementioned situation and have not had too many issues with it.)

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:44:51 EDT

urbanriot posted :

said by neochu:

My understanding is that small businesses, self-employed people, first time filers, and complicated situations cant use basic e-filing software anyways.

Correct. And you get really fucked over if you have a complicated situation and they've arbitrarily decided to move you to the electronic services without telling you, because you can't create an electronic account to complete some of these tasks so you have to call them and tell them to undo their fuckup.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:53:45 EDT

ekster posted : No need to paper file or go to anyone for any of those situations, except first time filer and a couple of very rare situations like non-residents, bankruptcies, etc., if you know what you're doing.

Any simple software like ufile/turbotax/etc. can do everything that needs to be done.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:48:51 EDT

neochu posted : you also don't have to purchase software at all. There are several single return options available online for e-filing for simple returns.

My understanding is that small businesses, self-employed people, first time filers, and complicated situations cant use basic e-filing software anyways.

You would have to go to a preparer or do the paper return for those.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:03:43 EDT

DKS posted : If you use a tax preparer, they are required to use e-file. If they don't, CRA fines them $25.
--
Need-based health care not greed-based health care.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:56:37 EDT

peterboro posted :

said by mr weather:

Yes, I'm one of the dinosaurs who still sends in a paper return but this policy change was news to me.

I send in a paper return for myself and netfile for the rest of the gang (about 8) and before that I tele-filed and before that it was paper and when this whole convoluted computerized mess we call progress crashes I'll be back to paper if there is a government.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:51:11 EDT

Gami00 posted :

said by donoreo:

We need DKS to come in and tell us what it was like to file on birch bark and clay tablets before that! :D

wouldn't taxes have been much easier then..

pay with "meat" and or "fish".
there are no returns to process.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:44:41 EDT

donoreo posted : We need DKS to come in and tell us what it was like to file on birch bark and clay tablets before that! :D

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:30:55 EDT

anon posted :

said by mr weather:

said by corster:

1.3 Million paper returns were mailed out last year to taxfilers who didn't end up filing by paper. It's a huge waste of money and resources to send them out to people who won't use them.

So CRA mailed out paper returns to everyone? That's pretty dumb. At least limit mailings to those who filed paper returns the year before.

No CRA did not mail out returns to everyone. I've been netfiling for the last 15 years and I haven't received anything more in the mail than a slip of paper with my netfile PIN in all that time. What it means is 1.3 million people who paper filed the previous year decided to netfile last year.

And now after receiving that letter telling me that from now on Netfile will no longer use a PIN and instead use my SIN and DOB there will not even be so much as a letter being posted my way in the future.

I gotta hand it to them. They are doing a great job of cutting costs on this now.

BTW, how much advance notice did you expect to receive about this year's changes? Taxes aren't due til April 30th. Chances are you'll still probably receive a letter sometime this month informing you of the changes if you weren't already clued in by the article.

And honestly, why fuss about it at all. They still accept paper returns. They simply shifted the model to an on demand basis since paper filings have skewed to the minority now.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:27:15 EDT

MichelR posted :

said by I_H8_Spam:

It's going to be my 5th year using it. I used Imp�tRapide (French version of TurboTax) before. StudioTax is not as pretty as the paid offerings, but it does the calculations right and that's the important thing.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:22:08 EDT

corster posted :

said by mr weather:

said by corster:

1.3 Million paper returns were mailed out last year to taxfilers who didn't end up filing by paper. It's a huge waste of money and resources to send them out to people who won't use them.

So CRA mailed out paper returns to everyone? That's pretty dumb. At least limit mailings to those who filed paper returns the year before.

There were actually three different mailings that went out last year, if I recall correctly:

Full T1 package - if you filed using the CRA's paper forms or Telefile, or your previous filing method was not on record, you got this.

Name and Address Sticker - if you filed a paper return prepared by software (i.e. printed it out yourself and mailed it), you got this.

Netfile access code - if you Netfiled the year before, you got this.

This year, they've eliminated the Netfile access codes altogether, and I suppose the cost of the Name and Address stickers wasn't worth it given that people can just write them in anyways.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:21:23 EDT

anon posted : CRA has changed their system this year for efiling. You no longer receive a PIN number. Instead you input your SIN and your Date of Birth.

At least that's the gist of what I got from a letter they sent me just after New Years.

You didn't get that letter from them?

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:18:29 EDT

mr weather posted :

said by corster:

1.3 Million paper returns were mailed out last year to taxfilers who didn't end up filing by paper. It's a huge waste of money and resources to send them out to people who won't use them.

So CRA mailed out paper returns to everyone? That's pretty dumb. At least limit mailings to those who filed paper returns the year before.
--
"It's all coming down!!" - Mike Holmes

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:17:38 EDT

corster posted :

said by mr weather:

Look, I'm not bitching that CRA stopped the practice. I'm bitching that they gave us no warning that it was going to happen.

You should be recieving a letter explaining that the CRA no longer sends out T1's automatically and that you can request one to be mailed to you.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:15:24 EDT

donoreo posted :

said by elwoodblues:

Service Canada officescsre being shut down, also under the money saving guise.

It is not actually saving money, it will just be spent elsewhere :)

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:14:37 EDT

elwoodblues posted : Service Canada officescsre being shut down, also under the money saving guise.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:14:15 EDT

donoreo posted :

said by elwoodblues:

The simplified form is gone too.
It's being done under the guise of "saving money".

E-filing is quick and easy, but it's not for me everyone.

Strangley I didntbget my efile key yet.

I think I heard on the radio that the telephone filing service is gone too. Never used it myself.
--
The irony of common sense, it is not that common.
I cannot deny anything I did not say.
A kitten dies every time someone uses "then" and "than" incorrectly.
I mock people who give their children odd spelling of names.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:13:59 EDT

mr weather posted : Yes, something about the forms being available after February 4 at Canada Post outlets (and on-line of course. But that means you don't get a personalized mailing label. I believe our returns go to Sudbury but I'll have to confirm.

Look, I'm not bitching that CRA stopped the practice. I'm bitching that they gave us no warning that it was going to happen.
--
"It's all coming down!!" - Mike Holmes

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:13:20 EDT

corster posted : They're not mailing them out automatically, but you can still request to have one mailed to you by filling out the form here:

»www.cra-arc.gc.ca/orderforms/

or by calling 1-800-959-8281.

They'll also still be available to pickup at Service Canada offices, Canada Post outlets, and your MP's constituency office, as always.

1.3 Million paper returns were mailed out last year to taxfilers who didn't end up filing by paper. It's a huge waste of money and resources to send them out to people who won't use them.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:12:50 EDT

dirtyjeffer posted : they aren't using efile keys any longer...i got my letter from CRA last week about it...you file using your SIN and address info.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:11:21 EDT

elwoodblues posted : The simplified form is gone too.
It's being done under the guise of "saving money".

E-filing is quick and easy, but it's not for me everyone.

Strangley I didntbget my efile key yet.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:09:37 EDT

donoreo posted : Can you still not get the forms at the post office?

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:09:02 EDT

anon posted : Did you read the whole article?

Aside from the free option of downloading the forms and printing them out yourself, you can still pick them up at any post office, as well as phoning CRA and asking them to mail them to you if you're housebound and don't have a computer.

Otherwise it makes perfect sense to me, saving millions of dollars on wasted paper that ends up thrown in the garbage anyway.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:00:53 EDT

ekster posted : Software is provided for free. It's on their website. Took all of 4 seconds of searching and clicking.

For the lazy, it's Studiotax. Never used it as I'm used to DTMax due to my job, but plenty of people used it from what I know.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:00:41 EDT

urbanriot posted : You know what else those bastards are doing?

If you've ever, once in your life, utilized one of their online services they automatically remove you from their physical mailing list and automatically consider you an electronic filer and send messages to your login there!! You don't get a choice.

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:59:38 EDT

I_H8_Spam posted : Not a pitch, but i've used »www.studiotax.com/en/ for years.

As always, StudioTax is made available FREE for personal use and regardless of level of income. NO questions asked, NO registration, NO key, and NO activation.

Handles all my households needs nicely.
--
AFK: Attack, fight, kill!! The healer is telling you to go pull mobs.
WTF: Way to fight! The healer is applauding your tactical genius

Re: CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:57:11 EDT

dirtyjeffer posted : the software is pretty cheap (maybe $20) and it really helps with the returns (organized, ensures you don't miss anything, and lets you e-file)...we have used it the last few years and it is great.

CRA no longer mailing out returns?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:55:06 EDT

mr weather posted : I noticed in an article in the Toronto Star today that CRA is not mailing out 2012 T1 General/T1 Special tax return forms. (linky)

Yes, I'm one of the dinosaurs who still sends in a paper return but this policy change was news to me. And the fact that I have to buy software to file electronically irks me. If CRA want us all to file online they should supplying the software for free (yes, I know free versions are available to those under certain income level but that doesn't apply to me).
--
"It's all coming down!!" - Mike Holmes