StudioTax Canadian Personal Income Tax Software

A- StudioTax is not a spyware. StudioTax does not connect to the internet except if you explicitly use the check for updates feature. StudioTax was used by 10's of thousands of users over the last 3 years( More than 170,000 taxpayers used StudioTax 2008 to file their 2008 returns). StudioTax was tested and certified by the government for last 5 years. But you don't have to take our words for it; here are few tips and free tools that will help you protect your computer and personal data:

A- YOU DO NOT HAVE TO. We do not ask or keep any personal information about StudioTax users or their computers. It is all happening on your computer. Unlike other tax programs, we do not collect registration information before we let you use our software. The whole idea behind StudioTax is to make you comfortable using a tax software and not coerce you into giving away your valuable personal and financial information.

Q-3 In the quick start wizard, I am being asked for a spouse's net income, which I won't have until I complete her/his return as well. Yet the wizard will not let me move to the next page.

A- Provide an approximate amount to start with and once you complete your spouse's return, you can start the wizard again and enter the correct amount.

A-Open both the federal and provincial schedule 11 of your daughter's return and scroll to the bottom. Designate the amount you want to transfer at line 24 of the federal and line 20 for the provincial part. Go to your return(or the return receiving the transfer) and double click on line 21(field 323) of schedule 1 and provide the amounts you just designated as transfer. If your daughter is filing a paper return, then she needs to fill the back of the T2202A form, sign it and attach it to her return. If she is filing using Netfile, then she need to keep T2202A in case CRA ask for it.

Q-5 I have noticed that the format of the filed saved by StudioTax is in *.09t but in order to submit via netfile, the file extension has to be in *.tax

A- The files with extension .09t are StudioTax file that only StudioTax can open and load. CRA requires a specific Netfile format that their web application can understand. To generate Netfile file you need to click on the NETFILE button and use the Netfile wizard to generate a .TAX from you return. Once the Netfile wizard is started, you need to press Next until you get to the Netfile ready page. At that page, you'll have all the instructions you need to file your return using Netfile.

A- As of 2006 version, StudioTax supports linked returns. Make sure to check the corresponding check box when you set your marital status. If you already created an unlinked return, then create the second return, make sure both returns are loaded(open) and use the Tools->Link Returns menu. Once both returns are linked, save the linked returns to a new file and discard the old unlinked returns. Linked returns are saved to a single file. The software link the returns based on the SIN numbers. Make sure the spouse's SIN of one return is the SIN of the second return.

Q-7My CPP contributions from two T4's add to about $620. However, when this goes to line 308 on Schedule 1, the maximum value that registers is $545.32, although the text on the line states a max value of 1989.90 . Is this a bug in the software?

A- It sounds like you have a CPP overpayment. The difference should appear on T1 page 4 line 448; that's a good thing since you will be getting more money back.

A- Click on Forms button and add Schedule 4 and Schedule 7. You can also double click on line 208 to take you to S7 and line 121 to take you to S4. Other supported forms can be added in the same way.

A- You need to use schedule 5. First you need to provide your daughter's or son's info by using the dependants button. Then use schedule 5(section line 305), press on the "Pick name..." button and select the name of your daughter or son. That's all your need to do. The calculated amount should appear on both Schedule 1 and the 428 provincial form.
If you do all the above and still get zero, then perhaps you are not eligible to claim an dependant at line 305. One of the reason may be the fact that you already have a spouse. If that's the case and your marital status changed during the year, then use the Netfile form and check one of lines 5529 or 5522 which may allow you to claim an eligible dependant.

A- As of StudioTax 2008 you can generate a PDF version of your return by using the Print button and checking the PDF option on the second page of the Print wizard.

Prior to 2008, you can use CutePDF a free PDF writer that installs as a printer that can use to print to a file in PDF format. Once installed, it will be added to the list of printers and you only need to select CutePDF when you get the prompt to pick a printer. You can get it from here and you will need Ghostscript that can be downloaded from the CutePdf page. CutePDF is a handy tool that can be used to generate PDF documents on the fly from any windows application.

A- T1 special is a subset of T1 general which is what StudioTax supports. And yes you can use StudioTax to prepare your tax.

Q-12StudioTax is crashing with a message similar to "Studiotax 2008 has encountered

A-This is most likely the result of a corrupt or partially installed .Net framework. You may need to locate the .Net 2.0 framework in the list of programs and try un-installing it. Then download the .Net 2.0 SP2 and install it. If the uninstall does not work, then you may want to try a solution suggested by Chris from New Brunswick who run into a similar situation: Chris found a .Net framework removal tool and was able to un-install, re-install the .Net2.0 and successfully installed and run Studiotax. Here is where Chris found the tool: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2006/05/30/611355.aspx

On VISTA, some of these issues were traced to a .Net 3.5 issue that is fixed by installing/re-installing .Net 3.5 SP1.

Q-14 The “Taxable income from line 260 of your tax return” on both Federal and Provincial Schedule 11 is different from the actual amount on line 260 of my return.

A-This is a result of a new CRA rule that kicks in when your tuition credits are high compared to your income.

Q-15When I start StudioTax I get the following warning: The display resolution is not set to the standard 96.0 dpi. Some forms may not be displayed correctly

Q-16I get an error when I try to save or open my return and the software seems unstable.

This page provides answers to some common questions we received regarding StudioTax.

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