While TurboTax and UFile are both great tax preparation programs, there are other alternatives that will do the job and are completely free. Today we’ll look at StudioTax, which I was impressed with when I used StudioTax last year.
StudioTax includes a Quick Start Wizard that takes you through most of your taxes. StudioTax is a full featured program, including support for those that are self employed and those with investments or rental income. Unlike the paid programs, that only allow filing 8 returns, Studiotax will let you file 20, which is the maximum that the CRA will allow to be eligible for NetFile.
StudioTax does have built in update checking, though it seems to only be a manual link, not run when the program starts. So if you installed StudioTax earlier in the year, be sure to update to the latest version to get any fixes or improvements to the software. Unfortunately StudioTax also does not support importing previous returns from other programs, only from StudioTax.
The other small issue I have is with the visual presentation. While it does what it needs to do, a more polished look would give it a feeling of being more user friendly and would help more Canadians to view it on the same level as TurboTax and UFile.
Started in 2004, StudioTax was developed by a group of software developers from Ottawa and has been gaining in popularity every year since. While StudioTax is free, they do accept donations. If you like the program, consider sending them a few dollars to show your appreciation for all the effort they have put into it!
Tax Software Review – StudioTax,Related Posts:
Tom Drake is the owner and head writer of Canadian Finance Blog.
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I don’t think I’ve heard of StudioTax before; but, now that you mention its free, maybe I’ll give it a try!
Can you still use the program to get an ‘estimate’ as to how your taxes are supposed to turn out or is its sole intention to file online for you?
.-= The Rat´s last blog ..BIN Revisited: From Tantrum to Tantalization =-.
Filed using StudioTax last year, worked like a charm. Even my accountant was impressed.
I have been using StudioTax for years and it does give you the option of “What If” scenerios. It does everything the other tax preparation softwares do and it is free.
This is my 3rd year using Studio Tax. I do my wife’s and my taxes with it including our small unincorporated business and it works like a charm. Highly recommended.
I used StudioTax last year for myself, husband, parents, and grandparent; I also did a sanity check with quicktax. The two gave almost identical results for most of us, and Quicktax gave a slightly higher return for my husband for some reason, never could figure out why.
My question is, I couldn’t find anywhere to claim the HRTC on StudioTax 2009, am I missing something?
To claim the HRTC credit in StudioTax:
1. Answer yes to the HRTC question during the wizard
Or if you missed it:
2. Add Schedule 12 to your tax return by pressing the Forms button.
I’ve used StudioTax the last three years and I’m going to use it again this year. Apart from the visual look which could be a bit more polished the only other issue I have with it is that it doesn’t do Quebec taxes – so I still have to do those by hand.
I still think the CRA should have online forms for completing your taxes.
.-= schultzter´s last blog ..iPad to the rescue!!! =-.
I used StudioTax for our 2008 returns and was thoroughly impressed with its ease of use and, of course, with its price.
I will gratefully contribute to this small but very professional team rather than further bloat the coffers of Intuit et al.
Highly recommended.
I’m big fan .. been using it for 4 years.
I am a big fan of Studio Tax. works beautifully.
I tried a few software and found Studio Tax is the best. I am impressed with its professional design and friendly interface.
You guys did a great job!!
I can’t believe I only found this now.. If all goes well I will drop a few dollars to the developers.. Still going strong for 2011 season..
Used Studio Tax first time for 2010 tax return. I got audited for my medical expenses. I had to submit all receipts and a declaration as to the 12 month period covered. I could not find a place to indicate the 12 month period used for medical expenses when filling the forms in Studio Tax. Did I miss something?
Coco
Your review of StudioTax is signed but not dated. And you don’t mention the year of the program. You can’t review it one time and be truthful for years there after. Products change and improve.
I used StudioTax 2010. Enjoyed it over GenuTax 2009, 2008. But didn’t like not being able to edit the form directly after going through the interview. I didn’t like the lack of hyperlinks to supporting data. I didn’t think the help references switching to the internet particularly easy to navigate.
I was looking to hear the review mention some improvement of the 2011 version. But your article is hiding the most relevant information. When and what was reviewed. Shame on your journalistic ethic.
I emailed the support team. “I thought you were legit and I almost used your software to file my taxes but there are grammatical errors such as using your instead of you’re so I wonder if you are a fake program designed to get my personal information.”
I expected one of two things. 1) no response if in fact you were not a legit company. or 2) an apology with the reassurance that these errors would be corrected and the wish to have me as a customer.
________________________
The response I actually received:
Really? you based your investigation on grammatical errors? Over the last 7 years we heard all sort of weird and wonderful things about the software…this one take the top price for the weird category!
Of course, you will not trust us if we tell you that StudioTax is as legit as the best software out there.
Warmest Regards,
StudioTax Support Team (support@studiotax.com)
__________________________________
I think customer service has left the building.
More “professional” customer service.
On Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 10:42 PM, StudioTax Support wrote:
You have no idea how much hard work and long hours went into developing the software over many years. Other companies spend millions of dollars to develop similar software and they make 100s of millions on the back of Canadians selling it. On the other hand we give it for free and we even spend long hours answering users emails to help them do their taxes…and because of a grammatical error you accuse us to be scams trying to steal your information?????
My response:
Regardless of how you feel about my reasons, you are supposed to represent your company in a respectful and professional manner. That more than anything keeps me from wanting to have anything at all to do with you. (You personally now). A viable company should not send me sarcastic emails. It should apologize for the unprofessional content of the software, assure me that you will forward this oversight to your supervisor and that you would hope this small mistake would not keep me from using your software.
Colleen,
Really? How many customer service professionals do you expect they hire using the fee you paid for the product?
For that price, the only thing I expect of the software is that it counts correctly, and StudioTax does much more than that. This was the third year I used it quite contently. The unique interface takes a minute getting used to, and beyond that it’s smooth sailing.
Hi there, I have a question pls if you can help me, I couldn’t find anywhere to claim the Annual Maintenance Credit on Studio Tax 2011. What am I missing?? thank you!!
Lavi
Hello,
When I save file in studio Tax it saves in .11t format.
I need to save in .tax format.
Please advise.
Colleen, you are not a good person.