Returns can be filed going back 10 years to 2015. Returns can be e-filed starting for the 2017 tax year. Returns for 2015 and 2016 must be paper mailed.
If authorization and efiling for a recent year is successful, you may still encounter an efile error for an older year. The name matching requirements for recent tax years are less strict than for older years. If you get an efile error but have authorization, you could go to the client’s My CRA page and look at what name the CRA has for the client, and then use this name in UFile.
To successfully file an authorization request in UFile it is necessary to match the last name and SIN with CRA’s records. Authorization can be successful if an incorrect birthdate is entered. If authorization is successful but efiling is not, double check the client’s birthdate.
If authorization is unsuccessful because the client’s CRA account is locked, don’t assume you cannot efile. If you can somehow get t-slip info without obtaining authorization, then it may be possible to complete the return and efile it.
If a newcomer’s SIN document shows only one name (which may itself be comprised of multiple names), enter an asterisk (*) as the first name in UFile.
A return cannot be efiled if it has a Temporary Tax Number (TTN). However TTNs are not likely to be encountered in the tax clinic since they are issued to non-residents.
Efiling for a tax year that is more than 4 years ago can’t be efiled if there is an overpayment of CPP or EI, but there is a workaround.
When a street address contains a fraction, for example, 45½, key as 45 1/2.
EFile helpdesk (if you don’t understand or need help with an error message): 1-800-361-6283
Tips:
For a newcomer, ask to look at their SIN document
Ask client if they used other names in the past
Try adding the middle name to the first name
Try adding the middle name to the last name
Try adding a hyphen between names
Try removing a space between names
Try adding the initial of the middle name after the first name (as part of the first name)
Autofill:
Autofill is available for 2017 and onwards.
Besides downloading t-slips, autofill may provide “client data”:
RRSP deduction limit
Canada Training Credit Limit
Federal and provincial tuition carryforward amounts
Disability Tax Credit eligibility
Whether person is registered for direct deposit
Whether person elected electronic correspondence
Taxation years not filed
Last 3 characters of postal code for current mailing address
If mail was sent and returned to CRA
This data may be viewable by clicking on the left, CRA Auto-fill my return - Other data. Or the data may be viewable with the preview of t-slip information prior to clicking the ‘accept’ button. If this data is not viewable, much of it can be accessed by using represent-a-client to access a client’s My Account.
Autofill of T5 Slips for joint owners:
T5s are sometimes issued to joint owners, such as spouses. Autofill will provide the total box numbers. It is up to the tax preparer to enter the percentage of interest directly in the software. For example, for a joint investment of spouses, the tax preparer would enter 50%. The other spouse would also need to enter 50%.
T2202 Tuition Carryforward amounts:
Using Autofill will provide tuition carryforward amounts. However, if a person was issued a T2202 in a prior year, but they didn’t complete a Schedule 11, then the tuition amount will not be included in the carryforward balance.
For UFile, if the information from a T2202 is entered, UFile generates a Schedule 11. If a client failed to enter a T2202 in a prior year, do a T1 adjustment for the prior tax year and include a Schedule 11. A tuition amount must be used as soon as it is beneficial to do so. Therefore, depending on how long ago the T2202 was missed, further T1 adjustments may be necessary to calculate the carryforward amount for the current year.
What information is transmitted to the CRA when efiling?
Not all information entered into UFile, and not all the generated schedules and forms, are transmitted to the CRA upon efiling. The full scope of information transmitted to the CRA is not known because the CRA and tax software proprietors do not make this information publicly available.
References:
RC4018 Electronic Filers Manual for Income Tax and Benefit Returns.