Federal government representatives were on campus on January 15, promoting two free online services which promise to facilitate and speed up tax returns.
Henry Ruszala, an Ottawa representative with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), said the government is promoting the use of its online tax services Netfile and My Account among college age students.
“This is really the second year that we’ve been doing this as a nationwide cross-Canada thing,” he said. “We did about 20 universities last year. This is the fifth location (this year) and we’ve seen that this is the best location so far.”
Netfile, he said, is the CRA’s free internet transmission service for individuals who prepare their own taxes, but it comes with a catch.
“The one downside is that you have to buy software, but a lot of the companies which make software will provide it for free for people who make either under $20,000 or $25,000
“We’re talking to students because most of them would probably fall under that category.
He said if students don’t fall under this category they should purchase software — usually between $20 and $30 — and split the cost with others because some companies allow up to 10 returns with one licence.
Ruszala said although he did offer some tax advice, the main purpose for the visit was to encourage people to use the free online services to speed up their tax returns and make the process more environmentally friendly and convenient.
He said most individuals who filed their taxes using this method received their tax returns within five to eight business days.
According to CRA, the main restriction on the use of this service is an individual must have filed a paper return the previous year. But if a person’s paperwork is prepared by an Efile authorized service provider the person’s first year paperwork can be filed electronically.
If a person has filed a paper income tax return the previous year, a letter will be sent the individual giving them a secure access code enabling them to use the service.
Don Macintyre, 31, a first year instrumentation engineering technology student, said he was already familiar with this service and had used it before, but since getting married has stopped using it. He said after meeting with the reps and hearing the information he was considering using it again this yea
Student Aaron Boyd, 27, feels it would have been more beneficial to also have a SAIT representative on hand to answer any school related income tax questions.
He said some first year students “can’t figure what are our costs are for school.”
The CRA reps were also promoting the My Account service which, according to its website, allows you to track your refund, view or change your return, check your benefit and credit payments and your RRSP limit, and set up direct deposit among other things.
Ruszala said students should be aware of other restrictions to the Netfile service, such as if you are in bankruptcy (which does not include proposal for bankruptcy) or if you are a non-resident of Canada. He said although the detailed list is extensive and usually does not apply to most people students should be aware of it.
