What is the best free tax software in Canada?

Wealthsimple Tax (formerly SimpleTax) is the best free tax software for most Canadians. It is available on web and mobile, uses a pay-what-you-want model (including $0), supports all provinces including Quebec, and handles T4 income, self-employment, rental income, capital gains, RRSP, FHSA, and most other common tax situations at no charge. For Windows desktop users who prefer offline software, StudioTax and GenuTax are strong free alternatives with full feature coverage and no income restrictions.

Is Wealthsimple Tax really free?

Yes. Wealthsimple Tax uses a "pay what you want" model — you can submit your return for $0. The software suggests a voluntary contribution but does not require payment and does not restrict features based on whether you pay. It is fully NETFILE-certified and accepts all levels of tax complexity including self-employment, rentals, and Quebec returns at no mandatory cost. This model has been in place since the days of SimpleTax before Wealthsimple acquired it.

What happened to SimpleTax Canada?

SimpleTax was acquired by Wealthsimple in 2019 and rebranded as Wealthsimple Tax. The underlying software and pay-what-you-want model were largely preserved. The same team continued developing the product post-acquisition. If you previously used SimpleTax, your prior year data transferred to Wealthsimple Tax and you can continue importing old returns. The software is now integrated with the broader Wealthsimple financial platform but remains independently usable for tax filing.

Can I use free tax software for complex returns in Canada?

Yes, for most complexity levels. Wealthsimple Tax handles self-employment (T2125), rental income (T776), capital gains, T3, T5, FHSA, foreign income (T1135), disability credits, and Quebec returns — all for free. StudioTax and GenuTax similarly cover self-employment and rental income at no cost. Free software becomes less appropriate for high-volume share traders needing detailed ACB guidance, trusts, corporations, or situations requiring a CPA review — for those, paid software or a tax professional may add value.

Do free tax software programs file as accurately as paid ones?

Yes. Free Canadian tax software programs that are NETFILE-certified use the same CRA tax calculation rules as paid programs. Tax calculations are not "dumbed down" in free software — they apply the same federal and provincial tax formulas. The main differences between free and paid programs are the user interface quality, availability of live CPA support, audit protection guarantees, and the step-by-step guidance for complex scenarios. For standard tax situations, free NETFILE-certified software is just as accurate as software costing $50.

What is CRA File My Return?

CRA File My Return is a free telephone service offered by the Canada Revenue Agency that allows eligible low-income Canadians with simple tax situations to file over the phone. It is invite-only — CRA sends eligible individuals a letter with a PIN. The service requires no forms, no software, and no internet access. It is designed for Canadians receiving income-tested benefits who file similar returns each year. If you receive a CRA invitation, File My Return is the simplest option available — but if you do not receive an invitation, you are not eligible and must use one of the software options above.

Best Free Tax Software Canada 2026 | Wealthsimple Tax, StudioTax and More

Best Free Tax Software Canada 2026

Canadians have several genuinely free options for filing their taxes — from modern web-based Wealthsimple Tax to veteran Windows desktop programs like StudioTax and GenuTax. Here is how they compare and who each one serves best.

Quick answer: Wealthsimple Tax is the best all-around free tax software for most Canadians. StudioTax or GenuTax are strong choices for Windows desktop users.

Free Tax Software Comparison

Feature	Wealthsimple Tax	StudioTax	GenuTax	CloudTax Free
Price	Pay-what-you-want	Free (donate)	Free (donate)	Free (limited)
Platform	Web + mobile	Windows desktop	Windows desktop	Web + mobile
Quebec TP-1	✅	❌	❌	⚠️ Paid only
Self-employment (T2125)	✅	✅	✅	❌ Paid only
Rental income (T776)	✅	✅	✅	❌ Paid only
T3 / T5 investments	✅	✅	✅	❌ Paid only
Capital gains	✅	✅	✅	❌ Paid only
CRA Auto-fill	✅	✅	✅	✅
Interface style	Guided interview	Form-based	Form-based	Guided mobile
Returns per install	Unlimited	20	Unlimited	Unlimited
NETFILE certified	✅	✅	✅	✅

Wealthsimple Tax (Formerly SimpleTax)

Best for: Most Canadians — especially anyone wanting web or mobile access

Wealthsimple Tax is the best free tax software in Canada for the majority of filers. Originally launched as SimpleTax in 2012 and acquired by Wealthsimple in 2019, it maintained its pay-what-you-want model and has continued expanding its feature set.

What Wealthsimple Tax covers for free

Tax situation	Wealthsimple Tax
T4 employment income	✅
T4A pensions and other income	✅
T5 interest and dividends	✅
T3 trust income	✅
Capital gains (Schedule 3)	✅
Self-employment (T2125)	✅
Rental income (T776)	✅
RRSP / FHSA	✅
Quebec TP-1 provincial return	✅
Medical expenses	✅
Disability tax credit	✅
Crypto capital gains	✅
T1135 foreign income	✅

Standout features: Guided interview-style interface, native mobile app (iOS and Android), CRA Auto-fill, prior year import, spousal returns, and Quebec support — all without payment.

One limitation: No audit protection or CPA review option. For those who want a professional reviewing their return, a paid program with add-ons or a tax professional is the alternative.

StudioTax

Best for: Windows desktop users comfortable with tax forms

StudioTax has been available since the early 2000s and remains one of the most capable free tax programs for Windows. It operates on a voluntary donation model (suggested $15) but places no feature restrictions on non-paying users.

Feature	Details
Platform	Windows desktop only
Returns per install	20
Quebec TP-1	❌ Not supported
Mobile	❌
Interface	Form-based navigator
Rental income	✅ T776 included
Self-employment	✅ T2125 included
Capital gains	✅

Best for: Experienced filers who prefer a desktop application, need to file up to 20 returns (accountants, families), or simply want to avoid any web-based service.

Not for: First-time filers (form-based UI has a learning curve), Mac users, mobile users, or Quebec residents.

GenuTax Standard

Best for: Landlords and Windows users wanting unlimited free returns

GenuTax is another donation-based free Windows desktop application. Its notable advantage over StudioTax is no return limit and particularly strong T776 (rental income) implementation with full CCA class support.

Feature	Details
Platform	Windows desktop only
Returns per install	Unlimited
Quebec TP-1	❌ Not supported
Mobile	❌
Interface	Navigator + form-based
Rental income	✅ Strong T776 with CCA
Self-employment	✅ T2125 included

Best for: Landlords with multiple rental properties, users who need more than 20 returns, Windows power users who know which forms they need.

Not for: Quebec residents, Mac or mobile users, first-time filers wanting guided help.

CloudTax Free

Best for: Simple T4-only returns on mobile

CloudTax’s free tier has the narrowest coverage — it is limited to T4 employment income only. Self-employment, rental income, investments, and Quebec all require CloudTax Pro (~$30). Its advantage is a polished native mobile app.

Feature	Free tier	Pro tier
T4 employment	✅	✅
T5 / T3 investments	❌	✅
Self-employment	❌	✅
Rental income	❌	✅
Quebec TP-1	❌	✅
Price	$0	~$30

Free tier is for: Salaried employees with T4 income, basic RRSP contributions, and nothing else. If your return is that simple, Wealthsimple Tax is still a better all-around choice — it handles everything CloudTax Pro does for free.

CRA File My Return (Telephone Filing)

For low-income Canadians with very simple tax situations, the CRA offers File My Return — a free telephone service where you answer automated questions and submit your return by phone with no software required.

Key points:

Invite-only — CRA sends eligible individuals a letter
Designed for Canadians who file similar returns each year (seniors, fixed-income recipients)
No internet required
Not available to anyone who does not receive a CRA invitation

If you receive an invitation, it is the simplest filing option. If you do not, use one of the software options above.

Best Free Tax Software Summary by Need

I need…	Best free option
Overall best free software	Wealthsimple Tax
Quebec provincial return for free	Wealthsimple Tax
Self-employment on mobile for free	Wealthsimple Tax
Rental income for free	Wealthsimple Tax or GenuTax
Windows desktop application	StudioTax or GenuTax
More than 20 returns, Windows desktop	GenuTax
Simple T4 return on mobile	Wealthsimple Tax or CloudTax Free
Telephone filing (invite only)	CRA File My Return

Bottom Line

Wealthsimple Tax is the best free tax software in Canada for the vast majority of filers. Its combination of modern interface, mobile access, full feature coverage including Quebec, and the pay-what-you-want model means there is no reason to pay for standard tax software unless you specifically want CPA review or audit protection. StudioTax and GenuTax are excellent free alternatives for Windows users who prefer desktop applications — especially GenuTax for landlords. CloudTax’s free tier is too limited for anyone with anything beyond basic T4 income.

→ Back to: Complete Canadian Tax Guide