TurboTax Canada Review 2026
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | $0-$49.99 (+ Quebec add-on) |
| Platform | Web, Desktop (Windows/Mac) |
| Mobile | ✅ iOS, Android |
| CRA auto-fill | ✅ |
| NETFILE | ✅ |
| Quebec returns | ✅ (extra cost) |
| Expert review | ✅ (add-on) |
| Audit support | ✅ (Premium+) |
Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Price/value | ★★★½ |
| Ease of use | ★★★★½ |
| Feature completeness | ★★★★★ |
| Accuracy | ★★★★★ |
| Support | ★★★★ |
| Overall | ★★★★ |
Pricing Tiers
Online (Web)
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Simple T4, basic credits only |
| Standard | $19.99 | + Investments (T5, T3), RRSP, donations |
| Premium | $34.99 | + Self-employment, rental, full deductions |
| Self-Employed | $49.99 | + Business expenses, HST/GST, business income |
Add-Ons
| Add-On | Price | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec provincial (TP-1) | ~$15 | File Quebec taxes |
| Expert review | $60+ | CPA reviews your return before filing |
| Audit Defence | ~$50 | Intuit represents you if CRA audits |
| Additional returns | $15/return | File for family members |
Desktop (Download)
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $29.99 | 8 returns, investments, RRSP |
| Premier | $44.99 | 8 returns, + rental, self-employment |
| Home & Business | $54.99 | 8 returns, full business support |
Desktop advantage: File up to 8 returns per license (family, friends).
What Each Tier Handles
| Tax Situation | Free | Standard | Premium | Self-Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T4 (employment) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Basic credits | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| T5 (investments) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| T3 (trust income) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Capital gains | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| RRSP deductions | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Donations | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Medical expenses | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Self-employment (T2125) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Rental income (T776) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Business expenses | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| HST/GST filing | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Standout Features
Interview-Style Guidance
TurboTax walks you through your tax return with plain-language questions:
| Step | Example Question |
|---|---|
| Income | “Did you have a job in 2025?” → imports T4 |
| Deductions | “Did you contribute to an RRSP?” → calculates optimal deduction |
| Life events | “Did you buy your first home?” → triggers FHSA/HBP credits |
| Review | “Here’s what we found” → shows potential missed items |
Error Checking
| Check | What It Does |
|---|---|
| CRA rule validation | Ensures your return follows CRA rules |
| Unusual amounts | Flags numbers that seem too high/low |
| Missing forms | Alerts if referenced forms are absent |
| Optimization | Suggests if you’re leaving money on the table |
| Side-by-side couple | Shows optimal credit allocation |
Audit Defence (Paid Add-On)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | ~$50/year |
| Coverage | Intuit assigns a tax professional to your case |
| What they do | Prepare documents, communicate with CRA |
| Not included | Does not cover penalties or interest owing |
| Worth it? | Only if you have complex returns or audit anxiety |
Pros & Cons
Pros ✅
- Comprehensive coverage — handles every Canadian tax situation
- Interview-style — plain language, easy to follow
- Quebec support — one of few options for TP-1
- Audit defence — professional support if CRA audits
- Expert review — optional CPA review before filing
- Desktop version — file 8 returns, good for families
- Intuit ecosystem — trusted brand, long track record
- Error detection — thorough review before filing
Cons ❌
- Free version is very limited — most people need Standard ($20+)
- Expensive for self-employed — $50+ for full business features
- Quebec costs extra — adds ~$15 on top
- Yearly cost — no perpetual license, pay every year
- Interface feels dated compared to Wealthsimple Tax
- Upsell-heavy — constantly prompts for upgrades and add-ons
- Wealthsimple Tax offers same features for free for most people
TurboTax vs Wealthsimple Tax
| Feature | TurboTax | Wealthsimple Tax |
|---|---|---|
| T4 employee filing | $0 (limited) | Free |
| Investments/RRSP | $19.99 | Free |
| Self-employment | $34.99-$49.99 | Free |
| Rental income | $34.99 | Free |
| Quebec returns | ✅ ($15 extra) | ❌ |
| Audit defence | ✅ ($50) | ❌ |
| Expert review | ✅ ($60+) | ❌ |
| Interface | Good (interview style) | Modern, clean |
| CRA auto-fill | ✅ | ✅ |
When TurboTax is Worth Paying For
| Situation | Worth it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Simple T4 return | ❌ No | Wealthsimple Tax is free |
| Investments + RRSP | ❌ Probably not | Wealthsimple handles these free |
| Self-employment | ⚠️ Maybe | TurboTax guidance is better for first-timers |
| Quebec taxes | ✅ Yes | Wealthsimple doesn’t support Quebec |
| Want audit protection | ✅ Yes | Unique to TurboTax |
| Expert review wanted | ✅ Yes | Unique to TurboTax |
| Complex foreign income | ✅ Yes | Better guidance for unusual situations |
Who Should Use TurboTax
Good Fit ✅
- Quebec residents (TP-1 support)
- First-time business owners needing hand-holding
- People who want audit defence coverage
- Complex foreign income situations
- Those who want a CPA to review before filing
- Desktop users filing for multiple family members
Better Options Exist ❌
- Simple T4 returns → Wealthsimple Tax (free)
- Budget-conscious → Wealthsimple Tax (free)
- Basic self-employment → Wealthsimple Tax (free)
- Want in-person help → H&R Block (offices)