Four things to know before you file
What to prepare, how we work, what CRA may do after you file, and what your e-signature means.
01
Before you start
Sort these out first and everything after goes faster.
Authorize our firm with CRA
Required for new clients — it lets us retrieve your slips and speak with CRA for you.
Open the walkthroughRegister for CRA My Account
See your notices of assessment, slips, RRSP / TFSA room and refund status.
Open the walkthroughGather your documents
Slips (T4, T5, T3, T2202 …), receipts (medical, donations, child care, tuition), property papers (tax bill, lease, mortgage interest), foreign income and assets, last year’s NOA.
Slips marked “CRA can provide”
Once you’ve authorized us we download them from CRA — as long as the issuer has filed them.
Your SIN, once
Submitted securely only for your first return with us; EasyU keeps just the last 3 digits.
Too many details? Upload statements
Skip the line-by-line entry — upload the statements and we’ll compile them. Compiling may be charged extra depending on the work; your accountant will tell you first.
File as a household
Each person ticks their own items; shared items (property, medical, child care) are entered once.
Tell us what changed
A move, marriage or separation, a new baby, arriving in or leaving Canada — all affect your return and benefits.
Not sure what applies to you? See the full checklist →
02
Our process
Each step shows who does it (you / AI / our team / CRA); dashed lines are only when needed.
- 1YouFill in & upload
Pick a service version, then answer the guided questions with your personal link and photograph documents; it saves as you go.
- 2AIAI sorts slips
AI recognizes and sorts your slips, reads the amounts and runs first checks.
- 3Our teamWe check & verify
An accountant checks and handles your return and contacts you if anything’s missing (2–3 conversations by email, phone, WeChat or meeting).
↺ If anything’s missing, you add it and we continue
- 4YouYou review
We send you the results — key figures and the refund or balance owing — to review.
↺ Something to change? Tell us and we’ll revise it
- 5YouYou e-sign
When you’re satisfied, you e-sign T183 and any other forms to authorize filing (see “E-signing” below).
- 6Our teamWe e-file
We file your return electronically (EFILE).
- 7CRACRA assesses
After CRA issues your notice of assessment, your return documents are available to download.
↑ Service ends here · CRA follow-up after filing is Ultra only
- 8CRAReviews · letters
CRA may review, match or audit; forward any letter to us right away — follow-up is included in Ultra only (next section).
03
Filing, benefits and CRA reviews
Three things to remember:
Filing ≠ benefits
We file your return; CRA calculates and pays benefits (CCB, GST/HST credit, Trillium) separately from it.
CRA checks are routine
Checks can happen before or after the assessment — usually CRA just wants receipts. Keep records 6 years.
Follow-up is Ultra only
Lite and Standard end once we file and send your package; CRA reviews, audits, benefit matters and correspondence are Ultra only.
When CRA may check
Before the NOA
Pre-assessment review
CRA asks for receipts or proof before issuing the assessment.
After the NOA (usually up to 3 years)
Post-assessment review
After the assessment, CRA checks certain claims (tuition, medical, donations, child care, moving, rent / property tax) and asks for documents.
Matching program
CRA compares what employers, banks and others reported with your return and adjusts any differences.
Audit
A more detailed examination, most common with self-employment, rentals and foreign income.
Forward any CRA letter to us right away and we’ll tell you what’s needed; if you want us to handle it, that’s Ultra.
What our filing service covers
✓ included · ✕ not included · Quoted = ask us, priced separately
| Service | Lite | Standard | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare and file this year’s return from your information | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Return summary & notes · return package | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Human check & verification | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accountant handles your return · 2–3 conversations | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CRA reviews, audits and correspondence after filing | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| CRA follow-up on benefits (CCB / GST/HST credit / Trillium, etc.) | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Filing or correcting prior years | Quoted | Quoted | Quoted |
| Advice beyond this return (e.g. T1135 full consultation) | Quoted | Quoted | Quoted |
04
E-signing
Before we file, you confirm the return with an e-signature.
What your e-signature means
Your e-signature (mainly on Form T183, which authorizes electronic filing, plus forms such as T1135 where needed) confirms that you have reviewed the return, that the information you provided is complete and correct, and that you authorize us to file it with CRA.
- We send you the results first — please check them against your own records.
- Ask us anything or add information before you sign; we file only after you sign.
- By law, the taxpayer is responsible for the return being complete and accurate; we prepare it from what you provide.
- If you find something missing or wrong after filing, it can be corrected — contact us as soon as possible.
Ready to start?
Questions? Email info@sqcpa.ca anytime.