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)