Taxes are due today!

April 30, 2008 10:05 AM

Where should I go to have my taxes done in Toronto (today!)?

I have to file three years worth of taxes. I've never done this before (I used to send everything to my dad for his accountant to deal with). I have been told to go to H&R Block, I have been told not to go to H&R Block. I do not know where to go, or if I can even just do this myself online. Some place (individual accountant or otherwise) in biking distance of College and Ossington appreciated.

Help! What/who do you recommend?

(Yes, I procrastinate. No need to point out the obvious.)

posted by Felicity Rilke to Work & Money (15 answers total)

Unfortunately, I think that if they're good, they won't have any time for you today.

I recommend Janice Paul at J&M Markandu, on Queen St E near River Street.

I'd be surprised if someone there could see you today (though it's worth a try -- it never hurts to ask). But in my experience, there's a few days grace (up to a week) on the deadline. They don't start checking postmarks until the rush of mail sent at the end of April has died down. (Disclaimer: not a tax expert)
posted by winston at 10:21 AM on April 30, 2008

Since you've missed filing the past two years I doubt another week will kill you. You just need someone who is familiar enough with the paperwork, penalties, and what-not. I think H&R Block would be fine, or any other tax house.
posted by fusinski at 10:28 AM on April 30, 2008

Best answer: Meh. I'd do it myself if I were you. ufile.ca is my usual one, but there's a list of others on the CRA website (of course it's too busy to load right now.) To save money I've actually done the whole thing on Ufile, then copied all the figures into a paper return and mailed it. But for a fee (depends on your return) you can just hit send right there and mail in your T4s and stuff after the fact.

Don't worry much about it being late. If you owe a shit-ton of money you might end up with a late fee or interest on top of it. If they owe you, they won't even mention it being late. They almost appreciate the delay, I think.

I'm still waiting for one of my T4s (inept payroll department sent it to the wrong address twice... : ((((( ) so mine will be late for sure.
posted by loiseau at 10:31 AM on April 30, 2008

PS. I qualify my "meh" by letting you know I missed three years and ended up filing four years at once, and they didn't even scold me. They owed me money, though. If you do owe that shit-ton of money then it's of more urgency for you.

But anyone can file their own taxes, especially with one of the ufile-type services, unless you have some crazy international real estate or investment biz going on.
posted by loiseau at 10:33 AM on April 30, 2008

If you need to get it done today, your best bet is probably to do it yourself. How complicated are your three years of taxes?

Do you actually need to get it done today? If you will be in line for a refund, then it really doesn't matter. There is no penalty for filing late in that case. If you are self-employed (even partly), then you have until June 15th to file, but your payment is due today (you can estimate now and make a payment).
posted by ssg at 10:38 AM on April 30, 2008

Taxes are pretty simple to do if you have uncomplicated information (basic T4's, tuition receipts etc). The online tax forms do all the calculations for you as well. Any mistakes you make are caught by CRA anyway. I think one year I gave up halfway through the form and just put a signed T1 and my T4's in an envelope and had them do my taxes. The old forms are available online at CRA.

winston, as a procrastintator myself, NEVER tell us we have another week past the deadline. That is the kiss of death.
posted by saucysault at 10:38 AM on April 30, 2008

I'm with the above in that if you're already late two years, today isn't gonna be necessary. I'd recommend you get a proper accountant and get it done in the best way possible. My accountant is John Mott and is at johnmott.com--there's no way he'll do them today as he has many clients, but meet with him later, go over everything, and he'll become your accountant for life. He's fantastic and is at Yonge and Eglinton.
posted by dobbs at 10:45 AM on April 30, 2008

Best answer: Actually, if you file online with Netfile, you officially have another week to file. (If you owe money, you still have to send that payment today). The CRA computers are overwhelmed with submissions -- even the web site won't load -- so you have until midnight (local time) May 6 to file electronically.
posted by maudlin at 10:46 AM on April 30, 2008

Oh, and I'd advise you against H&R Block. Before finding Mott, I went there (this was 15+ years ago) and they once did my taxes and I owed $700 (I worked for myself). I didn't have it so I didn't file that year--the following year I found Mott and he did the taxes for the same year for me and got me back almost double what H&R Block said I owed.
posted by dobbs at 10:47 AM on April 30, 2008

I also strongly advise against H&R Block, or as I like to call them now, the McDonalds of finances. I had to deal with a year of pain, payments, and difficulties due to the person entering my deduction amount as my total earnings, and that was after I pointed their mistake out WHILE they were making it.
posted by Meagan at 10:57 AM on April 30, 2008

agree with ufile.ca. very easy to use.
posted by modernnomad at 11:27 AM on April 30, 2008

I always use quicktax as opposed to ufile, but yeah, another vote on doing it yourself. I have no idea where this idea that doing basic tax return is hard comes from. It's not like you run a farm or have significant capital losses I assume.
posted by GuyZero at 11:44 AM on April 30, 2008

I've used ufile for years... except lately my taxes are too complex for it. (aaargrh) It's really handy, and if you don't make much, it's even free.
posted by blacklite at 12:24 PM on April 30, 2008

piggyback question: I made an electronic payment today (April 30) for 2007 taxes owing (a pittance of $127). I imagine it takes a couple of days to clear. What date does the government say they received my payment?
posted by randomstriker at 12:42 PM on April 30, 2008

I guess I'm a little late now but I've heard great things about the tax preparer at Honest Ed's and that's a pretty short walk from College & Ossington.

I've used Quicktax for as long as I can remember, by the way, and it seems to do a very good job.
posted by ChuckLeChuck at 6:28 AM on May 1, 2008