Frequently asked questions
Prepare with confidence. Find answers before your appointment.
Getting ready to file? Start with our checklists, review pricing, then book your appointment.
How We Work
What to prepare and how we complete your return.
What do I need to prepare for my tax return?
Gather your tax slips and supporting documents before your appointment. Use our preparation checklists for your situation.
- Tax slips, including T4s, T5s, pension slips, tuition certificates and RRSP receipts.
- Totals for medical expenses, donations, child care and other deductions, with supporting receipts available.
- Organized income and expense summaries for a business or rental property.
- Details of changes such as a move, marriage or separation, a new child, a property sale or foreign income.
New clients: have government-issued identification, your SIN, family details, and your previous tax return and notice of assessment available. Each spouse must provide their own information and authorization.
We can retrieve information available through the CRA after authorization, but CRA records may be incomplete. Please bring any missing slips and tell us about all income, even when no slip was issued.
How does tax preparation work at Solid Tax?
- Collect: we verify your identity, gather your information and arrange CRA authorization where needed. We compare available CRA records with your documents.
- Prepare: we discuss your situation, clarify missing information and prepare your return.
- Submit: we review the results with you. After you approve, sign the required documents and pay our fee, we submit your return.
Complex returns or missing information may require additional work or a follow-up appointment. We will explain the next steps.
How do I authorize my accountant to access my CRA information?
Your accountant will provide the correct representative details and instructions. Depending on your situation, you may add or confirm the representative in CRA My Account, or use the CRA’s alternative authorization process.
The alternative process requires information from a notice of assessment issued at least six months ago and a signed certification page. Access depends on meeting the CRA’s requirements; it is not guaranteed simply because you have booked an appointment.
Do not share your CRA password or one-time security codes. Your accountant accesses authorized information through their own representative account.
Personal and business accounts require the appropriate authorizations. See our CRA authorization instructions.
Can I complete my taxes without visiting your office?
Yes. Book a phone appointment so we can discuss your tax situation directly. Documents and signatures can be handled remotely using the instructions provided by your accountant.
Please have your documents, email and internet access available for the call. Identity verification and the required authorizations still apply. We do not normally prepare a return through email alone without an appointment.
Pricing
What is included and when additional work may cost more.
What does your filing fee include?
Our fee covers preparing and filing the return or returns agreed with you. See our pricing page for current fees; HST is additional.
It does not include setting up or monitoring your CRA account, contacting the CRA on your behalf, responding to reviews or audits, or general consulting unless separately agreed.
For businesses, please confirm which filings are included. A corporate income tax return does not automatically include GST/HST, payroll or dividend slips.
When might an additional fee apply?
Additional charges may apply when extra work is needed, for example:
- Missing documents require another appointment or substantial follow-up.
- Incorrect or incomplete information means a prepared return needs to be changed.
- You request work outside the agreed preparation and filing service.
- Repeated late arrivals, cancellations or missed appointments create additional work.
Your accountant will explain the scope and applicable fee. Preparing your information in advance helps keep the process efficient.
Can I pay the CRA through Solid Tax or receive an instant refund?
No. Your payment to Solid Tax is for our services. Pay any tax owing directly to the CRA using an accepted CRA payment method.
The CRA issues your tax refund. We do not offer instant refunds or collect tax payments for the CRA.
See our checklists and instructions for the guide on making CRA tax payments.
Book Your Appointment
Choose the right appointment and arrive prepared.
When should I book my tax appointment?
Book when your tax slips and supporting information are ready. For a business, rental property or other detailed return, complete the relevant checklist first.
Do not assume that filing deadlines disappear when you expect a refund. Filing on time helps avoid interruptions to benefits and credits.
Personal returns are generally due April 30. If you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed, the filing deadline is generally June 15, but a balance owing is generally due April 30. Special situations and weekend or holiday rules can change the deadline.
Should I book with the same accountant?
If an accountant is already working on your return, please book with the same accountant. This keeps your file with one person and avoids duplicate work.
Returning clients are encouraged to choose their previous accountant. New clients can use Book the Most Convenient Appointment to see available times across the team, or Book with Your Accountant to choose a specific person.
With the most convenient appointment option, your accountant is assigned automatically.
How long is an appointment?
Our standard appointments are 30 minutes. This is usually enough to discuss and prepare a straightforward return when your information is ready.
A more complex return may need work after the meeting or a follow-up appointment. The appointment length is not a promise that every return will be completed during the meeting.
What happens if my return cannot be completed during the appointment?
Your accountant will explain what remains to be done. We may continue the work after the appointment, request missing information, or arrange a follow-up.
An incomplete file may need to wait until the required documents are provided. An additional fee may apply if missing or incorrect information creates extra work.
Please continue with the same accountant rather than booking another person to finish the file.
Do my spouse and I need two appointments?
One 30-minute appointment is generally sufficient for two straightforward family returns when both sets of information are complete.
For multiple years, business or rental income, or other complex situations, contact your accountant before booking so the work can be planned. Each person must review and authorize their own return.
How do I cancel or reschedule an appointment?
Use the cancellation or rescheduling link in your confirmation email. Please make changes at least four hours before your appointment whenever possible.
Updating the booking directly is more reliable than leaving a phone message, especially during busy periods.
Can I call your office to book an appointment?
Please use our online booking system. It shows current availability and lets you choose an office meeting or phone appointment.
Enter your email address and phone number carefully so you receive the confirmation and reminders. For help with a booking problem, use our contact page.
Do you accept walk-ins?
Please book an appointment before visiting. Our accountants may be meeting clients or working remotely, so we cannot guarantee service to walk-in visitors.
We do not offer emergency or on-demand tax preparation.
What happens if I repeatedly cancel or miss appointments?
Missed appointments prevent other clients from using that time. Repeated no-shows, late arrivals or last-minute cancellations may result in an additional fee or refusal of future bookings.
Please use the link in your confirmation email as soon as your plans change.
Small Business Taxes
Corporate returns, self-employment and GST/HST.
What do I need to incorporate a business?
First decide whether federal or provincial incorporation is appropriate. You will need a corporate name or numbered name, a registered office, directors, a share structure and the other required ownership information.
For federal incorporation, start with Corporations Canada’s online filing centre. The naming and filing requirements depend on the incorporation route; do not assume a separately purchased NUANS report is always required.
After incorporation, confirm your business number and the CRA program accounts you need, such as GST/HST or payroll. Keep corporate income and expenses separate from your personal finances. Obtain legal advice where needed for ownership and share structure.
Corporations Canada: Incorporation guide CRA: Business registration
This is my first corporate return with Solid Tax. What should I do?
- Book an initial appointment. We will discuss your business, records, filing requirements and the services you need.
- Arrange CRA business authorization. Follow your accountant’s instructions and use the representative details they provide.
- Prepare your financial information. Provide year-end income and expenses, balance-sheet details, prior returns and financial statements, and relevant notices from the CRA.
- Review and file. We explain the results, obtain approval and signatures, and submit the filings included in the agreed service.
Use our corporation checklist and authorization instructions. Organized spreadsheets, completed checklists or suitable bookkeeping records can be used. See our small-business tax preparation page for more information.
What does GST/HST mean for my business?
GST/HST is a sales tax. A registered business generally charges it on taxable sales and files GST/HST returns to report the amounts collected or collectible and eligible credits.
For a sale subject to 13% Ontario HST, a $100 price before tax becomes $113. The applicable rate depends on the type and place of supply, not simply where your business is located.
Under the regular method, eligible input tax credits can reduce the net GST/HST payable. This business sales tax is separate from personal benefit payments.
CRA: Charging and collecting GST/HST CRA: Net tax and input tax credits
Do I need to register for GST/HST?
For most businesses, registration is required when worldwide taxable supplies, including zero-rated supplies and those of associated persons, exceed $30,000 in one calendar quarter or over four consecutive calendar quarters. The date you must start charging tax depends on how the threshold is exceeded.
Taxi and commercial passenger rideshare operators must register even below that threshold. Delivery-only businesses generally follow the ordinary small-supplier rules.
Eligible small suppliers may register voluntarily. Exempt activities have different rules; they generally do not allow input tax credits. Tell us about all your business activities before deciding.
How do I register for GST/HST?
Use the CRA’s Business Registration Online service through your CRA account. The CRA no longer accepts business number or program-account registrations by phone.
Have your business details, existing business number if applicable, effective registration date, expected taxable sales and fiscal year-end ready. The available reporting-period options depend on your situation.
Choosing annual reporting does not necessarily remove instalment requirements. Confirm the correct registration date and filing obligations before you register.
CRA: Business registration CRA: Register for a GST/HST account
Should I use the regular method or the quick method for GST/HST?
Regular method: report GST/HST collected or collectible, less eligible input tax credits and applicable adjustments. Not every expense includes GST/HST, and restrictions can limit a credit.
Quick method: eligible businesses apply the appropriate remittance rate to tax-included sales. Most operating-expense input tax credits are not claimed separately; certain capital purchases may still qualify.
The rate depends on the business and where supplies are made. An 8.8% rate is not universal. A 1% credit may apply to the first $30,000 of eligible tax-included supplies, and the GST/HST retained generally affects income tax.
We compare the methods for your situation rather than assuming one is always better.
CRA: Quick method guide CRA: How remittances and input tax credits work
Who can use the quick method?
Eligibility depends on your activities and the CRA’s revenue test. Generally, worldwide taxable supplies of you and your associates must not exceed $400,000, including GST/HST, in the applicable four-quarter testing period. Some supplies are excluded from that calculation.
Certain businesses and organizations cannot use it, including accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, legal and financial consulting businesses. Other exclusions also apply.
Check eligibility before making an election; a low sales total alone does not make a business eligible.
How and when do I elect to use the quick method?
Make the election through the CRA’s online services or Form GST74. The effective date must be the first day of a GST/HST reporting period.
Annual filers: generally elect by the first day of the second fiscal quarter. For a full January–December fiscal year, that is April 1. Special rules apply to a new registrant’s short first year.
Monthly or quarterly filers: generally elect by the return due date for the period in which the method begins. Check the applicable deadline before using it.
Late and Back Taxes
Missing slips, older returns and CRA notices.
I have not filed for several years and cannot find my T4s. What should I do?
Book an appointment and tell us which years are missing. After authorization, we can review the slips and tax information available through the CRA. Older or missing slips may need to be obtained from employers or other issuers.
You will still need records the CRA may not have, such as business or rental income and expenses, medical receipts, donations, child care costs and relevant rent or property-tax information.
See our back-tax preparation service and preparation checklists.
How far back can I receive an income tax refund?
For individuals, the CRA can generally consider a late-filed refund request made within 10 calendar years after the end of the tax year, subject to the applicable conditions. This is not a guarantee of a refund and is not a general extension of the filing deadline.
Different limits apply to contribution overpayments: generally four years for CPP and three years for EI, measured from the end of the relevant year. Provincial benefits and other claims may have different rules.
A refund time limit does not mean an outstanding tax obligation disappears.
CRA: Relief time limits CRA: Refund conditions and CPP/EI limits
Will I be penalized for filing late if I do not owe income tax?
The ordinary personal income-tax late-filing penalty is generally based on the unpaid balance. If no balance is owing, that particular penalty is normally nil.
However, late filing can interrupt benefits and credits, and separate penalties can apply to other reporting obligations or non-compliance. A refund expectation is not a reason to ignore a filing requirement.
File on time even if you cannot pay the full balance. Payment arrangements can be discussed with the CRA separately.
Why did the CRA assess tax owing when I have not filed a return?
The CRA may issue an assessment using the information available when a required return has not been filed. The assessed amount may not reflect all of your income, expenses or credits.
Provide your accountant with the notice and complete records so the correct returns and response can be prepared. Filing a return does not automatically cancel collection action or extend an objection deadline.
Do not ignore the notice. Check its deadlines and contact the CRA where a response or payment arrangement is needed.
Can I apply for relief from penalties or interest?
Possibly. The Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) can provide relief for qualifying corrections of errors or omissions. Eligibility and relief depend on the circumstances, including whether the application was prompted by CRA contact. Taxes owing still have to be paid.
The taxpayer relief provisions may also allow penalties or interest to be cancelled or waived in qualifying situations. Relief is discretionary, not automatic.
Discuss the situation before submitting a disclosure or assuming relief is available. Preparation of a relief application or CRA representation is separate from routine tax-return preparation.
Contact Us
Keep questions and documents with the person handling your file.
What is the best way to contact Solid Tax?
If an accountant is already handling your file, email that accountant directly. Include your name, the tax year and a clear description of your question.
For a new inquiry, use our contact page. For appointments, use the online booking system.
We may not be able to answer calls while meeting with clients. Please avoid sending the same request to several accountants.
Why have I not received a reply yet?
During busy periods, accountants may be in appointments or working on returns. Please keep your follow-up in the same email thread and make sure your message includes enough information for us to respond.
We do not provide emergency service. If your message concerns a CRA notice, include a copy and clearly identify the response deadline. Sending us a notice does not mean we have agreed to handle it; confirm the scope with your accountant.
Dealing with the CRA
Accounts, adjustments and requests for supporting information.
How can I contact the CRA?
Use your CRA online account for available account services and correspondence. For phone assistance:
- Personal tax inquiries: 1-800-959-8281.
- Business tax inquiries: 1-800-959-5525.
For a letter or review request, follow the contact and submission instructions on that notice. Verify the address before mailing documents, as the destination depends on the matter.
Can I contact the CRA by email?
The CRA does not accept general tax questions or account changes through ordinary email. Use the appropriate online service, telephone line or mailing address.
Email notifications can tell you that a document is available in your CRA account. Sign in through the official CRA website to view it, and do not send passwords, security codes or sensitive tax information in reply to an unsolicited message.
What can I see in my CRA account?
Depending on the account and your access, you can view tax slips, notices of assessment or reassessment, balances and payment information, benefit details, and other tax records. Available services also let you manage information and submit certain requests.
Not all information is updated immediately. Compare CRA records with your own slips and account records, especially before making decisions about contribution room.
Our instructions page includes guidance on CRA account registration and authorization.
CRA: Online account access CRA: Limits of available tax information
How do I correct a tax return that has already been filed?
Wait until the CRA has assessed the return and issued the notice of assessment. A change may then be requested using Change my return in My Account, the ReFILE service in eligible certified software, or Form T1-ADJ by mail.
The available method depends on the year and circumstances. Keep the supporting documents and do not submit a second original return to make a correction.
If we prepared the return, contact your accountant with the missing or corrected information. An additional fee may apply depending on the work required.
Will the CRA automatically add credits I forgot to claim?
Do not rely on the CRA to identify every missing deduction or credit. Some calculations may be adjusted automatically, but many claims require information or receipts that the CRA does not have.
Review your return and notice of assessment. If you missed an eligible claim, gather the supporting documents and discuss an adjustment with your accountant.
Why might the CRA review my return?
A review can result from random selection, discrepancies with third-party information or the nature of the amounts claimed. A request for documents does not automatically mean you did something wrong.
Keep the records supporting your return and respond by the deadline on the CRA’s letter. Longer retention can be necessary in some situations, including late-filed returns and property records.
Send your accountant a copy of the letter to discuss next steps. Assistance with a review or audit is not included in the ordinary filing fee unless separately agreed.
Ready to get your taxes done?
Choose an office meeting or a phone appointment.
General information only. Your filing obligations and available claims depend on your circumstances and the rules for the relevant tax year. Confirm your situation with your accountant. CRA guidance reviewed November 11, 2026.