Want to Make the Switch to Filing Online? Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider It

Have you considered filing your taxes online? If not, this may be the year to start thinking about it. More Canadians than ever before are making the switch, with the number of those choosing to file online increasing by 20% in 2018.

If you are not quite sold on the idea, let us present you with 5 reasons why you should consider it.

Tax Preparation on the Go!

If you are using a Mac computer to do your filing, you have a special advantage: you can make use of TurboTax online editions, which will work directly from your browser. That means there is no need to install anything on your computer. Simply file using your favourite browser, including Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Safari.

One of the great conveniences of filing online is being able to work on your income tax return when and where you want. All you really need is to be connected to the internet. You can, for example, start filing at the office, knowing that even if you aren’t able to complete it, you will be able to continue at a time and place of your choosing.

SmartLook: Expert Tax Assistance at Your Fingertips 

You won’t need to go through the time and effort of tracking down a tax expert to help you when you need one. Why? Because TurboTax Online has a Live Assist & Review feature that gives you access to a tax expert on demand. Feel confident in knowing that you have an expert available to you, able to answer any questions you might have. They can even perform a review of your return before you file it.

All of this is done while maintaining your privacy. SmartLock technology means that you will connect with your on-demand expert through one-way video. You will see them, but they won’t see you, or any part of your home. All they will see is your screen.

If you choose one of the other editions available (Standard, Premier, and Self-Employed), you will have access to a TurboTax Product Expert. They will help you with any questions you might have, such as where to enter specific information.

Easier, Neater Record Keeping 

TurboTax Online now lets you save your tax returns for up to seven years, without the need for a filing cabinet. This is done via Tax Return Access, a feature that saves your filed return as a PDF document and stores it securely on a cloud server, accessible from any internet-capable device.

If you need to save copies longer than seven years, simply save the PDF document to a hard drive, USB drive, or with an online storage or cloud service.

Save Time with Auto-fill 

Save yourself the time and effort of locating all your T-slips, calculating your carry-forward amounts, and double checking everything for any potential mistakes.  Avoid the headaches caused by even a single little typo. Turbo Tax Online features the CRA’s Auto-fill My Return, which means it pulls all of your information straight from the CRA’s My Account.

Get Started for Free

If you are still unsure about filing online, why not start for free to try it out? Turbo Tax Online products let you start your return for free. See for yourself the advantages and ease of use filing online provides. Pay only once you are satisfied and ready to file.

Concerned About Security? 

If you worry about security, rest easy knowing that we do too. That’s why we make security a part of everything we do, with data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and more.

We take your security seriously and employ the same trusted encryption that online banking channels use. We keep all your data safe, exceeding industry standards in order to keep you safe.

Note, however, that it is not recommended to use unsecured public computers (such as the ones in libraries). If for some reason you are required to do so, be sure to log out of your tax software account, followed by closing the browser window when you are done, so that those who use the computer after you will not have access to your personal and financial information.

Filing your tax return is something that you are going to have to do each year, so why not make it as simple and convenient as possible?  If you have not been filing your return online, consider making this the year to start!

For advice on how to file online, contact BCJ Group today.

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