Hi, I have a client who is a first-time tax filer in Canada and wants to file either their 2023 or 2024 tax return. I am using TaxCycle and would like to confirm if I can e-file their 2023 return now through TaxCycle, considering it’s their first time filing. Also, is there any possibility to prepare or submit a 2024 return at this time using TaxCycle? Thanks in advance for your help.
Yes you can and should. Make sure you efile the 2023 prior to filing the 2024 to avoid possible reassessments.
And make sure youi have their name correct or it will bounce.
I had trouble with first time filers last year and ran into the same issue the other day for this year. When clients have a child working for the first time I’ve resorted to paper filing as I get an error saying I need to match Service Canada’s records. I don’t want to bother the client and spend time trying to figure it out as even when I matched their SIN name last year it still didn’t work. And if I try to match Service Canada’s records but it isn’t how they’d actually like their name to be in CRA’s records they’d have to go through the hassle of changing it after I file. Paper filing isn’t desirable but it is a pick your poison scenario.
Long story summary, you might want to paper file for first time filers if you run into the issues I did.
If anyone else found a solution/workaround I’d be thrilled to hear it.