Peterborough Linux User Group (Canada) Forum

Linux & Android => Linux Applications & Android apps => Topic started by: ssfc72 on March 08, 2022, 05:54:29 AM

Title: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: ssfc72 on March 08, 2022, 05:54:29 AM
Again this year, I am going to use 2 different Income Tax programs

The MyTaxExpress program does have a version for both the Windows and Linux OS.  I use the Linux version.
Last year the program ran fine under Linux except it would not generate a pdf of the finished Tax Return and gave me an error message. I notified the makers of the program but they could give me no help. After I had filed my Tax Return, I found later that I could generate a pdf of the Return. The software makers must have made an update to the program. The tax program costs $7

The StudioTax program is a Windows OS only program. I like it better and it used to be free but last year it cost $15, so I used the MyTaxExpress program.

Yesterday I saw on a YouTube video a Linux program called Bottles, that allows you to run Windows programs/software on a Linux OS computer.
Bottles uses the WINE software and creates a separate/bottle for each Windows program that you want to run under Linux.

I tried Bottles on my Mint 20.1 Distro computer and the MyTaxExpress, Windows version, installed fine and looked ok, but I didn't try to input any information into the forms.

The StudioTax (Windows OS) program tried to install but all the text in the install menus was missing, so I wasn't able to install StudioTax from my Mint Distro.  This same problem of not installing happened last year when I tried installing StudioTax using only the WINE program :-(
Edit: ok, I installed a newer version of Wine ( was ver 5, now version 7). I also installed Winetricks.
StudioTax still would not install using the Wine program.
I then tried using the Bottle program and after stumbling around for a bit, I got StudioTax to install. :-)
I haven't tried to input any income tax data into the StudioTax program, at this point. I will report back, later.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: ssfc72 on April 20, 2022, 09:55:06 AM
Ok, got my 2021 Income Tax Return done.

StudioTax
No problems using this Windows based software, under Windows 10.

Running under Linux using WINE and the program installed but I believe it complained about missing MSFonts and there was no text showing. Therefore useless.
Ran using the "Bottles" software ( uses Wine, I believe) the program install and the tax pages displayed but there was garbled text on spots, on the pages.  Again, not usable

MyTaxExpress
I downloaded the Linux appl program and it ran well under Mint 20.1.

The only con was that for filling out the Donations schedule page, it only provide one entry were you put in the total of all your donations. With StudioTax the Donations page provided a page were you put in each donation amount and who it was for and then it totalled all the donations for you, and added that to the total donations entry on the tax Form.
I sent a notice to MyTaxExpress about this deficiency and they replied to just use the Notes section of the tax return software to list the individual donations and their amounts,  Not very impressed because I still had to total up all the donations manually, to get a total donation amount for the tax Return.

Also, MyTaxExpress would not download my tax receipts from the CRA unless I had paid for the program. :-(  StudioTax allowed me to download my tax receipts. without having to pay for the program.

Anyway I did use MyTaxExpress to submit my taxes because it only cost $6.99 as compared to the $15 that StudioTax costs. 
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: fox on April 20, 2022, 01:03:23 PM
I continue to do mine on TaxFreeway. I do it on the Mac OS, but the version for Windows is actually cheaper ($12 vs $16 I think). This software will do NetFile as well. You can list donations and the software adds them up for you.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: William on April 20, 2022, 03:19:20 PM
So, MyTaxExpress behaves differently on Linux vs Mac?

I'm collecting my tax stuffs now.  Question regarding RRSP:
Do you claim calendar year (Jan-Dec)?  Or, Mar-Dec last year, then Jan-Feb this year? 
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: fox on April 20, 2022, 05:07:51 PM
Ugh. I meant TaxFreeway, which doesn't have a Linux version. It probably runs on a virtual machine but I suspect it wouldn't run in Wine. I've never tried either.

Sorry, William. I'll fix my previous post.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: Jason on April 20, 2022, 05:52:03 PM
Quote from: ssfc72 on April 20, 2022, 09:55:06 AM
Also, MyTaxExpress would not download my tax receipts from the CRA unless I had paid for the program. :-(  StudioTax allowed me to download my tax receipts. without having to pay for the program.

Anyway I did use MyTaxExpress to submit my taxes because it only cost $6.99 as compared to the $15 that StudioTax costs.

Thanks for your info, Bill! Regarding the above, you can go to CRA directly and download tax receipts (I assume you mean T4 slips and the like?). Not as handy as doing it through the program but the option is there. In any case, $7 is a pretty good deal! Even $15 is cheaper than some others. Is that $7 per return (i.e. person)?

I was one of the people that were bit by the data hack and it forced me to set up a new account. They weren't taking any chances on the new account. I had to come up with a different un-obvious username, passwords, verification questions, 2FA (via SMS, I believe) as well as proving who I was by giving information on my previous tax return. I think it took about an hour and most of it wasn't being on hold! I was actually impressed with the thoroughness despite how long it took except that if they just supported a 2FA athentication key it would be so much easier.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: fox on April 20, 2022, 06:26:56 PM
You can claim any RRSP contribution you made in 2021, and up to March 2022, on your 2021 return, unless you claimed an early 2021 contribution on your 2020 return (i.e. you can't claim a given contribution twice).
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: William on April 20, 2022, 06:43:13 PM
Quote from: fox on April 20, 2022, 06:26:56 PM
You can claim any RRSP contribution you made in 2021, and up to March 2022, on your 2021 return, unless you claimed an early 2021 contribution on your 2020 return (i.e. you can't claim a given contribution twice).
Yes, I know the rule, and I've been doing Mar-Dec and Jan-Feb so far.  But, I've been wondering why you would choose one over the other.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: ssfc72 on April 21, 2022, 09:31:28 AM
Yes the $7 is for only 1 Return. The next option is $14 which is good for 10 Returns.

Quote from: Jason on April 20, 2022, 05:52:03 PM
Thanks for your info, Bill! Regarding the above, you can go to CRA directly and download tax receipts (I assume you mean T4 slips and the like?). Not as handy as doing it through the program but the option is there. In any case, $7 is a pretty good deal! Even $15 is cheaper than some others. Is that $7 per return (i.e. person)?

Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: buster on April 21, 2022, 10:55:43 AM
"I've been wondering why you would choose one over the other."

Whichever is simpler. Since the early one's in a new year can be considered part of the previous year for tax purposes, it was simpler for me to finish with them as they became claimable.

However, as we got into the grove over the years, we started doing the maximum we could in January for that coming year. So our rrsp started working earlier. (I was a very limited amount because of my pension deductions. But whatever Marilyn earned we estimated the largest we could protect we put into rsps. At that time if you put in too much, it didn't matter, as long as you claimed only the maximum amount allowed. But we haven't been able to do any rsps since 1996 -no earned income.)
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: buster on April 22, 2022, 03:42:19 PM
I'd like to add that time is the investor's friend. Some of our rsps sat and grew for 30 years before we were forced by law to take out a certain amount each year. So get the money invested as soon as you can. Short term rsps probably don't make much sense.

The tax free account is an alternative except you get no refund.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: William on April 22, 2022, 04:04:44 PM
Quote from: buster on April 22, 2022, 03:42:19 PM
I'd like to add that time is the investor's friend. ...
Unless you invested in a company and got wiped out.  >:(
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: buster on April 22, 2022, 04:19:39 PM
"Unless you invested in a company and got wiped out.  >:("

If it's your own company, not much you can do about that. But for investing in stocks, bonds and whatever, the main rule is diversity to spread the risk. Sorry about your loss William.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: Jason on April 22, 2022, 06:25:50 PM
Quote from: William on April 22, 2022, 04:04:44 PM
Unless you invested in a company and got wiped out.  >:(

That sucks. Sorry it happened to you. Although I have too little money to ever invest it, I'm more of an "invest in me!" kind of guy, from what I've read, Buster is right.

Is the company one we would know or was a local startup? Yes, I'm very nosey. I'm guessing it was a tech company, though.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: William on April 23, 2022, 12:50:45 AM
So, no retirement for me.  I have to work until death.  Might as well, since I'm a workaholic.  But, there is difference between "have to" vs "want to".
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: Jason on April 25, 2022, 01:01:25 AM
Quote from: William on April 23, 2022, 12:50:45 AM
So, no retirement for me.  I have to work until death.  Might as well, since I'm a workaholic.  But, there is difference between "have to" vs "want to".

Are you close to retirement, William? You looked pretty young last I checked so should have lots more years to contribute to RRSPs. If you'll only be getting pension from the government, did you also add in OAS and possibly GIS to that amount. If you only get the average income that Canadians get from CPP, you'll get (per month):

$640 CPP
$648 OAS
$969 GIS

$2 258 total

Of course, how much CPP you get depends on how much you've paid into it by the # of years and your income. OAS is based on your CPP income (and if you're married, if/how much your spouse gets in OAS) and GIS is a top-up if the total of CPP and OAS are too low. I'm using the calculator (https://srv111.services.gc.ca/generalinformation/index) online from  Service Canada. I used this page (https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/payments.html) to find out how much GIS would top-up CPP and OAS. It's not much but certainly enough for an apartment in a smaller city like Peterborough, utilities and groceries and spending money. One-bedroom apartments without utilities here are about $1000/month.

So you shouldn't have to work after 65 even if you don't have RRSPs but I expect you have quite a few decades before you retire, no?
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: William on April 25, 2022, 02:45:17 AM
Thanks for the research, Jason.  That total doesn't cover my expenses, even if I moved to Peterborough.  Oh, after retiring, you mean... hmm, still not enough.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: buster on April 25, 2022, 01:35:18 PM
"hmm, still not enough."

I agree William. You can exist, but not really live. Car? Car insurance? Gas? Good food in the frig? Having friends over? Alcohol? Any kind of travel where you must stay on a motel and eat in a restaurant?

And the apartment rent is a low estimate. I know what my grandkids have to pay. The small bungalows on our street are selling for over $800,000! Ridiculous. Rent will follow the skyrocketing trend.

" Might as well, since I'm a workaholic."

Very strange idea to me. I was ready to retire in my early 20's. Have lots to do. Unfortunately I like to eat, and so did my family. If you like to work you should never give it up until they drag you out of the building.

Tough situation William. Out of curiosity, how many brothers and sisters do you have?

Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: Jason on April 25, 2022, 04:51:25 PM
$2200/month is twice what a person on a disability who can't work lives on in Ontario. I just want to let that sink in. And minimum wage is $2500/month in Ontario which is what 50% of Peterborians (right word?) live on (or less).

I know this will shock everyone everyone but you don't NEED a car. In most cases, you can take a cab, rideshare, train, bus, etc. Nobody wants to do that but you can. A car is not a necessity but it certainly makes life easier (I imagine, anyway). If you need it to get work and/or live outside a city, that's different. In some major metropolises like New York City and Toronto, a lot of people don't even have a car and having one is just more of a pain. Parking can cost more than rent there (go rent control!). Car owners have convinced themselves they need a car when really they mean life would be harder without one. You'd likely have a lot more money without a car!

About the rent rate though, I did a bit of searching and you're correct, Buster, that is a low-ball estimate. The CMHC (https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/hmip-pimh/en/TableMapChart/Table?TableId=2.1.31.2&GeographyId=35&GeographyTypeId=2&DisplayAs=Table&GeograghyName=Ontario#Apartment) puts the average rent for a 1 bedroom in Peterborough at $1211/month. So I'll give you that one. :)
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: Jason on April 25, 2022, 05:52:22 PM
William: On a personal note, I just wanted to say that you're one of the smartest people I know. You could be doing software development or working in cybersecurity and make $80-120,000 per year or more! You might need a bit more education (not sure of your background) or certifications but you're as smart as I wish I was. Don't sell yourself short and get a job, nay a career, that is worthy of your talent.

Bill: Sorry I hijacked your topic!
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: buster on April 25, 2022, 10:50:22 PM
"And minimum wage is $2500/month in Ontario which is what 50% of Peterborians (right word?) live on (or less)."

I guess I think that minimum wage for one is just not enough then, unless two work for minimum wage. Maybe enough to exist on. Even if 90% of our city lived on it, Marilyn and I would find it tough to give up the life style we have. I like our house. None of my friends or any of our neighbours live on minimum wage, and many are far richer than us. My own kids make far more than I ever did.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: buster on April 26, 2022, 08:00:31 AM
"I know this will shock everyone everyone but you don't NEED a car."

However, if we did not have a vehicle, there are are number of things our family could not have done.

-for 40 years we skied , and not just locally but Ottawa and Algonquin
-we bicycled and stayed at inns in Vermont
-we hiked the white mountains in New Hampshire
- we spent over two months camping across Canada, the 4 of us
-We visited, attended funerals and weddings, of family, none of whom live anywhere near here
-we spent 2 months at the USA national parks camping in the area from Grand Canyon to Yellowstone
- we rented cars to wander around England, Wales and Scotland for 2 months, spread over 3 years
-we rented cars to wander around Newfoundland on two trips, east side and west side
-we spent 5 weeks each year after retirement near the ocean in Alabama. 25 years of this
- wandered Florida in the spring for 5 years, as well as drove in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia
- drove to small cities nearby to compete in road races
- drove to hiking trailheads all over the place.
- we visited and stayed with friends who live at least 4 hours away.
-having a car allowed me to take a better job outside the city

Anyone reading this could make a similar list, though maybe more local. Much of this makes up the best and most exciting part of our lives. My daughter still drives north in the winter and stays for a couple of nights to ski.

We could have existed without a car, but that, to me, is not living.

Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: buster on April 27, 2022, 11:09:54 AM
According to the Examiner today, the average family income in the Peterborough area, after taxes, is just under $70,000. (Of course median would have been a better indicator.)
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: Jason on April 29, 2022, 12:00:16 AM
Quote from: buster on April 26, 2022, 08:00:31 AM
"I know this will shock everyone everyone but you don't NEED a car."

However, if we did not have a vehicle, there are are number of things our family could not have done.

I'm not saying to not have a car period. I'm saying you don't need to OWN your own.

Many of those things have alternatives to take a car. Some would be too expensive, like travelling across the country for two months without your own car. There are buses and trains, too. In Europe, people tour it using the public transportation systems then. Ours aren't as good in Canada, for sure. But people can still live, do things, and do lots of fun things without a car. You can't see it, because it's not how you did it. If we're to save this planet, we just might have to stick closer to home and take vacations in places we can get to with rentals or other forms of mass transport. Or travelling with friends who do have cars. Maybe I'm just crazy.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: Jason on April 29, 2022, 12:39:15 AM
Quote from: buster on April 27, 2022, 11:09:54 AM
According to the Examiner today, the average family income in the Peterborough area, after taxes, is just under $70,000. (Of course median would have been a better indicator.)

I don't know where the Examiner got it's numbers but Stats Canada does keeps data on median income. The median income is $31,867 BEFORE taxes. As shown in the attached graphic from from the Housing is Fundamental report, sponsored by the Peterborough United Way, 70% of those in the Peterborough area make less than $50K/year. The report has a lot of figures but is well-designed so easy to read. it's attached, too. We do have a lot of professionals in Peterborough so that probably skews the average number. But the majority in Peterborough don't make that rate. I'm sure it's higher now than then, but probably not much higher and mainly due to minimum wage increase(s). It likely hasn't kept pace with the cost of living though especially with inflation this year.

https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CMACA&Code1=529&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=Peterborough&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Income&TABID=1&type=0

"None of my friends or any of our neighbours live on minimum wage, and many are far richer than us."

I don't know any CEOs but I'm fairly certain they exist. Everyone of my friends in PLUG is far richer than us. What's your point?

It's also funny, that when it's pointed out that people live on far less than they do, their answer is that they're not rich. It reminds me of a story when I worked on the 2004 campaign. Jack Layton was talking about in an inheritance tax where families that inherited more than a $1 million would have to pay a surtax. I don't recall what it was but it wasn't that large. The campaign manager remarked to me that someone phoned in and thought such a tax wasn't right. "A million dollars isn't all that much," she said.

Even the top 1% will tell you that they're not rich. And they usually know people that are richer than them.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: buster on April 29, 2022, 02:54:23 PM
"The median income is $31,867 BEFORE taxes."

The Examiner didn't mention median income. It mentioned family income. And not median but average.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: ssfc72 on April 29, 2022, 06:26:05 PM
You peaked my curiosity, Buster. I had to go and look up the difference between average and median.
The example of the difference in meaning was illustrated using the prices of houses. Very interesting and educational. :-)

https://www.thebalance.com/median-vs-average-what-the-difference-2682237
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: fox on April 30, 2022, 07:34:00 AM
The term, "average" is a generic term, not a specific way of calculating that "middle point". Median is one way to average, another is mode (the most frequent amount). What you are calling average is a third way, which is to take the mean. When newspapers use the term, average, they use it as a synonym for mean.
Title: Re: Income Tax software programs for 2021 tax year
Post by: buster on April 30, 2022, 02:11:31 PM
You are quite right Mike. I miswrote with the word 'mean'. I was thinking MEDIAN. Sorry.

So average: add to a total and divide by the number of people involved

Median: list the numbers in order and select the one in the middle.

Mode: the most common.

This is the example I used with my grade nine class: Ten people live on an island. One earns $1,000,000 a year. The other nine earn $0 per year.

The average salary is $1,000,000 divided by 10 which is $100,000, which is very misleading.

The median is $0 per year, which is a good indicator of the truth.

And the mode, which is also $0 because it's the most common.

For salaries and house costs, I think median reflects the truth best.