There are many ways to get help with your tax preparations. The easiest way is to use an accountant or tax advisors, someone who will prepare and file your tax return on your behalf. The cost is minimal for the amount of work put into it and usually worth the savings in time and energy on your part. It is also a sure-fire way to avoid errors and mistakes on your return. Accountants are also familiar with the latest rulings on deductions and credits, and can save you money. Also, be sure to ask your Human Resources department as often they can provide the names of reliable tax advisors and/or accountants.
The Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia (CGA-BC) provides a comprehensive list of CGA firms near you: http://www.cga-bc.org/about_us.aspx?id=124. Simply do a search in your area (using the above link), select a firm, and call for an appointment.
You can also use a reputable firm such as H&R Block Canada, either downloading their software to self-prepare and file, or you can have one of their accountants prepare and file for you. The H&R Block website has specialized tax information available for U.S. expats, which can be accessed here: http://www.hrblock.ca/services/us_citizens.asp.
CRA offers a free online tax class/tutorial that takes you through the tax system step by step and uses a case study to explain some of the complexities involved: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/dctrs/lrn-tx/menu-eng.html. The class is comprehensive and takes most people about 2 hours to complete. Once completed, you will have a much better understanding of Canada’s tax system.
