Taxman Canadian Accounting Software

Here's the Deal! I make a humble living using my own software (since 1995) to knock out T1 General tax returns for Canadian residents. Using my own customers as guinea pigs, I've tested and bulletproofed and souped up this baby to the point where now she's just wasted on the likes of me. For some strange reason I like writing software and so I've now got 28,000 lines of code and every time-saving trick I can think of, buried away in over 80 forms. Maybe you can use a tool like this?
But of course there is a catch. Taxman is fundamentally different from most other tax software. It is not designed for someone who can't transcribe a T4 or a T5 onto a tax return. It doesn't try to prepare your return for you, it assumes you have at least reached the Novice level for tax practitioners. This means you have to have already gone to the post office and picked up the T1 General guide and forms, and flipped through them during the commercials. With Taxman you're working with the same CRA forms as described in the guides — except, instead of being lifeless pieces of paper, you get them fully electrified.
I designed Taxman to check for all the mistakes I'm likely to make, and to save me from actually having to work for a living. She tends to fill in things by default and assumes that I will know when we're dealing with the exception to the rule. If you know what you're doing, there's no simpler, easier, more fuel-efficient way to do a tax return. All the math is done for you and you can override anything you want — just as flexible as the paper forms. If you need help, I can offer you a plan of attack, but with Taxman you're in charge: You da man with Taxman! There are no restrictions or limitations. The forms are CRA approved, fill them in any way you want and mail them off — let some poor soul in the bowels of the CRA check things over for you. Do you think you can do it?
Surely we Canadians can show the world we don't need to give away our money each year to some multi-national corporation because we're too stupid to figure out how to do our own taxes? No matter what tax software you're going to use, you're still going to have to have a rough idea of how to fill in a tax return. And if you're all that clever then surely it's a small step to working directly with the tax forms themselves. Now is the time to cash in on that high-school education! With Taxman you get the gun and holster I use to make a living — for free! What more could you want? (Oh ya, I got a small business program too!)
Taxman has no hidden spyware — there are no gimmicks. The only way I'm going to steal money off you is if you send me a cheque (Bless your little heart!). Just use the program and I can dream I have your unconditional love. How could I hope for a greater reward? Every year at tax time I get to supplant the dog and become your best friend! (Who knows, maybe in the future, I might need a friend on the jury.)
Now, I know using something free off the internet is beneath the dignity of many Canadians. Why would you stoop so low when you can steal a copy of the latest commercial software off your brother for nothing? But I'm telling you, if you have half a brain, this is a better way. Who would you bet on? a barroom full of hired guns? or Shane? Taxman Software

Need a fully-loaded Canadian T1 General income tax package that prints CRA approved forms? (sorry, no efile)

Tax year 2007: Go to Taxman2007...
Tax year 2006: Go to Taxman2006...
Tax year 2005: Go to Taxman2005...
Tax year 2004: Go to Taxman2004...
Tax year 2003: Go to Taxman2003...
Tax year 2002: Download Now! (9.3 MB)

Maybe a deluxe bookkeeping program that manhandles the GST?
Accounts2006 — the small business solution...

All Free! Internet Karma at Work!

Handles child care, employment expenses, multiple businesses/rentals/farms — just like the expensive tax software!
And if Taxman doesn't have the forms you need? Just fill in CRA's forms by hand and add them to your Taxman return. As long as you are a Canadian resident, nothing should stop you from using Taxman's T1 General. You need the CRA guides to know what you're doing, but Taxman will crunch the numbers and make you look a whole lot smarter than you really are. Read heartwarming testimonials...

Features include:

Moron-simple: Designed to be as intuitive as possible because I know no one is going to read the Help file.

More than an adding machine: Taxman is clever and searches deep for errors. You don't have to be perfect to get it all right.

Built-in tools: There's a dozen pop-up tools and every line on the tax form works like a mini-calculator (type 1+1 and you get 2). If you want to know what was entered on last year's return, just press F12 (perfect for the really lazy!).

Work-saver: I used to do tax returns by hand, now I double-click. You only have to type it in once. Taxman copies data between forms, taxpayers and even between tax years. Check the bottom status bar for shortcuts that only an indolent accountant would come up with.

Total control: Taxman doesn't restrict how you prepare a tax return (need a plan?) and you can override anything the program calculates. These are freedoms forbidden to efilers.

Any comments, problems, or features you'd like to see: Email the Taxman
(In the email's subject enter "Taxman" and don't try to con me into opening any attachments — Mama didn't raise no stupid children.)

Frequently Asked Questions
Problems with the Vista operating system?
Under Vista, Taxman may refuse to run and tell you it's "unable to initialize the Windows Registry." The cure is to allow the program to run as an administrator. One way to do this is: Right-click the Taxman shortcut on your Desktop and choose Properties. Check the Run as Administrator box. The shortcut should now work. If you have a problem see Microsoft Article 922708.
Also Taxman Help needs WinHlp32.exe in your Windows folder. Vista doesn't have it, but you can get it from the MS Download Center.
The latest Taxman2006/2007 Upgrades and Accounts 1.2 have a new installation that should automatically run as an administrator. This means you must first download the full program which won't work on Vista, and then download a 2006/2007 Upgrade which should work. Only Taxman2007 and Accounts 1.2 have the new revised help system.
But why not efile?
The efile restrictions are such that not all returns are permitted, and the ones that are demand twice the info of a paper return. This means not only more work for you, but the government gets a more detailed accounting of your affairs, all stuck in their computer at no cost. Taxman, on the other hand, has no restrictions because it just gives you a paper return, and a paper return is the return of last resort and the minimum the government demands of us.
How can I be sure Taxman won't steal my identity or financial information?
Once you download the program everything runs on your computer and Taxman will not link to the internet or try to email someone or mess with your computer. Your tax data is stored only on your computer. You run the show. There is no hidden way I'm making money off you.
What do I do after I download the zip file?
You will have downloaded the file and saved it somewhere on your hard drive (your Desktop is preferred). You then open the file by simply clicking with the right mouse button on the file, to bring up the shortcut menu, and choosing Open. If this doesn't work, you need an unzip program like WinZip or Info-ZIP's Wiz.
With the zip file open, you may be able to just double-click on setup.exe and it will run; or you may have to first extract setup.exe out of the zipped file. Regardless, double-clicking on setup.exe will install Taxman.
Printer problems!
I've had problems too but they've never been the program's fault. The program just puts out a call to print the page and then it's the operating system or the print spooler or the printer itself that is acting up. Check your printer's website for help.
I've got a new computer/system and now Taxman doesn't work?
Just to be safe, backup 06tables.mdb and taxbiz.mdb (your data). Then simply re-install the full program and everything should work.
Isn't there a bug with the CPP overpayment at Line 448 on Page 4?
If you filled in CPP Earnings on Worksheet correctly (which for most people means leaving all the controls blank), then CPP contributions at Line 308 will be set, and any difference from Line 308 and the total CPP contributions on Worksheet will be entered at Line 448. Most people do not read the Help guide and fail to enter CPP Earnings on Worksheet correctly.
EI overpayment at Line 450 on Page 4 doesn't look right?
As with the question above, you haven't filled in Worksheet correctly. If you fill in EI Earnings for one T4 then you must fill it in for all T4s. If there is nothing on a T4 for EI Earnings, then you assume that all earnings are EI Earnings. Read the Help guide for more.
Any Taxman programs for the years before 2002?
Sorry, no.
I can't get to or download from Winsite.com!
If you have problems with Winsite.com then contact them.
Mac/Linux version?
Sorry, I can't do it all.

Donations?
Some crazy fools have actually emailed and wanted to send me money! I immediately suspected something was up and have always refused their offers. But after suffering seven years of famine, it has occurred to me that maybe there are those who are wracked with pangs of guilt. Maybe the immense debt they owe me prevents them from getting a good night's sleep? And if that were so, it would be heartless of me not to allow these poor souls to lessen their load. So if you feel inclined, then be sure to make all cheques payable to G. Thompson, and mail to 1424 Craddock St., Victoria, BC, V9A 5K2 (don't send cash in the mail, you can't trust those postal workers). And I promise to spend the money only on Scotch and cigars — nothin' wasted.

P.S. Each year I crank out a newsletter with a little essay to entertain my paying clientele. Since those now chipping in includes folks on the far-flung internet, it wouldn't be fair unless they too got the full monty. Accordingly, for your amusement, check out this year's essay, which refers to last year's essay.