Linux and online tax tools
Here in Canada, it’s time for all good people to come to the aid of their government and file a tax return. There are a lot of ways you can do this. Hire an accountant, do it yourself: either with a pen and the paper booklet from the Canada Revenue Agency, or using commercial tax software. Unfortunately, there’s no desktop tax software for Linux — it’s all Windows or Mac only.
On the way home today, though, I saw something interesting in the subway. It was an ad for UFile.ca, an online tax preparation service. What caught my eye was that the service was clearly billed as being compatible with Linux. Shortly after I got home, I checked the Web site, and sure enough all you need to use UFile is Firefox or Netscape. I guess no ActiveX was involved in the creation of the service …
While I’m not sure if I’d trust a site like this with my financial details, it’s refreshing to see that someone is actually making an effort to make services like this compatible with Linux.
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January 29th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
No worries. UFile has be operating since 2000 and uses the same SSL encryption and security as the banks. Last year UFile.ca was responsible for almost 50% (46.6%) of all files NETFILEd to the CRA with an online product.
You can try it for free and only pay when you are satisfied that this is the product for you. I think you will be though.
I could go on but….
Joanne Birtch
VP Marketing for Dr Tax Software Inc.
Makers of UFile.ca and UFile for Windows
January 29th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Hehe, the Dutch tax service has created a Linux version of their software
(Admittedly, it’s ugly as hell and only provides the source and an AutoPackage, but at least it’s available
)
January 30th, 2008 at 2:48 am
Vincent,
At least the Dutch government made an effort to develop some Linux software; that is definitely a point in their favour. The Canadian government hasn’t taken that step yet, and I don’t expect it to any time soon.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Just finished my tax online using Quicktax, I have Ubuntu 8.10 and there was no problems.
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:31 am
@Richard
That sounds interesting. Can you share any details?