CloudTax

Overview

CloudTax is Canadian tax software for people who want to prepare a return themselves or get help with review or preparation. It is best suited to filers who value mobile access and support for several income types, but the free option is limited to simple situations and two returns.

Its range of filing paths is useful, from self-guided filing to more assisted services. The trade-off is a crowded plan menu: choosing well means matching the return’s complexity and the level of help needed to the right per-return fee or subscription.

Key features

CloudTax supports self-employment, investment, and rental income, plus state filing. That makes it relevant to people whose finances go beyond a straightforward salary return. Income support alone does not make every complex return suitable for self-guided filing, so filers who want expert involvement can consider the review and preparation paths.

Returns are submitted to the CRA through NETFILE, and CloudTax has been CRA-certified since the 2018 tax year. Users can import CRA slips or scan or upload documents for AI extraction and auto-fill. Koinly supports crypto tax workflows, while CloudReceipts captures and categorizes receipts and syncs expenses for deduction tracking.

Tax data is encrypted on CloudTax’s secure servers. CloudTax says it shares information only with the CRA when a user submits through NETFILE. Support is offered by live chat, email, video tutorials, and tax experts. Plus adds priority support and audit protection. Refunds typically take 2 to 12 weeks; NETFILE refunds usually arrive in about two weeks.

Pricing

CloudTax Free costs nothing, billed free forever, and supports self-guided filing with basic tax return support. It allows up to two returns and users can pay what they want, even $0. The cap and simple-situation restriction make it a sensible no-cost choice for a small number of straightforward returns, not a fit for a household needing more capacity or a complex return.

CloudTax Plus costs $39 a year, billed as an annual subscription. It raises capacity to 20 returns from one dashboard and includes priority support, audit protection, and CloudReceipts Personal. That combination suits people managing multiple returns who want added support and receipt tools; its annual term is less suitable if only one return is needed and the free cap is enough.

Review and preparation options charge per return and each shows a two-return limit. Review & File Basic is $75 a month, while Review & File Premium is $125 a month and Review & File Business is $149 a month. Done For You Basic is $99 a month, Done For You Premium is $249 a month, and Done For You Business is $349 a month. The higher-priced choices are for filers seeking more assistance, but the plan names alone do not establish what distinguishes each tier; compare the service scope before choosing.

Other per-return options include Business Review at custom pricing, billed $149 per return, for self-employed and business income with T2125 support; Premium Review at custom pricing, billed $99 per return, for more complex returns including rental and foreign income; Premium Done For You at custom pricing, billed $149 per return, including rental property, partnership, emigrant, and final tax returns; and Business Done For You at custom pricing, billed $249 per return, for full preparation of business or self-employment income, with T2 not included. These narrower options help match assistance to return type, though the custom pricing makes the final cost less immediately clear.

CloudTax says excess accidental payments will be refunded. The company also offers an API for embedding tax filing and tax insights into fintech, banking, and financial-service platforms.

Platforms

CloudTax is available on iOS and Android, with mobile access also supported on the web. That gives phone and tablet users a way to work on returns, while platform support is less broad than a service that also offers desktop apps.

Who it's for

CloudTax is a strong candidate for Canadian filers who want mobile access, need support for self-employment, investment, or rental income, or manage several returns through one dashboard. Free suits up to two simple returns; Plus makes more sense for people needing up to 20 returns and its added support and receipt features. Those with complex situations or a preference for expert help should compare the review and preparation options carefully, especially their per-return costs and scope.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Support for self-employment, investment, and rental income extends its usefulness beyond simple returns.
• Pros: CRA slip imports, AI document extraction, Koinly, and CloudReceipts can reduce manual entry and support deduction workflows.
• Pros: Plus allows up to 20 returns and includes priority support and audit protection, useful for people managing multiple filings.
• Cons: Free is capped at two simple returns, so it is not a broad free option for complex filing needs.
• Cons: Review and preparation prices can be substantial per return, and the tier differences are not clear from their names alone.
• Cons: Refunds may take 2 to 12 weeks, although NETFILE refunds usually take about two weeks.

Alternatives

Personal Tax Software is a useful place to compare the broader category. Consider H&R Block Online for a free option focused on simple tax situations, with web, iOS, and Android support. TurboTax also offers a free edition for simple Form 1040 returns and a DIY Deluxe plan priced at 79. TaxAct has free federal filing for eligible standard returns, with state filing additional, and a 59.99 USD Deluxe plan.

WISO Steuer, ClearTax, TurboTax Canada, H&R Block Tax Software Canada, and TaxDown are other options to compare.

Verdict

Choose CloudTax if you want mobile-enabled Canadian filing that supports several income types, with a free path for simple returns and a 20-return subscription for heavier use. Its integration and assisted-service range are compelling, but the free cap, substantial per-return fees, and unclear distinctions among some service tiers make it worth looking elsewhere if you need a plainly priced expert service or only a basic, unrestricted free return.