Wealthsimple Tax
Free, CRA-certified tax filing used by over 2 million Canadians, and because filing alone doesn't make you an existing client, you can still claim $25 when you open an account with code _Y024Q.
Wealthsimple Tax is Wealthsimple's free, NETFILE-certified tax software. It walks you through your return, finds the credits and deductions you qualify for, and lets you file directly with the CRA, at a price that starts at $0.
What Wealthsimple Tax is
Wealthsimple Tax (formerly SimpleTax) is online tax-filing software that's NETFILE-certified by the CRA and certified by Revenu Québec, meaning you can submit both your federal and Quebec returns to the government straight from the app. More than 2 million Canadians use it each year to file accurately and quickly. It handles a full range of situations, employment, self-employment, investments, crypto, and rental income, not just simple returns.
Is it really free?
Yes. The Basic plan runs on a pay-what-you-want model that starts at $0, and unlike many competitors, every form is unlocked. Donations, medical expenses, investment income and capital gains are all included with no paywall. You complete your return, see your refund, and then choose what to pay, including $0. There's also a maximum-refund guarantee: if you refile before December 31, 2026 and find a bigger refund on a competitor's software, Wealthsimple refunds what you paid up to $50 (or your payment for the year, whichever is greater).
Plans & what each includes
The difference between plans is mostly extras and the number of returns, not which forms you can access. Here's the breakdown:
| Plan | Price | Returns | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 (pay what you want) | Up to 2 | All forms, NETFILE, Auto-fill |
| Plus | $40 (free for Premium clients) | Up to 8 | Audit protection, priority support, year-round tax support |
| Pro | $80 (free for Generation clients) | Up to 20 | Everything in Plus + 1:1 expert guidance |
For most Canadians, the Basic plan is all they'll ever need. Stepping up to Plus or Pro really only pays off if you want audit protection or you're filing for a bigger household. And you may not have to pay at all: Premium clients get Plus and Generation clients get Pro at no cost. These tiers depend on your total Wealthsimple balance, see how they work.
The Pro plan is currently unavailable in Québec or in French.
Key features
- Auto-fill my return, pull many of your slips (T4, T5, RRSP, and more) directly from the CRA so you don't type them in by hand.
- Credit & deduction finder, search hundreds of credits and deductions and apply the ones that fit your situation.
- Smart optimizer, get suggestions on things like how much RRSP to claim or how to split donations and credits with a spouse.
- Handles complex returns, employment, self-employment, capital gains, crypto, rental, and more.
- File directly to the CRA, submit through NETFILE and track your refund.
Wealthsimple Tax vs TurboTax
The most common comparison is with TurboTax. The headline difference is the pricing model, Wealthsimple unlocks every form on its free tier, where paid software typically pushes you to upgrade once your return includes investments or self-employment:
| Feature | Wealthsimple Tax | TurboTax (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Pay what you want (Even $0) | Tiered, can run $20–$100+ |
| NETFILE + Quebec certified | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-fill my return | Yes | Yes |
| Audit protection | Included with Plus plan | Paid add-on |
| Free tier covers investments/self-employment | Yes | Often requires a paid tier |
Who it's for
Wealthsimple Tax suits most Canadians, from someone with a single T4 to freelancers and investors with slips from multiple sources. If you already use Wealthsimple for investing or banking, your tax filing lives in the same Wealthsimple account, and investment slips from your Wealthsimple accounts are easy to bring in.
Tips & common mistakes
- Filing before all your slips arrive, run Auto-fill my return after late February/March so T4s, T5s and T3s are in, filing too early means a reassessment later.
- Skipping the optimizer, let it suggest how much RRSP to claim and how to split donations or credits with a spouse before you file.
- Forgetting investment and crypto gains, capital gains from a non-registered account and crypto disposals are reportable even if no slip was issued.
- Assuming you must pay, the Basic plan is genuinely $0, the payment prompt is a voluntary donation.
- Missing the deadline, file by April 30 (or June 15 if self-employed, though any balance owing is still due April 30).
Tax users & the $25 bonus
Here's the part most people miss: using Wealthsimple Tax on its own does not make you an existing client. If you've only ever filed taxes with Wealthsimple and have never opened a self-directed, managed, crypto, or Chequing account, you're still considered a new client, and fully eligible for the $25 referral bonus. Sign up with code _Y024Q, deposit at least $100 within 30 days, and the $25 lands in your Cash account.
File free, then claim a free $25 by opening an account.
Get $25 with code _Y024QHow to file with Wealthsimple Tax
- Create or sign in to your Wealthsimple account and open Tax.
- Use Auto-fill my return to import your slips from the CRA, then add anything that's missing.
- Answer the guided questions so the software can apply every credit and deduction you qualify for.
- Review the optimizer's suggestions and your estimated refund or balance owing.
- File directly to the CRA through NETFILE, and pay what you want, including $0.
New to Wealthsimple and want the welcome bonus too? Follow our step-by-step claim guide with code _Y024Q.
Wealthsimple Tax questions
Common questions about Wealthsimple Tax and the $25 bonus.
