Can You Use UFile Standard Edition for Self-Employment Income?
January 21st, 2010 by Michael Kwan
Is Standard Good Enough?
The tax software that I have personally been using the last few year is called UFile. Originally, I was using the online version of the software, but I have since moved on to a local installation for its improved cost-effectiveness. The UFile Standard Edition is usually enough to satisfy my particular needs, but it seemed like the 2009 tax year version presented me with a hurdle.
When I walked into my local Future Shop location to buy the software, I noticed that the Standard Edition of UFile made no mention of handling self-employment income. My freelance writing business is a still a sole proprietorship, so that means that I do not need to fill out a corporate tax return. Regular old “self-employment income” is just fine.
Plus Premium Does the Job
Concerned by this omission, I took a look at the UFile Plus Premium Edition. This version costs $10 more, but the back of the box makes explicit mention of handling self-employment income. The front of the box also says that it is “ideal for small and home-based businesses.” That sure sounds like what I need, but I had used the Standard Edition in years past and it could take care of self-employment income (and tax writeoffs) just fine. Did I really need to spend the extra ten dollars?
I asked one of the sales associates in the store for clarification and he told me that the only difference the he knew was the number of returns each version could complete. UFile Standard Edition can submit up to eight Canadian income tax returns whereas UFile Plus Premium Edition could submit up to sixteen. He said they were otherwise identical, which is what I suspected in the first place. They can both take care of everything from charitable donations to RRSP contributions.
The False Appearance of Added Features
Installing the software on my computer confirmed my suspicions. The two versions of the software are the same, except for the number of returns they can submit. The back of the UFile Standard Edition box did not have a checkmark next to “self-employment income,” but it did not have an “X” next to it either; there is no mention of self-employment income at all. This is rather deceptive marketing on the part of UFile, don’t you think?
So, what’s the take-home lesson? Don’t be fooled into an unnecessary upgrade. Ask questions, get clarification, and make an educated decision.
Tags: business practices, computer software, income tax
Filed under Freelance Writing, Money.
A bit of clarification is needed here. The UFile Standard box does in fact indicate that it can be used for ALL kinds of tax returns.
Our support statistics indicate that self-employed users are more apt to require telephone support. We needed to find a way to encourage them to choose the PLUS version so they can take advantage of this valuable feature, available only to UFile Plus users.
I am pleased to know that you like do not feel the need to upgrade to the Plus version which is offered at only $29.99 — more economical than other products offered by competitors for self-employment returns being sold at a much, much higher price.
Micheal – THANKS FOR THE POST !!! I had the same question. Reading the box does give you the impression you need to upgrade. Joanne is right the box might say “All Returns” but not listing it as it is on the PLUS counter acts that. I did send a message off to support as well asking. They also only state the GST rebate on the Pro as well. I wonder if that is misleading as well??
I also agree with your comment “This is rather deceptive marketing on the part of UFile, don’t you think?”
Yes, thanks for the post. I, too, was mislead by the packaging when I was in a shop this evening. Although I read somewhere online that the standard version handled self-employment income, when I took a look at the UFile products in a store it appeared that I needed the “Plus” version for $10 more. I am a first time user and was nearly suckered in to unecessarily shelling out a few more bucks! Not now.
I am interested in trying UFILE rather than Quicktax. However, a feature I appreciate in Quicktax is the “running total” or tab that shows and updates your return amount as you go through the process. This was lacking in earlier versions of UFILE – is it a feature in this years Standard version?
No, not exactly. When you’re in the “interview” portion, you can click on save and then on “results” to see what your refund/owing would be, but it doesn’t keep a running total. It has to calculate it each time, but this only takes a second or two.
Thank you for this post, Michael. I had bought the “Plus” edition precisely because I was mislead by the lack of self-employment income checkmark on the box of the standard edition.
Since the box is still sealed, I’ll be returning it.
To the UFile people, telephone technical support statistics do not justify making it look as though the standard edition is missing a feature that it’s not. If you want to encourage business customers to get the edition with phone support, say that. Don’t make it look like the other editions aren’t for business at all. What a shady company.
I have moved from Quicktax (geeting pricey). After the initial difference in entry mode, I found data entry not too bad. However, I found that not everything is imported from a Quicktax file (specifically unclaimed capital costs). I was able to fix it manually. However, I asked tech support for a list of features that won’t be imported and they refused (or could not) give me one. That is not good. I would like to know what doesn’t work so I can be vigilant about what needs a manual fix/entry so I do not miss anything.
I concur with Manny and others such as you, Michael, who were misled by the omission of self-employment income on the back of the box of the standard edition of UFile. I have my boxes of the Standard edition from previous years and checked them. The self-employment income is specifically mentioned and checked off as being included in the standard edition. This almost led me to purchase the plus edition, thereby spending an extra $10 I did not have to.
Fortunately I decided to check online first before purchasing and found this web page. Incidentally, there is no indication on the UFile web page that the standard edition includes the self-employment income on the return. I looked there too.
[...] it may be easy enough to complete the tax return on your own. There is software out there, like Ufile Standard Edition that can easily handle self-employment income. Don’t be fooled into buying the [...]
Thanks for the confirmation. I found it rather confusing as well. Off to FutureShop to buy standard right now.
Hurry! You’ve got ten days to file.
Ufile has done it again! I didn’t know about this and went into Futureshop and bought the 2010 ufile plus because I was convinced by the information on the packaging of each version that the self-employment portion had been stripped from the standard version. Too bad I had already opened the package before I located this webpage! If the 2010 standard version does include self-employment income, then I have spent an extra $10 as a result of MISLEADING advertising.
Hi James,
We do not recommend the Standard version for self-employment returns as we find that these types of taxpayers need the telephone support that the only Plus product offers.
UFile’s Standard product reads: Ideal for all kinds of personal tax returns.
I regret the confusion and respectfully ask you contact me directly at joanneatufile@gmail.com to discuss a refund.
The potentially misleading part to a self-employment consumer trying to decide which version of Ufile they may require is when they compare the checklist at the back of the box of each version.
The checklists are under the heading: “Ufile can do all kinds of tax returns – including yours!”
Standard Edition checklist: No mention whatsoever of self-employment income and rental income being included features.
Premium/Plus Edition checklist: Has the same checklist of features AND self-employment income and rental income.
The Premium/Plus Edition states on the front of the box: “Right for all kinds of personal tax returns” and “Ideal for small and home-based businesses.”
The Standard Edition states: Ideal for all kinds of personal tax returns and does not mention anything about small and home-based businesses who require self-employment income return forms.
Why is the Premium/Plus considered “Ideal for small and home-based businesses?” You state this is due to the added feature of free telephone support, which is not included in the standard edition. While that may be true, I suggest that reason is not clearly evident and another reason is evident. An average consumer might believe that the reason the Premium/Plus version is “ideal for small and home-based businesses” is because such businesses require the self-employment income feature and since such is specifically acknowledged as a feature in the Premium/Plus edition and specifically omitted as a stated feature in the Standard edition.
Solution: Ufile Standard and Ufile Premium/Plus should use the same back of box checklist including self-employment income and rental income. Any differences in the checklists between the two versions should only be “true” additional features i.e. 16 vs 8 returns, free telephone support vs. not free telephone support.
Consumers can then fairly determine what features are different between the two versions and decide whether or not they would like to pay $10 more for telephone support or an additional 8 tax returns.
Ufile did not fix this issue after it was brought to their attention last year. I hope Ufile will consider providing clearer packaging information next year.