T1 Personal tax Return | Financial Cents Templates

About this template

This template is a Canada-specific personal income tax workflow designed for T1 preparation using TaxCycle and Financial Cents. It separates client-facing requests from internal team tasks and follows the natural progression of a Canadian personal tax return, from intake and e-file readiness through preparation, client approval, filing, billing, and final delivery. The workflow is designed specifically for solo practitioners supported by one administrative team member. Tasks are structured to clearly distinguish administrative responsibilities from preparer responsibilities, supporting efficient delegation and reducing bottlenecks.

Work type: Tax

Location: Canada

Client industry: Generic

Version: 1 (Latest)

This template includes

53 tasks
22 client tasks

	Financial Cents How To Use Videos Client Tasks
	Please watch a couple of short tutorial videos on how to use this portal.

Financial Cents How To Use Videos Client Tasks

Please watch a couple of short tutorial videos on how to use this portal.

	2025 Tax Season Checklist Client Tasks
	This is a secure portal. Please upload documents using “Attach Documents” under each item and reply to questions using the “Comment” button.
	6. Employment & Income Slips
	9. Medical Expenses
	12. Charitable Donations, Political Donations & Professional Dues
	10. Medical Insurance Premiums
	7. Investment & Other Income
	16. Post-Secondary Tuition & Student Loan Interest
	13. Support Payments
	14. Employment Expenses (T2200)
	15. Volunteer Firefighter Credit
	19. Disability Tax Credit
	18. Property Sales
	11. Medical Travel Costs (Over 40 km One Way)
	17. First Home Purchase
	3. Citizenship Status
	4. CRA Authorizations
	20. Foreign Property & Assets
	8. Self-Employment or Rental Income
	5. Prior-Year Tax Return (If Prepared Elsewhere)
	2. Personal Information Updates
	1. Government-Issued Photo Identification (Required to E-File)

2025 Tax Season Checklist Client Tasks

This is a secure portal. Please upload documents using “Attach Documents” under each item and reply to questions using the “Comment” button.

6. Employment & Income Slips

9. Medical Expenses

12. Charitable Donations, Political Donations & Professional Dues

10. Medical Insurance Premiums

7. Investment & Other Income

16. Post-Secondary Tuition & Student Loan Interest

13. Support Payments

14. Employment Expenses (T2200)

15. Volunteer Firefighter Credit

19. Disability Tax Credit

18. Property Sales

11. Medical Travel Costs (Over 40 km One Way)

17. First Home Purchase

3. Citizenship Status

4. CRA Authorizations

20. Foreign Property & Assets

8. Self-Employment or Rental Income

5. Prior-Year Tax Return (If Prepared Elsewhere)

2. Personal Information Updates

1. Government-Issued Photo Identification (Required to E-File)

	Team Step 1. Client Intake & Project Setup
	Confirm initial client contact date is recorded as the project start date.	Admin
	Send the personal tax checklist to the client through Financial Cents.	Admin
	Confirm engagement letter was sent through TaxCycle and signed via DocuSign. Do not begin preparation until the signed engagement letter is on file.	Admin
	Confirm CRA Authorize a Representative (AuthRep) is active and on file.	Admin
	Carry forward prior-year tax data and confirm opening balances imported correctly.	Admin

Team Step 1. Client Intake & Project Setup

Confirm initial client contact date is recorded as the project start date.

Admin

Send the personal tax checklist to the client through Financial Cents.

Admin

Confirm engagement letter was sent through TaxCycle and signed via DocuSign. Do not begin preparation until the signed engagement letter is on file.

Admin

Confirm CRA Authorize a Representative (AuthRep) is active and on file.

Admin

Carry forward prior-year tax data and confirm opening balances imported correctly.

Admin

	Team Step 2. Intake & E-File Readiness
	Confirm valid government-issued photo identification is on file for the taxpayer (and spouse, if applicable) as required for e-filing.	Preparer
	Review and confirm name, address, marital status, dependants, and direct deposit information.	Preparer
	Confirm Canadian residency and citizenship status for the tax year.	Preparer
	Confirm CRA authorizations are active and sufficient for access and filing.	Preparer
	Review prior-year return and most recent Notice of Assessment for carryforwards, balances, and issues.	Preparer
	Confirm the return meets CRA e-file eligibility requirements.	Preparer

Team Step 2. Intake & E-File Readiness

Confirm valid government-issued photo identification is on file for the taxpayer (and spouse, if applicable) as required for e-filing.

Preparer

Review and confirm name, address, marital status, dependants, and direct deposit information.

Preparer

Confirm Canadian residency and citizenship status for the tax year.

Preparer

Confirm CRA authorizations are active and sufficient for access and filing.

Preparer

Review prior-year return and most recent Notice of Assessment for carryforwards, balances, and issues.

Preparer

Confirm the return meets CRA e-file eligibility requirements.

Preparer

	Team Step 3. Source Documents & Preparation
	Confirm all requested client documents have been received or marked not applicable.	Preparer
	Verify source documents are complete and legible.	Preparer
	Download available tax data and slips from CRA and other sources.	Preparer
	Match downloaded tax data to client-provided documents.	Preparer
	Confirm all client-provided income, deductions, and credits have been entered.	Preparer

Team Step 3. Source Documents & Preparation

Confirm all requested client documents have been received or marked not applicable.

Preparer

Verify source documents are complete and legible.

Preparer

Download available tax data and slips from CRA and other sources.

Preparer

Match downloaded tax data to client-provided documents.

Preparer

Confirm all client-provided income, deductions, and credits have been entered.

Preparer

	Team Step 4. Income Review & Reconciliation
	Review T4 and other employment income for completeness and accuracy.	Preparer
	Review pension, CPP, OAS, and other benefit income.	Preparer
	Review T3, T5, T5008, and capital gains or losses for completeness and accuracy.	Preparer
	Review business income and expenses for completeness and reasonableness.	Preparer
	Review rental income and expenses, including capital additions and dispositions.	Preparer
	Confirm all income sources for the year have been reported.	Preparer

Team Step 4. Income Review & Reconciliation

Review T4 and other employment income for completeness and accuracy.

Preparer

Review pension, CPP, OAS, and other benefit income.

Preparer

Review T3, T5, T5008, and capital gains or losses for completeness and accuracy.

Preparer

Review business income and expenses for completeness and reasonableness.

Preparer

Review rental income and expenses, including capital additions and dispositions.

Preparer

Confirm all income sources for the year have been reported.

Preparer

	Team Step 5. Deductions & Credits
	Review medical expenses for eligibility and correct claim period.	Preparer
	Review private health insurance premiums paid.	Preparer
	Review medical travel claims for distance, eligibility, and supporting documentation.	Preparer
	Review charitable donations, political donations, and union or professional dues.	Preparer
	Review spousal or child support paid or received and confirm required documentation.	Preparer
	Review employment expenses and supporting T2200 documentation.	Preparer
	Review tuition credits and student loan interest eligibility.	Preparer
	Review volunteer firefighter or search and rescue credits.	Preparer

Team Step 5. Deductions & Credits

Review medical expenses for eligibility and correct claim period.

Preparer

Review private health insurance premiums paid.

Preparer

Review medical travel claims for distance, eligibility, and supporting documentation.

Preparer

Review charitable donations, political donations, and union or professional dues.

Preparer

Review spousal or child support paid or received and confirm required documentation.

Preparer

Review employment expenses and supporting T2200 documentation.

Preparer

Review tuition credits and student loan interest eligibility.

Preparer

Review volunteer firefighter or search and rescue credits.

Preparer

	Team Step 6. Property, Assets & Special Reporting
	Review principal residence designation and reporting requirements.	Preparer
	Review property dispositions and Statements of Adjustments.	Preparer
	Review eligibility for first-time home buyer credits and programs.	Preparer
	Review foreign asset holdings and determine T1135 filing requirements.	Preparer
	Review cryptocurrency transactions and reporting obligations.	Preparer

Team Step 6. Property, Assets & Special Reporting

Review principal residence designation and reporting requirements.

Preparer

Review property dispositions and Statements of Adjustments.

Preparer

Review eligibility for first-time home buyer credits and programs.

Preparer

Review foreign asset holdings and determine T1135 filing requirements.

Preparer

Review cryptocurrency transactions and reporting obligations.

Preparer

	Team Step 7. Client Approval & Signatures
	Send draft tax return to client for review (Sync.com or Financial Cents). Confirm this is a draft pending approval and signatures.	Preparer
	Send invoice and request payment prior to e-filing.	Preparer
	Send T183 to client for electronic signature via DocuSign in TaxCycle.	Preparer
	Confirm client has reviewed the draft return and approved filing.	Preparer
	Confirm signed T183 is on file prior to e-filing.	Preparer
	Hold client meeting if requested or required.	Preparer

Team Step 7. Client Approval & Signatures

Send draft tax return to client for review (Sync.com or Financial Cents). Confirm this is a draft pending approval and signatures.

Preparer

Send invoice and request payment prior to e-filing.

Preparer

Send T183 to client for electronic signature via DocuSign in TaxCycle.

Preparer

Confirm client has reviewed the draft return and approved filing.

Preparer

Confirm signed T183 is on file prior to e-filing.

Preparer

Hold client meeting if requested or required.

Preparer

	Team Step 8. Final Review & Filing
	Review Disability Tax Credit eligibility and documentation.	Preparer
	Perform final reasonableness and consistency check.	Preparer
	Confirm carryforwards and balances agree to CRA records.	Preparer
	Review CRA correspondence and prior-year matters.	Preparer
	Confirm payment has been received and recorded.	Preparer
	Electronically file the return with CRA. DO NOT FILE UNLESS PAYMENT CONFIRMED	Preparer
	Save e-file confirmation and final tax return PDF.	Preparer

Team Step 8. Final Review & Filing

Review Disability Tax Credit eligibility and documentation.

Preparer

Perform final reasonableness and consistency check.

Preparer

Confirm carryforwards and balances agree to CRA records.

Preparer

Review CRA correspondence and prior-year matters.

Preparer

Confirm payment has been received and recorded.

Preparer

Electronically file the return with CRA. DO NOT FILE UNLESS PAYMENT CONFIRMED

Preparer

Save e-file confirmation and final tax return PDF.

Preparer

	Team Step 9. Client Delivery & Close
	Notify client that the return has been completed and filed.	Admin
	Notify client of any balance owing and payment instructions.	Admin
	Deliver final return copy to client via Sync.com.	Admin
	Ensure that a full pdf of Return, slips and other documents has been saved to the server	Admin
	Close project once all steps are completed.	Admin

Team Step 9. Client Delivery & Close

Notify client that the return has been completed and filed.

Admin

Notify client of any balance owing and payment instructions.

Admin

Deliver final return copy to client via Sync.com.

Admin

Ensure that a full pdf of Return, slips and other documents has been saved to the server

Admin

Close project once all steps are completed.

Admin