Re: [lp-ca-on] Canadian .tax file layout

[Blaise Alleyne]

On 07/05/16 01:16 AM, Sergio Durigan Junior wrote:
> On Sunday, May 01 2016, Greg Knittl wrote:
>> [...] When I used tax packages and net filed in the past, the netfile was a
>> completely separate step. The tax program created the .tax file. Then
>> you opened a browser and went to the CRA website and pointed it to the
>> .tax file. The CRA may check for a certified vendor field in the .tax
>> file but there is no other barrier than the layout of the .tax file as
>> far as I can tell. Technically this should be a lot simpler than
>> creating logic to handle all the tax forms and I think it's
>> independent of the tax calculation - except that there are limitations
>> on what types of returns are eligible for netfile. The main challenge
>> appears to be political - to pry the .tax layout from the CRA and
>> obtain any vendor identification code that might be required.
> 
> OK, a few thoughts here.
> 
> Stewart already mentioned, but it seems to me that the NETFILE is a XML
> file.  If that is correct, then "obtaining the layout" can be as simple
> as looking at the file itself.  No need to worry about binary data, etc.
> 
> I'd be interested in knowing if you still have access to those .tax
> files you created in the past.  They may prove really useful in
> understanding the format and coming up with our own hand-crafted
> specification (that is, while the government doesn't provide an official
> one).
> 
> Also, I have never used a software to prepare the declaration.  From
> what you said above, now you don't really need to upload the .tax file
> by hand, right?  So I assume the software will do that for you...  But
> does the software offer an option to export the declaration in the .tax
> format?  If yes, then that also may be a good starting point to
> understand the specs.  Otherwise, it should be possible to intercept the
> packages and see what is being sent over the network (but I'm getting
> ahead of myself). [...]
> 


I have used UFile.ca for the past several years to file my taxes (it's gratis
for U of T students...). They do let you export the .tax file.

Doing a quick `locate`, I've downloaded and saved the .tax file for at least a
few years. I'd be happy to make mine available to developers if it helps.

There's more information on NETFILE software here:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/esrvc-srvce/tx/ndvdls/netfile-impotnet/crtfdsftwr/menu-eng.html