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

[Greg Knittl]

Hi,

I have just completed my tax return for 2015. Once again I have hand 
written and printed forms and receipts, 32 this year, for submission on 
paper because I can find no NetFile certified free (as in libre) 
software available that runs on Linux and lets me retain control of my 
tax information on my computer.

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.

Suggested Actions

1/ This is absolutely a software freedom issue. It is specific to 
Canada. I fits right into the mandate of LibrePlanet Ontario. I'd like 
to see the Wiki list it as a project
2/ It should be part of Software Freedom Day
3/ A letter from LibrePlanet Ontario to the Minister of National Revenue 
to state the problem and ask for the layout of the .tax file. It's 
important to understand if the CRA has a legitimate reason for 
restricting access to the .tax file layout to certified tax software. I 
suspect it's security by obscurity and/or an industrial development 
scheme to support the Canadian tax software industry. The CRA is in 
trouble if they are depending on tax software to produce valid .tax 
files. I expect the CRA to be able to completely validate any garbage in 
a .tax file in the same way the CRA has to be to handle any garbage that 
comes in on paper. Another way of looking at it is that the layout of 
the .tax file is equivalent to the blank paper forms that the CRA 
provides. The CRA does not require me to obtain paper tax forms from 
certified 3rd parties. I want to deal directly with the CRA 
electronically just as I do on paper. Some freedom got lost in the 
transition to electronic filing.
4/ If there is no technical reason to restrict the .tax file layout to 
Netfile certified software then possibly a freedom of information 
request to get the layout of the .tax file. If it's a political issue 
then we need to take political action to lobby our MPs. As with the TPP 
there is strength in numbers.
5/ If there is a valid technical reason to restrict knowledge of the 
.tax file then this would be a useful free software project

Your thoughts?

I'm over committed like everyone, but I think I could spare enough time 
to draft a letter to the Minister of National Revenue or some other 
small action to move the ball forward.

Greg