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

[Sergio Durigan Junior]

On Saturday, May 07 2016, Blaise Alleyne wrote:

> 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.

Nice!  Out of curiosity, are they in binary format, or in text (XML,
perhaps)?

Also, there's an obvious privacy issue here because someone would have
to see and examine your .tax file(s).  In order to avoid that, I was
wondering if it is possible (and if you are able) to create a "dummy"
tax report, using fake values and data.  WDYT?

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

Hm, cool.  I also found the link I mentioned:

  <http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/esrvc-srvce/rf/xmlspcs2016/menu-eng.html>

Apparently the specs for most(?) forms are described there.

Cheers,

-- 
Sergio
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