Using Spreadsheets to prepare your Tax Return

1. Using Spreadsheets to prepare your Tax Return You have all your receipts and now you are ready to file your taxes? Filing taxes can be complicated but setting up a spreadsheet to track income and deductions (and do the math) doesn’t have to be … Joyce Morrison, Computer Tutor

2. Record the important information • So, why not use a spreadsheet to record all those things… • Today, we will show you how to set up a STRAIGHTFORWARD way to record the information you need and… • You can use it again next year and the next year and… so on and so forth… • If you have questions specific to your tax situation, contact an accountant or the CRA. Bonus – you can put away that calculator – as the spreadsheet will do all that for you!

3. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Website • Home page: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html • Page with all the links to CRA services and benefits https://www.canada.ca/en/services/taxes/income-tax/personal-income-tax.html • Page with all the links to do your taxes for 2018 https://www.canada.ca/en/services/taxes/income-tax/personal-income-tax/doing-your-taxes.html • Deadline for most individuals this year is April 30, 2019

4. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/taxes-get-ready.html • Gather your tax information • Get everything you need to calculate your income and support any credits, deductions and expenses that you plan to claim • If you were employed or had investment income in 2018, your employer or financial institution will send you statements commonly referred to as ‘slips’ (as in T3, T4 or T5 slips • If you have not received a tax slip for the current year, or you misplaced it, you can ask the issuer of the slip for a copy. You can also get copies of your slips by logging into the Canada Revenue Agency’s My Account service. Here is the link written outhttps://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/e-services-individuals/account-individuals.html

5. Additional services from CRA • Online mail – This service provides you with the option to sign up to receive certain CRA correspondence in your secure CRA My Account instead of by paper mail. Additional types of correspondence were added to the online mail service, including benefit notices and slips, and instalment reminders. • Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP)– • If you have a modest income and a simple tax situation, volunteers at a free tax clinic may be able to complete your tax return for you. • Serving Parksville/Qualicum Beach is • District 69 Society of Organized Services • Contact – 250-248-2093 ext. 229 • You will need an appointment – service is available year around but mainly in February to April • Income level determines eligibility https://www.sosd69.com/component/zoo/item/income-tax-returns?Itemid=120

6. Filing income tax in 2018 for BC residents • 2018 General Income Tax and Benefit package – what you need to knowhttps://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/tax-packages-years/general-income-tax-benefit-package/british-columbia.html • Includes • General Income Tax and Benefit Guide for 2018 • T1 General Tax Return form and federal tax worksheet • Schedules (Federal) • Information and Forms (Provincial) • Forms and Publications, including for previous years – found at https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications.html

7. Filing income tax for 2018 • Filing online (NETFILE) – for filing a routine return for the immediate past 4 years https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/e-services-individuals/netfile-overview/certified-software-netfile-program.html • They provide access to software to complete your taxes that they have certified for use to file individual taxes. • It is free, and according to CRA, confidential and secure. They promise a quick refund, greater accuracy with no receipts needing to be submitted, unless requested. • Note: The CRA tests commercial tax preparation software packages and web applications for use with the NETFILE service. It is usually late January before a tax preparation software package is certified for use with the NETFILE service. • 3 minute Video to show you how: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/cra-multimedia-library/individuals-video-gallery/transcript-filing-online-fast-easy-secure.html

8. Fraudulent emails and phone calls – be vigilant! Every year the CRA warns Canadians that fraudulent emails and phone calls purporting to be from the Agency are received by Canadians. Find out more about these scams and learn how you can protect yourself. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/newsroom/tax-tips/tax-tips-2018/what-to-expect-cra-contacts-you.html

9. Working with Spreadsheets • There are many programs – all very similar in how they work • You only need to understand the basics of how it works and that knowledge will apply to all • Apache Open Office - Calc • Microsoft Office - Excel • Apple - Numbers • Google – Google Sheets • Plus Many others

10. Working in Cells rather than lines of Text – how to enter the information Type text – start typing; formatting is same as Text/Word (use this for labels or ease of reading Type formulas - must start with ‘=’ and have nospaces (for doing calculations) Type numbers – start typing numbers (for entering the data you want to calculate)

11. The Power of Spreadsheets

13. Printing - more complex than in a document • Because you can work anywhere on a spreadsheet, and because there are no margins shown to you, there are more steps to the print process: • Select and set the print area • Preview your file and make any changes needed • Preview again before printing • Print

14. Open Office • Select the desired print area (drag, left mouse) • FORMAT > PRINT RANGES > DEFINE • Preview your file • FILE > PAGE PREVIEW > FORMAT PAGE • 3. Make changes (pop up) • PAGE – Portrait or Landscape and ALIGNMENT – Horizontal or Vertical • Header – type in desired words • Footer – type in desired words • SHEET – scaling 100% or less? How to fit it on a page

15. MSExcel • Select the desired print area (drag, left mouse) • PAGE LAYOUT > PRINT AREA > SET PRINT AREA • Preview your file – • FILE > PRINT and then PAGE SETUP (bottom) • 3. Make changes • PAGE – Portrait or Landscape and Scaling 100% or less? How to fit it on a page • MARGINS – Horizontal or Vertical • HEADER/FOOTER – click appropriate section and type in desired words • SHEET – gridlines to show the lines • 4. Click OK and PRINT

16. Basics of Formatting (FORMAT > CELLS) • Formatting cells: • Text, Numbers (Accounting, Currency, Date), Functions • Number of decimal points • Wrap Text • Merge cells • ###### (just means the column is too narrow to show cell contents) • Formatting Text – same as in a text document • Bold, Italics, Underline • Left, centre, right alignment • Size and Color of font • Cut, copy and paste • Paste special (links)

17. Basics of Formatting - continued • 3. Other things to know to speed you on your way • Undo/Redo • Column and row – width and height • Line or no line; colored lines and more • Insert Rows/Delete Rows and/or Insert Columns/Delete Columns • Insert a new worksheet within a workbook • Name and re-name worksheets within a workbook • Templates: File > New > Templates and Documents > Get More Templates Online then choose the application ‘Calc’