Create a new return - Start

After completing the installation of Studiotax, you can start it by double clicking on Studiotax program icon on your desktop. The The first time you start Studiotax, it will look similar to the following picture:

Even though the starting window looks like a web page, Studiotax is not a web based application. Studiotax is a Windows program that resides on your computer and does not access the internet except if you click on the "Check for updates..." link. This is similar to any other Windows program such as Word that creates .doc documents and save them on the local hard drive. In the same way, StudioTax creates tax documents with .o9t extensions and saves them on your computer local hard drive.

It's recommended that you take the time to read the Help provided by Studiotax and can be accessed by clicking the Help tab shown highlighted by a red circle on the bottom of the picture. The Help is kept short to encourage users to spend the time to read it.

Once you are ready to create your first return, you can click on the "Create a new return..." button. At his point a quick start wizard pops up:

The first page of the wizard provides an option to start the new return by loading the relevant tax information from your StudioTax 2007 file(1). If you used Studiotax 2007, then use the button number 1 to quickly start the new return. Otherwise read the instructions and press the "Next>" button (2).

The next page of the wizard is used to enter your information:

Make sure that all fields marked with red stars are filled before pressing "Next>". Remember to click on the box for spousal linked returns (Red Circle). If you are filing joint returns, then this option will grayed out for all other statuses other than married or common law relationships. Left mouse click on "Next>" once all the required information is provided. 

The next page is for additional information regarding Address and contact Phone numbers. Once you have filled in the appropriate information, left click your mouse pointer on the "Next>" button to continue to the next page

At this page you will be required to answer optional questions affecting the calculations of your income tax. If none apply to you then skip this page by Left clicking your mouse pointer on "Next>". If they do apply then left click your mouse pointer on"Next>" once you have checked the proper boxes and typed in the appropriate answers.

This page is used to answer required CRA questions. Once answered  you can press "Next>" to continue.

This page provides information for Elections Canada and only applies to Canadian Citizens and therefore can be bypassed if it is not applicable to you. Click on the "Next>" button to continue on with the Wizard

Use "Next>" below to continue with the tutorial.

This page provides a quick access to various common tax data. It's by no mean a complete list of the level of Studiotax support. Optionally, you check the TSlip and other items you want to enter through the wizard. For this tutorial, we check the T4, T5, RRSP and Charity boxes. Note that this is the first page where you can press "Finish" to exit the wizard.

Use Next> below to continue with the tutorial.