If you've recently lost a loved one, we'd like to first offer our sincere condolences for your loss. Filing a final return can be a difficult process, and we'll do our best to make it as straightforward as possible.
To start, make sure you have all available T-slips and income information available for the deceased, as well as their date of death (DOD) and personal information. You'll refer to these documents while preparing their final return.
When you're ready to begin the filing process, select your edition of TurboTax software from the list, then follow the instructions provided.
Note: The CRA requires all final returns to be physically processed. You'll need to print out and mail their return directly instead of using any electronic filing options.
TurboTax Online
- When starting the return process, at Who are you preparing this return for?select Someone Else and indicate whether you are preparing a married/common-law return.
- At Let's get started! What's their name? enter the name of the deceased and check the box for This return is for a deceased person.
- Enter their date of death, then select Continue.
- At Let's get your contact info, enter your name under Care of, and provide your mailing address and contact information. This is because a final return needs to be signed and mailed in.
- Complete the next sections of their return until you reach Let's get the rest of your personal info, where you'll need to provide additional personal information for the deceased, then select Continue.
- Select Continue on each screen until completed.
TurboTax CD/Download
- When starting the return process in EasyStep mode, enter the marital status and province where the deceased lived right before their date of death.
- Enter their personal information and date of death.
- Enter the mailing address of where the notice of assessment should be sent, and your name in the Care of: fieldme.
- Enter the information of the spouse/common-law partner (if applicable), including their net income and Amount on line 8 of their provincial schedule 428.
- Proceed until the What happened for you in 20XX? section. Select the type of income you're reporting for the deceased. If there is pension income, and you want to split eligible pension income between spouses, select Yes for Do you want to split eligible pension income with a spouse or common-law partner (if applicable)? Later, you'll provide more information and the software will calculate the maximum eligible transferrable amount o the spouse/common-law partner. This amount will be reported separately on the partner’s tax return.
- If you're transferring a principal residence to the spouse/common-law partner, indicate Yes for did you dispose of a property(s) in 202x, that was your principal residence? Later you'll indicate the property was disposed of because the owner passed away and you'll provide information about the purchase price and fair market value on the date of death, and the transferee.
