Tax season is almost upon us, although you’d hardly know it given the huge push encouraging us to make an RRSP contribution in advance of the looming March 1 deadline.

Yet this past week, the Canada Revenue Agency opened up its NETFILE program for the season which allows individuals to electronically file their 2012 personal income tax and benefit returns using commercially available tax-preparation software, which, depending on your situation and/or income level, may be free.

What’s different for 2013 is the CRA is no longer mailing an access code to eligible NETFILE taxpayers, effectively eliminating the need for the access code altogether.

So, without the NETFILE Web access code, how do we file online this year? All it will take to file your 2012 return online is your social insurance number (SIN) and your date of birth. Worried about someone else, like a disgruntled ex-spouse, going online with your SIN and birth date and absconding with your tax refund?

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