Let’s Go Digital This Tax Season

Important Request:

For the safety of our clients and staff, going forward we strongly discourage clients from mailing their tax information to us during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are asking our clients to please upload their documents and checklists electronically via our secure portal. Detailed resources for this process are available on this link: https://www.sterncohen.com/lets-go-digital-this-tax-season/

 We understand some clients may not have access to a scanner or a smartphone to take pictures. For those clients, we would suggest holding on to your personal tax documents for now and reaching out to the partner on your file closer to the end of April when we will assess the current COVID-19 situation and how to best retrieve the documents in a safe manner.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Getting Your Personal Tax Receipts and Slips to Stern Cohen Electronically:

Here are step by step instructions to help you go digital this year!

Option 1: Take a picture with your mobile phone. Your phone’s a mini-scanner!

• Email the picture(s) to yourself OR download the pictures to your computer.
• From there you can move them to a folder and zip* them (to reduce their size and save time uploading multiple documents to our portal).
• Remember to name the zip folder with your full name in the title.
• Upload the zip file to the secure  Stern Cohen Portal

*Not sure how to zip a folder? It’s easy! First gather all the files/pictures you want to send us into ONE regular folder. Then right-click on the folder, and point to “Send to” and select “Compressed (zipped) folder”. Remember to put your full name in the zipped folder name.

Option 2: Try a mobile app or an online file sharing solution.

Mobile phone apps make it easy to take and send pictures of your documents and slips. We have tested and recommend Microsoft Office Lens, Genius Scan by The Grizzly Labs and Clear Scanner by Indy Mobile App. These are all free!

List of What to Send Us:

Complete your Personal Tax Checklist.
It will indicate all the receipts or slips that are applicable to your unique situation: Tax Checklist (PDF)

IF you have self-employment income, also download the Supplement.
It will indicate the additional information we require: Supplement for Self-employed Individuals (PDF)

Summary of Expenses
Please provide this information (in Excel if possible).

• Medical/Dental:
  • Please include a general description (e.g. Dental, Eye Doctor, Prescription).
  • Indicate the service provider (for example the Doctor’s name and/or the Clinic name).
  • Indicate the amount.
  • Please provide the transaction date.
• For Charitable Donations/Political Contributions:
  • As charitable and political donations are treated differently, please indicate them separately.
  • For political contributions, it’s also important for us to know if it’s federal or provincial.
  • Indicate the charity or political party name.
  • Indicate the amount.
  • Please provide the donation date.

Finally, sometimes you just want to speak with someone! We understand that. 😊

Contact us to find out the name of your tax preparer this season. If you have any other questions he or she can assist.

More Resources:

Click here for the NEW deferred tax deadlines and payment changes introduced for COVID-19 relief.

Click here for a step by step guide to our Personal Tax Season Process.