UFile CVITP software overview – Part 1: Installation requirements and layout overview (American sign language)

Transcript

UFile CVITP software Overview

Part 1: Installation requirements and layout overview

Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program

[Soft background music throughout the video] and [An embedded American Sign Language interpretation video appears throughout the video on the right side]

Image on screen: Title of the video is in the top centre; at the center right-hand, the ITAVP logo shows colourful people holding hands; at the top left-hand corner, vertical colourful bars; at the top right-hand corner, the ITAVP text logo;

Image on screen: Marie Julie avatar speaking in an office setting.

Marie Julie: Hello, my name is Marie Julie.

Welcome to the UFile CVITP software overview.

In this series of three videos, we will introduce to you the UFile CVITP software.

Image on screen: Title:Outline; the key topics appear to the left as the narration goes; to the right, the UFile logo shows a white, half maple leaf against a red background and black letters reading UFile

Marie Julie: In this first video, we will start by going over when you can expect the software for the current tax year to be available and the steps to install it on your computer.

Then, we’ll explain the features and the tabs of the tax software.

Finally, we’ll go through the EFILE-NetFile set up screen in the software’s settings.

Image on screen: Title: UFile CVITP; text appears on screen summarizing the key points as the narration goes;

Marie Julie: It is important to know that the UFile CVITP software is a customized version of the UFile software. The software was designed specifically for ITAVP organizations and volunteers.

You will use this software to prepare the federal and Quebec tax returns for individuals who are eligible for the ITAVP.

A new version of the software for the current tax year is made available each year, usually around mid-February.

Once your application to become a volunteer for the ITAVP has been approved, you will receive an email from your organization with an activation key and the instructions on how to download the software on to your computer.

The instructions will include a link to access the UFile CVITP webpage where you can download the current software and, if necessary, the software for prior tax years.

We encourage volunteers to use the downloadable version of the software to make updates easier. However, the software is also available on a USB key if you do not have Internet access to install it.

The UFile CVITP software version must be the same as the tax year of the tax returns you are preparing.

Note  if you are required to prepare tax returns for a previous year, you need a separate activation key for each tax year. You can obtain one from the organization you are affiliated with or from your ITAVP coordinators.

Image on screen: Title: UFile – CVITP – Minimum system requirements; text appears on screen summarizing the key points as the narration goes

Marie Julie: To download UFile CVITP software to your computer and ensure that it will function properly, you will need to meet the minimum system requirements:

The requirements are:

• a Windows® 10 operating system
• 250 megabytes of available hard disk space
• Internet access, which is needed to use the electronic filing services, such as EFILE and NetFile Québec and to get the latest software updates

Please note that Macintosh (Apple) operating systems are not compatible with the UFile CVITP software.

Now, let’s take a look at the home screen of the software.

Image on screen: UFile CVITP 2023, welcome screen; in the top menu bar, the Start tab is highlighted; callouts surround each of the 5 tabs from the top menu bar as the narration goes

Marie Julie: Once you have downloaded and opened UFile, the software’s home screen will appear under the Start tab.

The five steps to complete the tax returns correspond to the five tabs at the top of the screen. The tabs are Start, Interview, Review, Tax Return and EFILE.

Note that you will not be able to access the Review, Tax Return, and EFILE tabs if all mandatory fields in the Interview tab have not been completed.

Image on screen: UFile CVITP 2023, welcome screen; callout surrounds the search field in the top menu bar; text reading ‘spouse’ appears in the field and a UFile help window opens up

Marie Julie: The search function allows you to find information about a specific topic. To use it, click on the magnifying glass in the top right of the screen. A search box will appear and you can enter the search topic.

Image on screen: UFile CVITP 2023, welcome screen; in the top menu bar, a callout surrounds the help button and the pointer clicks on it; a ‘What’s new in the program for 2023’ window opens up; next, at the bottom of the UFile screen, a callout surrounds the New Tutorial button and the pointer clicks on it; a Tutorial window opens up; next, in the top menu bar, a callout surrounds the settings button and the pointer activates the dropdown menu

Marie Julie: The help menu provides information on entering data in the software, links to the most common topics, and an alphabetical index.

To access the help menu, click on the question mark in the top right corner of the screen and select Open help. You can also access it by clicking on New Tutorial at the bottom of the screen.

The settings menu allows you to check for updates, register the software, and complete the EFILE and NetFile Québec setup, among other things.

Image on screen: UFile CVITP 2023, welcome screen; in the top right-hand corner, the UFile CVITP logo is highlighted while the welcome screen is blurred; next, the pointer clicks on settings and EFILE-NetFile setup; the EFILE-NetFile setup window opens, a callout surrounds the section ‘In what capacity are you preparing tax returns?’ and the topic ‘Volunteer with the CVITP’ is highlighted; a callout surrounds the Save button

Marie Julie: It is important to always use the version of the software provided to you as part of the ITAVP. To determine if you are using the correct version, ensure the logo displayed in the top right corner of the screen indicates CVITP.

If CVITP does not appear in the logo, complete the following steps:

• finish activating the software using the activation code provided to you by email from the organization you are affiliated with
• start UFile
• click on settings (the gear icon above the logo)
• click on EFILE-NetFile setup
• in the field In what capacity are you preparing tax returns? select Volunteer with the CVITP
• click Save
• a pop-up window will appear indicating that UFile will restart to apply the new EFILE-NetFile settings
• click OK

CVITP should appear in the logo once these steps have been completed.

Image on screen: UFile CVITP 2023, welcome screen; pointer clicks on settings, then on EFILE-NetFile setup from the drop down menu while callouts surround each section; the EFILE-NetFile setup window opens; each section of the window is highlighted as the narration goes

Marie Julie: If you are using electronic filing, you must configure the software the first time you use it.

Click the settings icon in the top right corner of the screen and then click EFILE-NetFile setup.

The option Volunteer with the CVITP for the question In what capacity are you preparing tax returns? and the option EFILE under Electronic filing method should already be selected when using the version of the software provided as part of the ITAVP.

However, to file the Quebec income tax return electronically, you must tick the box next to NetFile Québec for professionals.

Next, in the EFILE registration information section, enter your EFILE number and password, your NetFile Québec number and access code and the information about the organization you are transmitting tax returns for.

All participating ITAVP organizations will be assigned a CVITP Organization Identification Number, also known as a COIN, that they must share with their volunteers.

Therefore, make sure to enter the COIN you were provided in the COIN field.

If your organization has not yet provided you with a COIN, select No for the question Do you have a COIN? and leave the COIN field blank. Even though this field is mandatory, you will still be able to prepare and transmit tax returns.

If you prepare tax returns on a computer that is used by more than one volunteer, it is very important to erase your identification information in Part A of the EFILE-NetFile setup once you finish preparing tax returns.

To erase this information, click on Clear Part A, then Save. If you need to erase all the information, including the organization information, click Clear All and then Save.

Image on screen: UFile CVITP 2023, welcome screen; callout surrounds the Start button and the pointer clicks on it; next, the Family Head Identification screen appears

Marie Julie: Once you’re ready to start preparing the tax returns, click on Start on a new tax file.

The software will automatically bring you to the Identification topic in the Interview tab.

If you want to resize the software window, a zoom scaling option is available on the top-right of the screen. The default setting is 100%.

Image on screen: UFile CVITP, Family Head Identification screen; the pointer drags the left and bottom chevrons to expand the screen while callouts surround each of the chevrons; next, a callout surrounds a question mark and the pointer clicks on it opening up an information window

Marie Julie: If you want to adjust the sizing of the main window, you can use the two chevrons to adjust the size of the left-side menu, and the Errors

Warnings Information section at the bottom of the screen.

You will also notice in the software that there are question marks to the left of most data entry fields. By clicking on these question marks, you will access the UFile help menu. It will provide you with tips and information for the information to enter in each field.

Image on screen: Animation of Marie Julie avatar speaking in an office setting

Marie Julie: This concludes our first video on the UFile CVITP software overview. I hope this demonstration was helpful.

We encourage you to watch the second video in our series on the software to learn more about UFile CVITP. The second video is about preparing tax returns using the software. 

We also invite you to visit the Installing the tax software and its functions section of the ITAVP learning guide for more information related to the software provided as part of the program.

Image on screen:  Left aligned, the ITAVP website information appears in a grey box and above a computer icon with a checkmark; right aligned, the ITAVP dedicated helpline information appears in a grey box and above a cell phone icon;

Marie Julie: Note that the learning guide contains information on various training topics, such as the steps to prepare income tax returns, different types of income and deductions that most individuals using the income tax assistance program will be eligible for, as well as various resources including useful links, contacts and forms.

You can also contact the agents of the confidential telephone lines reserved for volunteers if you have questions about the UFile CVITP software, to obtain information about tax topics or to order forms.

Finally, please note that this video and the learning guide were designed exclusively for organizations and volunteers of the ITAVP. Therefore, they should not be shared with people who are not part of the program.

Image on screen: Animation of Marie Julie avatar speaking in an office setting

Marie Julie: Thank you for supporting the ITAVP!

See you soon!

Text on screen: Copyright: His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Canada Revenu Agency, 2024.

Image on screen: Canada Revenue Agency logo; Revenu Québec logo; Canada wordmark and animated Canada flag