Doing your own taxes can be overwhelming — with confusion and frustration as common side effects.

But Cochrane’s Jerry Koenderink wants to let people know it doesn’t have to be that way.

He has been putting on seminars at the Cochrane Nan Boothby Memorial Library on how to use UFile, an electronic program approved by Revenue Canada, to file taxes without the headache.

“It’s so much easier,” said Koenderink. “There are less mistakes (than doing your taxes by hand) and faster results.”

He has a presentation coming up called Income Tax Preparation Using Computer Tax Software March 16 from 7-8 p.m.

Each year there are three different tax programs that come out to help Canadians file their taxes, which change each year because of new Revenue Canada regulations. The three programs are UFile, QuickTax, and the H&R Block At Home Online Tax Program — which can cost from $20 to $40.

After opening the program, there is the option to start a new tax file or carry a tax file over from a previous year.

After typing in all information from tax forms — such as a T4 — the computer program automatically crunches the numbers.

Koenderink said it’s great because if there is something missed the program will catch it and bring you back to that question, which in the end means a faster tax return.

“Revenue Canada loves it when you send it in electronically because there are less mistakes,” he said.

If a tax return is filed electronically, then there is no need to send in all relevant receipts — although the receipts need to be kept in case Revenue Canada asks for them or conducts an audit.

He said the programs are also great for saving couples money by equalizing incomes.

Koenderink said in the free one-hour session you will be able to use the tax program UFile confidentally, and he also supplies some free copies of the program. To register call the library at 403-932-4353.

Koenderink also uses the program to help low income and disabled individuals do their taxes at Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) — and has been helped by Janet Watson for the last few years.

He has been volunteering for the last seven years as part of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, which he gets training for every year.

“I like to challenge Revenue Canada to get as much money back legally as possible,” he said. “It’s a game in a way.”

Koenderink said while he has no formal accounting training, he was a math teacher before he retired and always did his own taxes.

“I kinda enjoy doing it,” he said. “I enjoy working with the clients and the people I work with. Most people are really appreciative. Many don’t pay taxes, but need to file them to get their benefits.”

While Koenderink does offer his services year round, he said his busiest times are obviously from mid-March to April.

He said he usually helps more than 125 people each year. To make an appointment, or to see if you qualify, call FCSS at 403-851-2250.

Koendrick also puts on a Tax Smart Investing seminar each fall. The goal is to show people who invest how it will affect their taxes.

While he does mention Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSA) and Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP), he focuses the presentation on “unsheltered investments” and explains how getting different payouts — such as dividends, capital gains, or interest — will affect taxes.

Another tax minded presentation at the library called Do Your Own Taxes will be held on March 25 from 6-9 p.m.

This presentation is put on by Revenue Canada, and will have an instructor on hand to answer questions and help you do your tax return.

The seminar is a great way to get answers for technical tax questions.

Participants are asked to bring T4s and other tax slips, medical receipts, tuition receipts, charitable donation receipts, any other 2009 receipts, a mailing label from your tax return last year, calculator, pencil, pen and scrap paper.

The class is free. To register call FCSS at 403-851-2250.

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