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Template Outlines

Updated: 2025-12-05

Template outlines allow you to create an outline from which the person preparing the return can choose to show or hide selected paragraphs for a client. The body of the letter continues to update as you make changes to a return, so this is different than personalizing a letter for a client.

Using an Outline

Starting with the 2025 T1 year, the built-in client and joint client letters each contain a template outline.

  1. If a template includes the code to support the outline, a show Show outline link appears at the top of the letter in an open tax return. Click Show outline to open a panel containing the outline.
    Screen Capture: Show outline link
  2. The panel above the template shows any segments where the template code indicates that you show or hide the segment.
  3. Some templates contain sections that expand and allow you to choose one option from a group of radio buttons. You can choose to display only one of the segments.
  4. Check or clear a box to include or exclude the text. Boxes are checked or unchecked by default based on the code in the template and the data in the tax return.
  5. If selecting or clearing a check box or radio button overrides the calculated default for a segment, a blue asterisk appears. Click the asterisk to revert to the default.
    Screen Capture: Template Outline Open

You can create similar code in custom templates. The following two examples help explain how to do that.

Example 1: Check boxes

{{# CurrentClient }}
    {{# IsT1EfileEligible :: EFILE }}
        Mandatory electronic filing
        The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requires approved tax preparers to file
        tax returns electronically. Your tax return will be transmitted to the CRA.
        Please answer the related questions on the checklist.
    {{/ IsT1EfileEligible :: EFILE }}
    {{# true :: PrincipalResidence }}
        Reporting the sale of your principal residence
        All taxpayers who sell their home must report the sale on their tax return,
        even if it was their principal residence for the whole time they owned it.
        There are substantial penalties for not reporting the sale. If you sold
        your home in {{ Constants.CurrentTaxationYear }}, provide the details on
        the attached questionnaire.
    {{/ true :: Principal Residence}}   
    {{# false :: T1135 }}
        Foreign property disclosure
        Canadian resident individuals who held property outside Canada with a
        total cost of more than 100,000 CAD at any time in the tax year must
        report it to the CRA. There are substantial penalties for non-compliance.
        Please complete the attached questionnaire.
    {{/ false :: T1135 }}
{{/ CurrentClient }}

Screen capture: Output for check boxes

Element Description
:: EFILE
:: PrincipalResidence
:: T1135		 Add :: (double colons) to a condition to enable a template outline. Insert a word after the :: (double colons) to act as the identifier for the check box. This is required and must be different for each check box.
true
false

The text before the :: (double colons) is often a template condition (for example, IsT1EfileEligible), which is evaluated to determine whether the paragraph will show. The box is checked by default if the data in the return meets the condition.

If no suitable condition applies, enter true to check the box by default or false to leave the box unchecked by default.

Example 2: Expander and Radio buttons

{{# CurrentClient }}
{{# Engage.Engagement :: ?? Formality }}
{{# true :: Level=0 }}Dear {{ CorrespondenceName }},{{/ true }}
{{# :: Level=1 }}Hello {{ CorrespondenceName }},{{/ :: Level=1 }}
{{/ Engage.Engagement :: ?? Formality }}
{{/ CurrentClient }}

Screen capture: Output for radio button and drop-down

Element Description
:: Add :: (double colons) to a condition to enable a template outline.
??
?? Formality		 Add ?? (double question marks) after the double colons to create an expending section. Add a title after the question marks to give the section a title. In this example, the title is Formality.
Level=0
Level=1		 Create a key (in this example, Level) and use the same key for each segment that will be a radio button in the outline. Assign a different value (0, 1, etc.) for each piece of text you want to include. This creates the radio buttons that only allow one selection.
true The text before the :: (double colons) is usually a typical template condition. If no condition applies, enter true to indicate which radio button should be selected by default and omit it completely for the other options.