"Invalid character(s) is in the free format area" error during EFILE

ProFile users encounter an invalid character(s) is in the free format area error during the EFILE process.

Resolution

The error indicates an issue on an individual line item, usually on the T1Efile form.

The last four digits of the error number displayed in the auditor message indicates the line number where there is an issue.

In the example above, lines 104 and 363, respectively, are generating the error. In this example, it is a ghost amount carried forward. The user clicks on the lines to clear the amounts and unchecks CRA errors to correct the issue.