Volunteer Income Tax Program a tremendous help to all

 

by Susan Hofforth

 

Need help filling out your income tax return? If so, the Volunteer Income Tax Program may be able to help you. The program is a partnership between the Town of Whitecourt and the Canada Revenue Agency, and it is there to help those in a certain income bracket.

 

There is income criteria to take part in the program. A single person with an annual income of up to $30,000 can take advantage of it, or a couple with income up to $40,000. For one adult with one child it would be $35,000 and an addition of $2,500 per year for every dependent. So, one adult with two dependents who earn up to $37,500 annually would be able to have their taxes done by the volunteers. They can only help with simple returns. They don’t do returns for anything beyond basic, such as tax returns for self-employed people, or anyone filing for bankruptcy for example.

 

“It’s a great program and it’s great that we are able to provide this service, thanks to the CRA and the town and to the excellent group of volunteers that we have,” said FCSS Co-Ordinator Fay Arcand. “We can save some people some money, but ensuring that they file keeps people receiving their benefits. To file for benefits, you have to be up to date on your tax returns.”

 

The Allan and Jean Millar Centre acts a s a drop-off clinic for all the tax forms the volunteers will need. Fill out a questionnaire and include all relevant forms such as T4, prescriptions, SIN number and other info. They will hold them securely and get take them to the volunteers.

 

The CRA trains the volunteers through webinars on the software that they provide. Last year, in 2106, the five community volunteers completed 153 tax returns. “We are lucky to have some real core volunteers to help with that program, but if other people are interested in volunteering, they could certainly contact me,” said Arcand.

 

The program opens on February 19 and closes on April 16. That gives the volunteers a little window before the tax day deadline on April 30.