The sight of T4 slips and other tax-related documents arriving in the mail means only one thing: income tax season is here again. While many people’s tax returns are fairly basic, some people are not able or willing to tackle them on their own, and the cost of having someone else prepare your return can be prohibitive, especially for those on low or restricted incomes.
That is where the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) can step in to help. The program is sponsored by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which provides training and software to help local volunteers prepare tax returns. The free service is available to any single person with an income of less than $30,000 per year, or to couples who jointly earn less than $40,000 per year, regardless of their age. Students, seniors, First Nations, and low-income earners can all make use of the service.
Vivian Edwards, the Ashcroft CVITP coordinator, thanks Kelly Adamski and Kelrockden Holdings for once again providing office space on Railway Avenue. The office is located in the Better at Home site, but Edwards cautions people not to call Better at Home about tax-related matters, or drop tax return items off there outside the CVITP hours (every Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. starting on March 3). The service runs through the beginning of May, and no appointment is necessary.
The service, which was started in Ashcroft by Gordon Berdan, has been running locally for more than 40 years. Those assisting with returns receive no remuneration, and get no money from the CRA for such things as office rental or stationery supplies. Each year between 200 and 250 local residents make use of the service.
It generally takes a week for a volunteer to go through a person’s paperwork and prepare the return for filing, which is done electronically. The electronic filing ensures that refunds are sent out as soon as possible.
Ashcroft and Cache Creek residents will be helped by a team including Edwards, Dave Gory, Shirleee Johnson, Shirley Holowchuk, Chris Webster, Gail O’Connor, and Maryann Simpson; for information call Vivian Edwards at (250) 453-9077. Cache Creek and 16 Mile residents can call Adeline Sarver at (250) 457-6689, while Bonaparte residents can call Betty Antoine at (250) 457-9261.
Clinton residents can drop by the Clinton Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.n. beginning on March 2. For information contact Yvette May (250-459-7725 or ymay@bcwireless.com) or John White by phone or fax (250-459-2680), cellphone (250-377-55848), or email (johfra@bcwireless.com).
Edwards reminds anyone using the service to make sure they have all their paperwork gathered together. This is especially important when it comes to medical expenses. It is not only tangible items, such as prescriptions, glasses, hearing aids, and walkers, that can be claimed; people can also claim mileage to and from out-of-town specialist, doctor, and hospital visits, as well as meals and accommodation if applicable.
All tax-related documents, such as T4 slips, should be received by February 28. The deadline for filing taxes for the 2016 year is May 1, 2017.