By Chad Polito
Special Collaboration
As year-end RL slips and other tax documents start arriving in the mail, we are reminded that tax season is officially upon us… once again. Filing taxes and completing all the necessary schedules can be a bit overwhelming, but the good news is that there are services available to help navigate this process.
One program available through Revenu Québec is the Income Tax Assistance Volunteer Program. This program calls on hundreds of community organizations and volunteers to help people who need assistance completing their income tax returns and who cannot afford the services of a professional. The program is jointly administered by the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec.
Every year as part of the income tax assistance program, community organizations hold federal and Québec income tax return preparation sessions, where volunteers complete tax returns for thousands of eligible individuals, so they can receive the benefits and tax credits they are entitled to.
For the past 22 years, BGC Dawson has offered this program to seniors 50 years of age and older. “This is a much needed service for low-income seniors” explains Marc Paradis, Seniors Program Coordinator at BGC Dawson. “Last year our faithful volunteer completed 74 tax returns for members of our community.” To be admissible for this service, your income must not exceed $35,000 for a person living along or $45,000 for a couple living in the same household.
“We adapted our process to respect COVID-19 protocols and to ensure the safety of everyone” comments Mr. Paradis. “Rather than sitting one-on-one with a volunteer to complete the return, clients simply drop off all of their documents at their designated appointment time.” It is important to remember to bring your RL slips and information slips, your receipts, your notice of assessment for the previous year and any other relevant documents at your scheduled appointment time. Volunteers with the tax clinic will need this information to complete your federal and Québec income tax returns.
Once the tax forms have been completed and submitted electronically, clients will receive a call to schedule a time to pick up their forms. A suggested donation for this service is $15 for members of the community. Space is limited with registration opening on February 1, 2022. To register for an appointment for the 2022 BGC Dawson Tax Clinic, call 514-767-9967 ext. 229. “It’s really a smooth process from start to finish” concludes Marc.
