FILE YOUR INCOME TAX FOR FREE

Free Income Tax Clinic, Financial Literacy and Women Empowerment Programs through creative clubs formation are the key programs and services WCCI delivers in the community with the support of its strategic partners.

“Tax filing is an essential part of empowering individuals and an opportunity to open other doors to improve financial well-being through accessing income boosting tax credits and benefit programs for eligible households.” “If tax returns are not completed, there may be huge gaps in resources and a big detriment to the individual.”

“ Trained volunteers with the Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) will help you navigate the tax system and accurately file your return up to 10 years retroactively. Filing on time keeps you from missing out on benefits such as Canada Child Benefit (CCB), Goods and Services Tax Credit (GSTC), or Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)”.

Through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, community organizations host free tax clinics where volunteers do tax returns for eligible people.

Image of the venue for WCCI’s free income tax clinic in Brampton, at The Honorable William G.Davis Centre for Families/ Catholic Family Services of Peel-Dufferin(CFSPD).

About Free Income Tax Clinic
A free income tax clinic is a place where eligible people can go to get their income tax returns done for free. Free tax clinics are hosted by community organizations across Canada, through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program(CVITP). See Free Tax Clinics at Canada.ca

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) hosts a number of partnered free income tax clinics throughout the year. These income tax clinics offer different services, including tax filing for current and previous years. To find a free CRA-partnered income tax clinic near you, visit

visit https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/community-volunteer-income-tax-program/need-a-hand-complete-your-tax-return.html

There are different types of free tax clinics.

  • Walk-in: you show up during advertised hours and a volunteer will do your tax return for you on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • By appointment: you make an appointment to see a volunteer at a time that suits you.
  • Drop-off and pick-up: you show up during advertised hours and drop off your documents for a volunteer to do your return at a later time. You have to prove your identity when you pick up your return and documents.

Eligibilty Criteria

To be eligible for free income tax filing, your income must satisfy any of the following conditions;

  • $35,000 for a single person who has no dependents
  • $45,000 for a single parent and 1 child plus $2500 per additional dependent
  • $45,000 for a couple plus $2,500 per dependent

The eligibility criteria to qualify for free tax clinic services may vary from province to province. Be sure to contact the tax clinic in your area for further information. The free income tax clinic is for people with simple tax situation.

Simple tax situation

In general, your tax situation is simple if you have no income or if your income comes from these sources:

  • employment
  • pension
  • benefits such as Canada Pension Plan, disability, employment insurance, social assistance
  • registered retirement savings plans (RRSP’s)
  • support payments
  • scholarships, fellowships, bursaries or grants
  • interest (under $1,000)

Your tax situation is not simple if you:

  • are self-employed or have employment expenses
  • have business or rental income and expenses
  • have capital gains or losses
  • filed for bankruptcy
  • are completing a tax return for a deceased person

Proof of identity

You need two pieces of your government approved current photo-identity cards to prove your identity.

WCCI does not provide free tax clinic alone, it partners with other community organizations; which provide support in the form of space, planning, volunteer recruitment and training, computer hardware and preparation, appointment scheduling/cancelling & rescheduling. These organizations may print and supply Taxpayers’ Authorization Forms TIS60 (08), to complement the quantity provided by the CVITP/CRA. The CVITP also provides some free laptops upon request and the free tax-filing software-U-file /Net-file. Every volunteer in the CVITP program is usually screened by E-File section of the CRA within 30day, and approved and given an E-file number to qualify to e-file a tax return and/or participate at the tax clinic.

The CVITP is a partnership between the Canada Revenue Agency: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html and community organizations, such as WCCI and its partner organizations. These community organizations host free tax clinics where they recruit and train volunteers to prepare income tax and benefit returns for eligible individuals who have a modest income and a simple tax situation.

In 2018 WCCI and its partners hosted tax clinics and completed 277 tax returns and helped participants receive tax refunds, credits and other benefits that made impacts in their lives.

This would not be possible if it were not for the group of dedicated volunteers. Last year, these volunteers completed over 200 tax returns within 60 days. To make this possible, it takes up to 15 volunteers working from March 5 until the first week of May. The volunteers complete extensive training which also includes specialized training on claiming tax credits and benefits.

Important facts

  • Income tax and benefit returns filed online must be prepared using a CRA-certified tax preparation software or web application. For a list of options, including free software, go to www.netfile.gc.ca/software.
  • Before filing online, make sure your information, including your address, is up-to-date.

To learn more, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/community-volunteer-income-tax-program/need-a-hand-complete-your-tax-return.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/community-volunteer-income-tax-program.html

https://creditcounsellingcanada.ca/community-volunteer-income-tax-program/