It’s tax season, and Lift Community Services is reminding community members of its free tax clinic at the Community Resource Centre (CRC), hosted through the federal community volunteer income tax program.
According to a media release from Lift, while tax support is available through the CRC year-round, it always sees increased demand closer to the April 30 tax filing cut-off date.
“This is the ninth year we’ve participated in the community volunteer income tax program,” stated Jessica Colasanto, Lift’s community support manager. “We help complete and file over 400 tax returns for qathet community members each year.”
The release stated that the community volunteer income tax program is a federal program. Community organizations such as Lift participate by hosting free tax clinics where volunteers complete income tax and benefit returns for moderate income individuals with simple tax situations. The purpose of the program is to help ensure moderate-income earners receive or continue to receive the tax benefits and credits they are entitled to receive.
“Filing taxes is not very accessible, and can be a really stressful process to navigate, especially for people with any sort of literacy or technological barriers,” stated Colasanto. “Our volunteers are amazing at making sure that our community members receive the benefits and credits to which they are entitled, which makes a huge difference to people with lower incomes.”
The release stated that demand for the service grows year to year, and this year, thanks to a few new volunteers, Lift is adding an outreach location at the Gerry Gray Place to support seniors in completing their taxes.
Eligibility for the free tax clinic is based on household income level, as determined by the Canada Revenue Agency, but anyone who is eligible is welcome to access the clinic at the CRC. The clinic is located at 4752 Joyce Avenue, and is available on a walk-in basis from Monday to Thursday from 12 to 4 pm, or by appointment.
For more information, call the CRC at 604.485.0992.
