Need help in completing and filing your income tax return? If yours is a simple return and you have an annual net income amounts to $25,000 for a single person or $32,000 for a couple plus $2,000 for each child in the family, free and confidential assistance is available.
Volunteers from every walk of life stepped forward to join the Volunteer Income Tax (return) Program movement which over the years grew and proliferated throughout many communities in each Canadian province, until about half a million families and individuals seek the help of around 17,000 volunteers annually.
In British Columbia, a total of 2,644 volunteers prepared over 85,000 returns last year, in order to enable eligible individuals to file their returns and receive the various benefits they may be entitled to, as a result.
It was in 2003 that the Nakusp area CVITP was established. A small number of local citizens made the annual mid-winter trek to Revelstoke to undertake the mandatory training program, for the first few years. However, as word spread concerning the value of this free service to our local citizenry coupled with the commitment of our company of well informed volunteers, Canada Revenue Agency made the stellar decision to instead, send a trainer to borrowed quarters at Nakusp’s Robertson United Church hall. This, in order to facilitate the mandatory training workshop and updating opportunity, which takes place each February.
Generally, in excess of 100 tax packages, an impressive number considering our small population, are prepared annually by the CVITP local team.
A common but mistaken perception which some persons have, is that if one’s income is too low to involve having to pay taxes, that completing a return is not necessary. It is true that filing one’s return if taxes will not be owing, may not be mandatory. However, be sure to take into consideration that unless one’s return is filed annually and preferably by April 30, that certain financial benefits which may be due to the applicants such as Tax Credits, the Old Age Pension or Seniors’ Supplements, reduced medical plan premiums, low-income wage earner or social assistance, child and disability benefits among others, will not be received. Proof of your income for any given year, is kept track of by CRA, in order to validate one’s eligibility.
As the coordinator of our CVITP, I will be pleased to make referrals to the next available preparer who serves various communities including New Denver thruough to Edgewood. Return packages can be left for pickup and processing each Wednesday during the Seniors’ coffee hour, which takes place from 10-11 a.m. at the Nakusp Seniors Hall, or arrangements can be made directly with the volunteer of your own choice. For more information call 250-265-0075.