The West End Seniors’ Network offers older adults assistance with filing their income tax returns. We host weekly clinics during the tax season (March and April) in addition to monthly clinics in the off-season (May through February). The returns are filed electronically for free (eligibility criteria apply) by trained and authorized volunteers through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP).
COVID-19 Update: For the 2020 tax season, WESN will be offering drop-off clinics. There are no face-to-face interactions with volunteers. See below for information.
Tax Season Income Tax Clinics
If you require assistance with filing your 2020 income tax return, we offer drop-off clinics from March 1 to April 30.
If you meet the eligibility criteria of having a simple tax situation as outlined below, please call 604-669-5051 or email programs@wesn.ca to set-up a time to visit Barclay Manor (1447 Barclay Street) to:
- Drop off your tax documents,
- Show 1 piece of government-issued ID, and
- Complete an intake form.
Once we receive your documents and intake form, WESN will contact a volunteer. The volunteer will pick up your materials from Barclay Manor to file your return from their home. When the volunteer is finished, they will return the documents to Barclay Manor. We will then call and arrange for you to come to Barclay Manor to sign Form TIS60 (CVITP Taxpayer Authorization) and to pick up your documents. The estimated turn-around time is 2 weeks.
If you would like to print out the intake form and complete it ahead of time to bring with you when you drop off your documents, you can download it:
To download this form, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don’t have this program, you can get it here: http://www.adobe.com/
Off-Season Monthly Appointments
From May through February, volunteers are available on a monthly basis for appointments to assist older adults who have missed the current year’s tax filing deadline. Please check the WESN newsletter to see when a volunteer is available.
If You Are Unable To Drop Off Your Tax Documents At Barclay Manor
If you are unable to drop off your tax documents to Barclay Manor because of COVID-19 or other circumstances, volunteers are available to hold a session with you over the phone or Zoom. Please call 604-669-5051 or email programs@wesn.ca to request this service.
Eligibility Criteria
Family size and total family income is under:
- 1 person – $35,000
- 2 persons – $45,000
- 3 persons – $47,500
- 4 persons – $50,000
- 5 persons – $52,500
- More than 5 persons – $52,500 plus $2,500 for each additional person
Simple tax situation:
In general, your tax situation is simple if you have no income or if your income comes from any of these sources:
- Employment
- Pension
- Benefits such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), disability insurance, employment insurance, and social assistance
- Registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs)
- 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 (*see exception)
- Have business income and expenses
- Have rental income and expenses
- Have interest income over $1,000
- Have capital gains or losses
- Filed for bankruptcy in the tax year (or the year before, if that return has not yet been filed)
- Are completing a tax return for a deceased person
- Have foreign income or property (T1135)
*Exception: Individuals who have a T4A (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) that shows self-employed or business in box 048 may be eligible to have their return completed through the CVITP if all of the following conditions are met:
- The total income in box 048 is under $1,000
- No expenses are claimed
- The individual is not registered as a GST/HST registrant and is not required to be one
Disclaimers
Please respect that the individuals who are filing income tax returns through this service are volunteers who have been trained to file returns electronically. They are not Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) staff or representatives, nor are they necessarily accountants. If there are any issues or errors, it is the responsibility of the client to take or make corrective measures.
All volunteers have been screened and have up-to-date criminal record checks. All information is kept confidential and secure.
Last Updated: 16-Feb-2021