Surinderpal Rathor’s team of volunteers is ready to offer services to people who need help with their income tax returns beginning March 8.
“Our mission is not to take away from businesses that are doing income tax returns ,” said Rathor, who has been volunteering with the program for more than 40 years. “We are here to help people who cannot afford to pay for the services.”
Eligibility for the free service falls under the following total income guideline.
The cap for a single person is $30,000, for a couple is $40,000, plus an additional amount of $2,500 for each child. For one adult with one child, $35,000 income limit is the cap.
However, volunteers can make exceptions, said Rathor, noting for example if someone made more money than the cap but gets laid off.
There are four different ways people can access the program — appointments, walk-ins, dropping of papers at the Seniors Activity Centre or Women’s Contact Society during business hours or calling Rathor at 250-392-0909, beginning March 8.
“We don’t do returns at the sittings, we just collect information, which takes about two minutes,” said Rathor.
He suggested people can obtain a print out of all the prescriptions they’ve purchased from a pharmacy rather than bringing in several receipts.
He also reminded people with medical travel costs they will need to know the dates, mileage, doctor’s name, any parking and hotel expenses, etc.
“They don’t need meal receipts because there is a per diem,” he added.
For people claiming disability credit they must have 12 months of being disabled and have a doctor’s form to verify their eligibility.
Returns for deceased persons or people who have claimed bankruptcy are files the volunteers cannot process, he added.
Sittings have been scheduled at various places, although priority will go to residents, said Rathor.
He also encouraged non-residents not to rush for the first part of the sittings.
The sittings are on March 8 at Seniors Village from 10 to 11:30 a.m., March 10 at the Seniors Activity Centre from 10 to 11:30 a.m., March 15 at Sunset Manor, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., March 17 at Glen Arbor from 10 to 11:30 a.m., March 22 at the Immigration and Multicultural Society from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and March 24 at the Salvation Army from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
“Originally our program was designed for seniors, students, newcomers and disabled people, but now it’s for all people who need help and cannot do the returns themselves,” Rathor said.
