Fact sheet

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Tax Assistance Services

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program

In 1997, over 15,000 volunteers helped more than 268,000 taxfilers prepare their income tax returns.

Through its tax services offices across the country, Revenue Canada provides special training sessions to interested volunteers on how to complete basic income tax returns. These volunteers then help many people, including low-income earners, seniors, students, and new Canadians.

Revenue Canada also runs a joint volunteer program with the ministère du Revenu du Québec to make it easier for taxfilers in Quebec to complete their two tax returns (federal and provincial).

People who want to become volunteers or who need help from a volunteer should contact their tax services offices. Addresses and telephone numbers for these offices are listed under "Revenue Canada" in the Government of Canada section of telephone books.

Increased accessibility

Revenue Canada clients can call or visit their tax services offices Monday to Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except holidays). From February 23 to April 30, telephone lines stay open until 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. This makes it more convenient for clients to get the help they need to file their tax returns.

Between February and May, Revenue Canada opens temporary tax clinics in shopping centres, storefront offices, and in Government of Canada InfoCentre offices across Canada, mostly in communities where there are no Revenue Canada offices. The clinics are open from one day to a few weeks to help people who would not otherwise be able to get personal service.

In addition, Revenue Canada clients can visit any Government of Canada InfoCentre to get copies of income tax returns and various publications, get general information, drop off income tax returns and payments, and get help if their income tax refund cheque is lost, stolen, or destroyed.

Problem Resolution Program

Those people who cannot resolve a tax problem through the Department's regular enquiries service have another option-they can contact their Problem Resolution Program co-ordinator at the nearest tax services office.

Internet

Clients can get electronic copies or make requests for forms and publications, including the income tax package for their province, through the Internet. Revenue Canada's Internet address is: www.rc.gc.ca.

Revenue Canada will not accept or reply to requests or questions on the Internet because of security and confidentiality requirements. To get information, clients can contact any tax services office. Telephone numbers and addresses are listed under "Revenue Canada" in the Government of Canada section of telephone books, and under "Revenue Canada Offices and Telephone Listings" at the Department's Internet site.

T.I.P.S.

Revenue Canada offers an informative and easy-to-use computerized telephone service. Clients can call the Tax Information Phone Service, T.I.P.S., to get both general and personal tax information.

Here are the T.I.P.S. services:

• T.I.P.S. - Telerefund - From February to September, clients can get information on the status of their 1997 tax refunds.
  
  
• T.I.P.S. - GST/HST credit - Clients can find out if they are eligible for a goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit and the date they can expect to receive their cheques. This service is available for two weeks before and three weeks after Revenue Canada mails each GST/HST credit cheque.
  
  
• T.I.P.S. - RRSP - Clients can find out both the amount of registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contributions they can deduct for 1997 and any unclaimed RRSP contributions available to deduct on their 1997 returns. This service is available from mid-September to the end of April.
  
  
• T.I.P.S. - Bulletin Board - Clients can get information such as the current interest rate Revenue Canada is using, instalment due dates, and RRSP contribution deadlines. This service is available year-round.
  
  
• T.I.P.S. - Info-Tax - From mid-January to the end of June, clients can hear recorded messages on several tax topics, such as child-care expenses and the pension income amount.

For Telerefund, GST/HST credit, and RRSP information, clients have to give their social insurance number, month and year of birth, and the total income they reported on line 150 of their tax return. If clients call before May 1, 1998, they have to give the amount they entered on line 150 of their 1996 returns. If they call after April 30, 1998, they have to give the amount from line 150 of their 1997 return.

Clients do not have to give personal identification information to access T.I.P.S. - Bulletin Board or T.I.P.S. - Info-Tax.

T.I.P.S. Bulletin Board and Info-Tax services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The other services are available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays (local time).

T.I.P.S. telephone numbers are listed under "Revenue Canada" in the Government of Canada section of telephone books.

Help for clients who are blind or visually impaired

Most documents on filing personal income tax returns are available in alternative formats: braille, large print, audio cassette, and computer diskettes that can be used with voice synthesizers. Returns and schedules, guides, supplementary guides, and pamphlets are available in these formats. The Department can also produce other information, such as notices and correspondence, in alternative format on request. The Department accepts returns and correspondence in braille, large print, and on computer diskette.

To discuss alternative-format needs and to order publications, clients can call 1-800-267-1267, toll free, weekdays between 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

Help may also be available through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. More information about this program is in the first section of this fact sheet.

Help for clients who are deaf or hard of hearing

Clients who use a teletypewriter (TTY) can call the Department's general enquiries TTY line, toll free, at 1-800-665-0354. A TTY transmits typewritten messages over a telephone line. Clients cannot use a regular telephone to speak to someone on this line.

Bilingual TTY service is available year-round, Monday to Friday (except statutory holidays). In British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories, clients can call between 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Central Time). In Newfoundland, clients can call between 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Atlantic Time). In all other locations, clients can call between 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (local time). This service is also available in the evening, Monday to Thursday, from February 23 to April 30.

When advised in advance, Revenue Canada can arrange to have a sign-language interpreter attend an interview or meeting. Help may also be available through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.

Date modified:

1998-01-01