Article – Make a difference in your community

Make a difference in your community

Understanding your rights and obligations and the benefits of filing an income tax and benefit return is an important aspect of financial literacy. Did you know there could be people in your community who are missing out on important tax credits and benefits that they may be entitled to because they are not filing an income tax and benefit return?

Community organizations, their volunteers, and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) have been working together for 45 years to help eligible individuals with modest income and a simple tax situation prepare their income tax and benefit returns for free at tax preparation clinics. Last year, over 2,300 organizations and their 17,000 volunteers supported the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). Together, they filed over 600,000 tax returns for people in their community.

If you are a local community centre, seniors association, religious organization, cultural club, or any other community-based association, you can help by hosting a tax clinic and having your members volunteer with the CVITP. This free program helps many individuals such as social assistance recipients, seniors, students, newcomers to Canada, and persons with a disability.

For more information about the CVITP, to find out how to become a volunteer or to find a participating community organization in your area, go to www.cra.gc.ca/volunteer or call the CRA at 1–800–959–8281.

Date modified:

2016-02-18