Community Volunteer Income Tax Program
Through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, community organisations host free tax clinics where volunteers file tax returns for eligible people.
Tax Program Eligibility
Are you eligible for this program? You may be eligible for help if you have:
- a modest income, and
- a simple tax situation.
Modest Income
In general, your income is modest if your total family income is less than the amount shown in the chart below, based on the size of your family.
| Family size | Total family income is under… |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $40,000 |
| 2 persons | $55,000 |
| 3 persons | $60,000 |
| 4 persons | $65,000 |
| 5 persons | $70,000 |
| More than 5 persons | $70,000 plus $5,000 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 (including Canada Pension Plan, 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
- Have business or rental income and expenses
- 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
Request Our Tax Services
The Portage Learning and Literacy Centre offers the following ways of getting your taxes filed for free:
In-person Tax Service
You can get in-person tax help from one of our volunteers. Call our front desk and ask for help with your taxes. We will schedule an appointment that works for you. One of our volunteers will do your tax return during the appointment.
Drop-off Tax Service
We are able to do your taxes without you present; we call this our drop-off tax service. The instructions are simple, you need to:
- Complete the Drop-off Tax Service Information Sheet.
- Give the front desk staff the information sheet and your tax documents.
- Collect your tax return and tax documents once we are finished with them.
Identity Verification Required
You must prove your identity when you pick up your tax return and documents.