SUNDRE — With a few minor pandemic-related modifications, the Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society launched earlier this month its annual Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
The service, which is offered free of charge, is available to people with simple tax returns who earn modest incomes. Those with more complex tax situations such as self-employment income, business or rental income and expenses, capital gains or losses, bankruptcy, or handling the affairs of a deceased loved one, are not eligible.
When the society’s community outreach coordinator, Renate de Bruijn, was contacted March 3, she said tax forms were already slowly but surely starting to trickle in.
But as with everything else, the COVID-19 health crisis has somewhat hampered the process and slowed things down a bit. However, despite the additional protocols including quarantining for three days the forms people drop off at the office, roughly a dozen volunteers remain willing and able to deliver the service, which on average provides assistance to more than 200 people.
“There are a few changes because of COVID, but it’s minimal,” de Bruijn said.
Last March, when the program was already well underway as the pandemic began to unfold, forcing a review and update of procedures, volunteers still filed about as many T-4 slips as any other year, she said.
They must all meet suitability screening criteria before proceeding, while the Canada Revenue Agency provides tax software for the volunteers to process the returns.
People who are eligible are welcome to stop by the society’s office — located north of 2nd Ave. NW across the street from the Sundre Arena on the west side of the Sundre Community Centre building through the shared double door entrance with the Sundre Daycare Centre — to pick up some paperwork including a client information and authorization form that must be submitted with the T-4 slips.
Once filled out, the forms can be dropped off at the office, which is open Tuesday to Thursday.
“They don’t have to call for an appointment,” she said.
There is also a pickup box available in the double door entrance, which is open Mondays and Fridays as well, and forms can during those days be slipped under the door to the GNP office, she said.
“Follow the yellow arrow," she said.
Additionally, forms were brought to the Sundre Seniors Supportive Living centre so residents there don’t have to leave the lodge to pick them up, she said.
Among the other changes, aside from quarantining forms for 72 hours, is reduced interaction with the volunteers — who upon request used to take some time to sit with anyone who had any questions — to minimize contact.
However, a plastic shield has been set up in one of the society’s floating offices so people can still ask to make arrangements to meet in person if necessary, she said.
“Most of our volunteers are seniors, we have to protect them too," she said.
A new service is also being offered this year to accommodate individuals who are self-isolating, immunocompromised, or who have mobility issues and are unable to visit the office, she said, emphasizing this option is specifically for those who legitimately require the option. People who are able should still drop by the office in person to pick up and drop off the forms, she said.
“We only provide the service for shut-ins who can’t come into the office," she said.
Anyone who has questions about whether they might qualify is encouraged to call the office at 403-638-1011, or stop by in person during regular hours.
