SUNDRE - Volunteers with an affinity for crunching numbers and helping people are back at work filing simple tax returns.
For 13 years, the Community Volunteer Income Tax program, facilitated through Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society, has processed paperwork for residents with modest incomes and simple tax situations.
“I love numbers,” said Joan Harris, who enjoys volunteering as an opportunity to not only keep busy but also help out in the community.
Some residents are not mobile and are also on fixed incomes, so the initiative offers them a chance to file their tax returns without stress or hassle — or the cost involved in going to a tax preparation company, said Harris, who also sits on the society's board of directors.
“It’s a really good program,” she said.
This year, there are nine volunteers who stepped up to provide the service, said Renate de Bruijn, GNP’s community outreach coordinator.
There are alongside some new faces several ladies who have been enthusiastically involved for years, de Bruijn said when contacted last week.
“They responded to our call for volunteers,” she said, explaining they have also all successfully completed a Canada Revenue Agency approval process.
The program started on March 2, and as of last Thursday, the volunteers had already processed more than 70 tax returns, she said.
Last year, 271 returns were processed during the regular tax season from March to April, with a further 27 taken care of post season, from May to December, she said.
“It’s really important,” she said about the initiative, which continues until April 30.
“There is definitely an increase in numbers over the years and we are anticipating a large increase this year.”
The only change to the program this year stems from the recently reduced hours at GNP’s office, located on the west side of the Sundre Community Centre, a decision that was made by the board of directors as a result of funding cuts.
Although previously open on Mondays, the doors are now open only Tuesday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Don’t bring it in on Monday!” she said, as a reminder to residents who might have become accustomed to former office hours.
While funding remains in place for this fiscal year to continue offering the program, there remains a level of uncertainty moving forward, she said.
“We’re still providing the same services, just a day shorter. (But) what’s coming next year, who knows,” she said.
The society’s board of directors will ultimately determine whether programs are cut or continue, she said.
Meanwhile, people with modest incomes and simple tax situations can drop off their T-4 slips during the new hours and have their returns processed free of charge, she said.
“It’s a free tax clinic. People don’t have to pay to have their taxes done.”
General eligibility guidelines are for families with one income earner generating annual revenue of $35,000 or less, or couples earning a combined income of $45,000 or less. Beyond that, the amount increases by $2,500 for each additional person earning an income under one family, so a family with three income earners bringing in $47,500 would qualify for the program, she said.
Although bringing in a T-4 slip certainly facilitates and streamlines the process, Harris said volunteers are able to dig up the information through the CRA for anyone who has lost the document. However, she added that anyone without their tax slip must be present to provide certain personal details to confirm their identity.
However, the volunteers do not handle more complicated tax situations, including bankruptcies, deaths, self-employed individuals with expenses, business matters, or reporting capital gains or losses, said de Bruijn.
“But we do have people out in the Sundre area that will do those situations that we can refer them to,” she added.
Anyone who would like to learn more can call GNP with any questions at 403-638-1011.
