Community Volunteer Income Tax Program gearing up within PMH region
The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) is a free service to help low-income individuals with simple tax situations complete and file their income tax and benefit return. Last year in the Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region, volunteers helped process 4,350 tax returns and the total benefits and refunds to residents who used CVITP to complete their taxes was over $10 million. The average return to an individual client was around $3,500. In Brandon, 14 volunteers helped clients with their returns, and in the rural areas, there were 12 volunteers who gave of their time.
CVITP is a collaboration between community organizations and the Canada Revenue Agency. Through this program, community organizations such as PMH bring together volunteers who prepare income tax returns for free. This program helps ensure that seniors, newcomers, students, and all low-income residents maintain access to all the benefits to which they are entitled. This includes GST refunds, Canada Child benefit, MB Rent assist, Disability Tax credits, Pharmacare deductibles and more.
You can get your income tax done FREE through this program if you fall under one of the categories:
• One person with income under $35,000/ *Two persons with income under $45,000
• *Three persons with income under $47,500 / *Each additional dependent add $2,500
Brandon program information
If you qualify for this program, the Brandon drop-off site is located at 7th Street Health Access Centre, 20-7th Street. Drop-offs at 7th Street starts February 23 and runs until October 30, Mon.-Fri., from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The Brandon Minor Injury and Illness Clinic is offering an appointment service on Mondays from March 2 to April 27. Call (204) 578-2590 to book an appointment.
Outside of Brandon, several PMH sites are accepting drop-offs starting March 2. Partner sites have varying times, so for a current listing of times and dates, please visit https://www.prairiemountainhealth.ca/cvitp or check us out on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram @PrairieMtHealth.
Participants are asked to bring their applicable forms (including T3, T4, T5, T5007) along with any receipts for daycare expenses, charitable donations, rent, tuition and medical expenses (not paid by an insurance company).
If you have questions regarding the Community Income Tax Volunteer Program, cannot reach/access the sites, or would be interested in volunteering or having the program come to your community, email [email protected] or call the 7th Street Health Access Centre at 204-578-4800.
The complete schedule is available on the website here.