March 3, 2025

BDFRC Free Income Tax Clinic

Do you need help filing your taxes? We are here to help!

Do you need help filing your taxes? We are here to help!

From March 3 until April 30, we are offering FREE Income Clinics to those in need of help.

In order to be eligible for the CVITP, individuals must have a modest income and a simple tax situation.

This may include:

  • adults 65 years and older
  • housing-insecure individuals
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • modest-income individuals
  • newcomers
  • persons with disabilities
  • students and youth

 

Modest Income

The following table provides a guideline to determine what is considered a modest income. In general, a modest income means the total family income is less than or equal to the amount shown in the chart below,based on the size of the family.

Suggested income levels Suggested  income levels

 Family size

 Total family income

 1 person

 $35,000

 2 people

 $45,000

 3 people

 $47,500

 4 people

 $50,000

 5 people

 $52,500

 More than 5 people

 $52,500, plus $2,500 for each additional person

Family size includes an individual, or a couple, and their dependants.

Simple tax situation

In general, a tax situation is simple if an individual has no income or if their income comes from these sources:

  • employment
  • pension
  • benefits, such as the Canada     Pension Plan, Old Age Security, disability insurance, employment     insurance, and social assistance
  • Registered Retirement Savings     Plans (RRSPs)
  • scholarships, fellowships,     bursaries, or grants
  • interest (under $1,000)

The CVITP does not provide training or support for complex tax situations. Volunteers should not complete returns with the following:

  • self-employment income or     employment expenses * (see Exception 1)
  • business income and expenses
  • rental income and expenses
  • interest income over $1,000
  • capital gains or losses
  • bankruptcy in the tax year (or     the year before, if that return has not yet been filed)
  • deceased person
  • foreign property (T1135)
  • foreign income ** (see Exception     2)

*Exception 1

Individuals who have a T4A slip, Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity,and Other Income, that shows self-employed or business in box 048 may be eligible to have their tax return completed through the CVITP if all of the following conditions are met:

  • the total income in box 048 is     under $1,000
  • no expenses are claimed
  • the individual is not registered     as a GST/HST registrant and is not required to be one

**Exception 2:

Individuals who receive U.S. Social Security benefits are eligible to have their tax return completed through the CVITP. Any other type of foreign income (including a foreign pension) would not be considered a simple tax situation.

In order to be eligible for the CVITP, individuals must have a modest income and a simple tax situation.

This may include:

  • adults 65 years and older
  • housing-insecure individuals
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • modest-income individuals
  • newcomers
  • persons with disabilities
  • students and youth

 

Modest Income

The following table provides a guideline to determine what is considered a modest income. In general, a modest income means the total family income is less than or equal to the amount shown in the chart below,based on the size of the family.

Suggested income levels Suggested  income levels

 Family size

 Total family income

 1 person

 $35,000

 2 people

 $45,000

 3 people

 $47,500

 4 people

 $50,000

 5 people

 $52,500

 More than 5 people

 $52,500, plus $2,500 for each additional person

Family size includes an individual, or a couple, and their dependants.

Note

Community organizations can adjust the total family income for their clients based on the local economic environment, the population they serve, and their resources. Organizations may also create additional criteria for the community they serve. If a host organization chooses to modify the family income amounts for their tax clinic, they should include details when posting clinic information on Canada.ca. 

Simple tax situation

In general, a tax situation is simple if an individual has no income or if their income comes from these sources:

  • employment
  • pension
  • benefits, such as the Canada     Pension Plan, Old Age Security, disability insurance, employment     insurance, and social assistance
  • Registered Retirement Savings     Plans (RRSPs)
  • scholarships, fellowships,     bursaries, or grants
  • interest (under $1,000)

The CVITP does not provide training or support for complex tax situations. Volunteers should not complete returns with the following:

  • self-employment income or     employment expenses * (see Exception 1)
  • business income and expenses
  • rental income and expenses
  • interest income over $1,000
  • capital gains or losses
  • bankruptcy in the tax year (or     the year before, if that return has not yet been filed)
  • deceased person
  • foreign property (T1135)
  • foreign income ** (see Exception     2)

*Exception 1

Individuals who have a T4A slip, Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity,and Other Income, that shows self-employed or business in box 048 may be eligible to have their tax return completed through the CVITP if all of the following conditions are met:

  • the total income in box 048 is     under $1,000
  • no expenses are claimed
  • the individual is not registered     as a GST/HST registrant and is not required to be one

**Exception 2:

Individuals who receive U.S. Social Security benefits are eligible to have their tax return completed through the CVITP. Any other type of foreign income (including a foreign pension) would not be considered a simple tax situation.

PLEASE NOTE: MESSAGES LEFT ON THE ANSWERING MACHINE REGARDING INCOME TAX CLINICS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

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