Revenue Canada's Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, in which volunteers complete income tax returns for low-income residents, is running full tilt now until April 28.
This year, the Olds program has six volunteers, including a new coordinator – Carole Johnson. She has served as a volunteer in the program for about six years.
Under the program, sponsored by the Town of Olds, volunteers complete income tax returns for low-income residents, provided those returns are very simple – for example, no self-employment income, no capital gains, no rental income, and not a huge amount of bank interest either.
Johnson says “low-income” means individuals shouldn't make more than $30,000 per year and couples shouldn't make more than $40,000.
Walk-in service is available at the Royal Canadian Legion in Olds Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
People can also drop off all the information for their taxes at a new location this year – the Olds Municipal Library – Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
The town office is no longer accepting dropped-off tax information.
A service is also available for shut-ins (people who can't get out to the legion or drop off their tax information at the library). In order to obtain that service, call Richard at 403-556-2450 or Carole at 403-556-6128 to arrange an appointment.
Those who plan to make use of the community volunteer income tax program are asked to please make sure they provide photo ID.
Johnson says clients who utilize the service in Olds come from a pretty wide area.
“We have people come in from Trochu and Didsbury and Bowden and Sundre,” she says. “Although there are a few volunteers in those communities, some of them end up here, so we don't turn them away.”
The six volunteers helping out this year is an average figure. Johnson says they've had as few as four and as many as seven or more. This year, there are two new volunteers.
It is a volunteer program. None of those involved get paid.
“We pay for our own gas and paper and printer cartridges and that sort of thing,” Johnson says.
Most of the clients who make use of the program are seniors, but it's available to any low-income people, as long as their returns are simple and straightforward to complete.
Johnson is not an accountant, although one member of the team is.
“My dad taught me to do income tax as soon as I got my first job and so I've always done mine and my family's,” she says. “The tax software just makes our job so much easier. It's amazing. We do it on the computer.
“We have online training – we have webinars (online seminars) and lots and lots of information. There's a dedicated phone line for us to phone -- like a help line – if we get stuck with something.
“And then of course, there's Canada Revenue Agency's website, with just endless information,” she adds.
Johnson says she volunteers in the program for a simple reason.
“It's my way of giving back,” she says. “It's a skill I'm lucky enough to have and it's something I can do to help and meet some really neat people.”
Johnson says over the years, she's made some good friends and has followed up with some after doing their returns.
“You know, we see them in the grocery store or something; we say, ‘hi, how are you doing?' We end up going for coffee with them.”
"It's my way of giving back. It's a skill I'm lucky enough to have and it's something I can do to help and meet some really neat people."CAROLE JOHNSONCOORDINATORCOMMUNITY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX PROGRAM
