Submitted by Jace Weir
Several volunteer-run tax clinics were shut down this year due to the corona virus, which made it very difficult for many who rely on this annual service to get their taxes done. Fortunately, for clients of The Meeting Place, strict protocols were put in place immediately following the Provincial lock-down order which closed all municipally operated or owned buildings, including The Meeting Place.
This new protocol, which allowed tax processing to commence safely, was managed by our coordinator, Jennifer Cuffe, and volunteers such as Julie Rouse and members of the Food Bank committee. Former clients of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) were contacted by Jennifer, and asked to bring their tax information to TMP on Tuesday afternoons, when the Food Bank was open.
Tax info was retrieved in the parking lot by a volunteer, so clients did not even need to leave their cars, and placed in plastic bags to minimize any possibility of spreading the virus. Jace Weir, tax preparer, was then able to pick up those tax forms left each week and complete the process at home.
Over 70 tax returns have been processed to-date, but there may still be some folks who haven’t had their 2019 taxes done yet. Normally, taxes should be completed on or before April 30th, but due to the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in this year, the government changed the due date for tax processing to June 1st, and the payment deadline to September 1st. Normally, if you owe income tax money to the government, you pay a penalty, plus interest, if you don’t meet the deadline. This year, you effectively have until September 1st to get your taxes processed, and pay any amount owing.
Most clients who use the CVITP do not owe any taxes, and many are getting a refund, so if you are expecting a refund, the sooner you get your taxes done, the sooner you will receive your refund. In addition, you must have your tax return processed in order to receive many of the benefits, including GST/HST credits, the Environmental Tax credit and the Trillium Benefit, not to mention the Child Tax Benefit for parents with dependent children.
So, we’re on summer hours now, and Jennifer Cuffe is busy with her seasonal work, so if you want your taxes done this year, so you won’t lose your government benefits, please contact Jace Weir directly at 519-596-2057, or by email, jacemweir@gmail.com. I’ll arrange with you to either drop off your tax info, or do it over the phone, or by email, and you won’t lose out on your benefits.
