About the Program
The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) is a collaboration between the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and community organizations, such as Kitsilano Neighbourhood House.
Volunteers complete and submit tax returns for Westside residents with a modest income and a simple tax situation, as outlined in the program criteria below.
How It Works
The Kits House Tax Clinics run during tax season in March & April each year. Book a Thursday appointment to drop your papers off in the Kits House lobby. A Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) tax preparation volunteer will contact you by phone to arrange a time to complete your tax return in the week following the drop-off of your papers.
Important Notes
Please Respect Our Volunteers & Staff
Please note that a volunteer — not a tax specialist or accountant — will be completing your tax return. Please respect our volunteers & staff.
Rudeness or disrespect toward volunteers or staff members will not be tolerated and may result in you being asked to make alternate arrangements to have your taxes prepared.
Tax Advice
Kits House tax prep volunteers are happy to complete your tax return, but they are not in a position to provide tax advice.
Tax advice is not a service offered through this program. If you need tax advice or have questions about a tax return you prepared (or had prepared by someone else), please visit the Contact page on the CRA website. Step 2 contains a list of contact numbers depending on your inquiry.
Submitting & Changes
Tax returns are uploaded electronically. Once submitted to the CRA, changes cannot be made by the tax prep volunteer. You would need to contact the CRA directly to request changes to a submitted return.
Privacy
Kits House does not keep any of your personal information once your tax return has been uploaded and your papers have been mailed back to you.
Details
What You Need to Do
- Contact the program if you would like to arrange to have your taxes prepared by one of our amazing tax prep volunteers.
- Scheduled drop-off times are set up in 5-minute time slots on Thursdays in March & April during tax season. A KNH volunteer will call you to book your drop-off time.
- Sort all of your papers and tally your receipts prior to drop-off.
- Place your tax papers in a Ziplock bag clearly labelled with your name and phone number. If we can’t read your phone number, we won’t be able to call you.
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Your tax papers will be mailed back to your home address once your taxes have been completed.
- A tax prep volunteer will call you at the number you provide to arrange a time to complete your tax return over the phone in the week following your drop-off.
Criteria for the Tax Program
Eligibility Criteria
- You are a resident living on the Westside of Vancouver and have a current KNH membership.
- Single person: up to $40,000
- Two people: up to $55,000
- Three people: up to $60,000 (add $2,500 for each additional child)
- Tax returns for the current year only, unless other arrangements are made
- Drop-off at Kits House on Thursday during your prearranged time
- Here is the link to the Criteria/Eligibility page on the CRA website
Returns That Do Not Qualify
- Self-employment income or employment expenses* (see Exception 1)
- Business income and expenses
- Rental income and expenses
- Interest income over $1,200
- Capital gains or losses
- Declared bankruptcy in the tax year (or the year before, if that return has not yet been filed)
- Deceased individual
- Foreign property (T1135)
- Foreign income** (see Exception 2)
Exception 1
Individuals who have a T4A slip (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) showing self-employed or business income in box 048 may be eligible to have their tax return completed through the CVITP if all of the following conditions are met:
- 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 registered
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.