Resources
Handouts, slides, and time-stamps
Reaching Out: Improving the Canada Revenue Agency’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program
The CVITP provides people, who may otherwise have difficulty accessing income tax and benefit return filing services, with an opportunity to meet their filing obligations. Often, filing a return is required to gain access to, or continue to receive, the government credits and benefits designed to support them. This report illustrates that the CRA needs to take a broad, country-wide perspective of the CVITP, while also taking into consideration regional and other differences. Services offered and training provided to volunteers need to reflect the realities of the diverse regional, geographic, socio-economic, workforce, and vulnerable, sectors throughout Canada. Different areas of the country will have different primary needs from the CVITP. The CRA needs to address those needs, both in its actions through the CVITP, as well as in the training provided to CVITP volunteers and the support given to partner organizations.
Reaching Out: Improving the Canada Revenue Agency’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program
The position of Taxpayers’ Ombudsman (the Ombudsman) was created to support the government priorities of stronger democratic institutions, increased transparency within institutions, and fair treatment. As an independent and impartial officer, the Ombudsman handles complaints about the service of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsman hears first-hand the concerns of individuals, tax practitioners, and community support organizations. The Ombudsman visited with Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) partner organizations, volunteers, and the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) CVITP coordinators to learn more about the program and to understand the success stories and challenges they all experience. This report gives voice to what they have heard and provides recommendations on how to address the issues raised.
Virtual tax filing: Piloting a new way to file taxes for homebound seniors
WoodGreen Community Services, a large multi-service frontline social service agency in Toronto, provides free tax preparation services year-round to people living on low incomes. WoodGreen was interested in designing a novel solution to address the tax filing needs of homebound seniors who are unable to access WoodGreen’s free in-person tax-preparation services due to physical or mental health challenges. Specifically, WoodGreen wanted to know… How might we provide high-quality professional tax preparation services to all clients whether or not they are onsite? Prosper Canada and a leading commercial tax preparation software company partnered with WoodGreen Community Services in order to answer this design question.
English
Supported self-file process maps: English
French
Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) provincial snapshots
This infographics from the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) show information about the program by province for the tax filing year 2019, including number of returns filed and amount of refunds and benefits accessed. The information is presented in English and French. Les informations sont présentées en anglais et en français.
Virtual Tax Filing Pilot
In this presentation, Radya Chaerkaoui, Senior Product Manager and Innovation Catalyst, Intuit Canada, and Steve Vanderherberg, Director-Strategic Initiatives, WoodGreen Community Services, share insights from their Virtual Tax Filing Pilot program. This presentation is from the session 'Innovations in tax filing assistance', at the tax research symposium hosted by Prosper Canada and Intuit, February 7, 2019, in Ottawa.
Get Your Piece of the Money Pie
In this presentation, Althea Arsenault, Manager of Resource Development, NB Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, shares insights from the 'Get Your Piece of the Money Pie' tax clinic program. This program has operated since 2010, and currently files over 23,000 returns each year. This presentation is from the panel discussion 'National and regional strategies to boost tax filing', at the tax research symposium hosted by Prosper Canada and Intuit, February 7, 2019, in Ottawa.
Get Your Benefits! Diagnose and Treat Poverty
In this presentation, Noralou P. Roos, Co-Director, GetYourBenefits! and Professor, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, explains how access to tax filing and benefits is an important poverty intervention. This presentation is from the panel discussion 'National and regional strategies to boost tax filing', at the tax research symposium hosted by Prosper Canada and Intuit, February 7, 2019, in Ottawa.
Providing tax filing and benefits assistance to Indigenous communities
In this presentation, Simon Brascoupé, Vice President, Education and Training, AFOA Canada, explains the financial wellness framework and how tax filing presents opportunities for building financial wellness in Indigenous communities. This presentation is from the session 'Closing the tax-filing gap: Challenges and opportunities', at the tax research symposium hosted by Prosper Canada and Intuit, February 7, 2019, in Ottawa.
Supporting Organizations in the CVITP
In this presentation, Aaron Kozak, ESDC and Melissa Valencia, CRA, present findings from their research on the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). This includes recommendations for structural changes to the program, review of CVITP training, changes to registration, and more. This presentation is from the session 'Closing the tax-filing gap: Challenges and opportunities', at the tax research symposium hosted by Prosper Canada and Intuit, February 7, 2019, in Ottawa.
The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP)
In this presentation, Nancy McKenna, Manager, CVITP, Canada Revenue Agency, explains how the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) works. This includes eligibility requirements, the size of the program in 2017/2018, and partnerships. This presentation is from the session 'Closing the tax-filing gap: Challenges and opportunities', at the tax research symposium hosted by Prosper Canada and Intuit, February 7, 2019, in Ottawa.
English
Download in English
French
English
Income Taxes - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the benefits of tax filing?
What are tax deductions, benefits, credits, exemptions, and brackets?
- Income tax101: What are tax deductions, benefits, credits, exemptions, and brackets? (Tax toolkit)
- Common tax deductions
What tax deductions, benefits, and credits am I eligible for?
One of the easiest ways to discover what benefits you are eligible for is the Benefits Wayfinder and the Disability Benefits Compass.
Here is some additional reading on tax deductions, benefits, and credits:
- Tax credits and benefits for individuals
- Claiming deductions, credits and expenses
- Webinar – Every dollar counts – Get your benefits and credits! – Canada.ca
- Infographic – Benefit and credit payments
- Canadian Dental Care Plan
- Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)
What tax slips are used for different sources of income, and how do I read a tax slip?
What is a Notice of Assessment?
What is a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and how do I open one?
- Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) (OSC)
- What is the difference between TFSA’s, RRSPs, and FHSAs?)
What are the steps to get ready for tax filing?
How can I get free help to file my taxes?
- Free tax clinics
- Canadians on low income may be eligible for SimpleFile by Phone.
How can I receive my benefits via direct deposit?
What do I do if my tax return is reviewed or audited?
Are there any other resources I can use to learn about tax filing in Canada?
- Resources about tax filing in Canada (Tax toolkit)
- Taking care of your tax and benefit affairs can pay off (Canada Revenue Agency – CRA)
- Taxology podcasts
Tax Filing and Specific Populations
Indigenous People
- Taxes and benefits for Indigenous peoples
- Make sure you maximize the benefits you are entitled to if you are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis
- Considerations for Indigenous people at tax time (Tax toolkit)
People with Disabilities
- Webinar: Benefits and credits for persons with disabilities and their caregivers
- Demystifying the Disability Tax Credit
- The Canada Disability Benefit
Students
Tax Clinic Resources for Practitioners and Volunteers
The tax clinic resources below are from Prosper Canada and our community partner organizations. These are examples that may be adapted to your own community tax clinic needs. Whenever possible, we have credited the original author of each document and included contact information if you would like to find out more about using and adapting the resource.
Community tax clinic guides
- CVITP learning guide
- Getting started as a community tax clinic (Tax toolkit)
- Tax clinic staff and volunteer roles (Tax toolkit)
- Tax clinic preparation: Recommended timeline (Tax toolkit)
- Insights on planning free tax clinics in Indigenous communities: Infographic (Tax toolkit)
- Encouraging tax filing at virtual clinics (sample “active choice” email) (The Behavioural Insights Team)
Resources to support tax clinic delivery and tax filing
- Simplified Intake Form 2019 (ACSA, Scarborough, ON)
- Tax Clinic Intake Form (The Working Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON)
- Income tax checklist for participants (The Working Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON)
- Intake form for Couples (E4C, Edmonton, AB)
- Tax Prep Quick Reference Guide (E4C, Edmonton, AB)
- UFile Overview (Government of Canada)
- Supported tax filing toolkit
Other resources to support participants at tax time
- Income tax summary (The Working Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON)
- Form for Missing Income Info for Revenue Canada (The Working Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON)
- Forms for rental information (The Working Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON)
- Referral to FEPS (The Working Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON)
- Envelope checklist (E4C, Edmonton, AB)
- Seniors Info Sheet – Federal and provincial benefits (E4C, Edmonton, AB)
Resources to support tracking and evaluation
- Anonymous tax tracking sheet (Sunrise Community Centre, Calgary, AB)
French
Ressources de déclaration de revenus 2024 - Agence du revenu du Canada
Ressources de déclaration de revenus 2023 - Agence du revenu du Canada
L’Agence du revenu du Canada lance la saison des impôts 2023
- Fiche descriptive: Étudiants
- Fiche descriptive: Les personnes handicapées
- Fiche descriptive: Les personnes à revenu modeste
- Fiche descriptive: Les personnes en situation de logement précaire
- Fiche descriptive: Les personnes âgées de 65 ans et plus
- Fiche descriptive: Les personnes autochtones
- Fiche descriptive : Déductions pour les habitants de régions éloignées
- Fiche descriptive : Personnes aux prises avec la violence fondée sur le sexe
- Fiche descriptive: Les nouveaux arrivants
Ressources
- Infographie – Prestations pour enfants
- Infographie – Prestations et crédits pour les nouveaux arrivants
- Feuille détachable : Inscrivez-vous à Mon dossier
- Feuille détachable : Produire votre déclaration de revenus
- Carte d’option de service
- Webinaire – Les personnes à revenu modeste
- Video: Persons with disabilities
- Webinaire – Les étudiants étrangers
- Webinaire – Avis aux étudiants : c’est payant de faire vos impôts!
Ressources de déclaration de revenus 2022 - Agence du revenu du Canada
Fiche descriptive : Étudiants
Fiche descriptive : Les personnes handicapées
Fiche descriptive : Les personnes à revenu modeste
Fiche descriptive : Les personnes en situation de logement précaire
Fiche descriptive : Les personnes âgées de 65 ans et plus
Fiche descriptive : Femmes dans les refuges
Fiche descriptive : Les personnes autochtones
Fiche descriptive : Les nouveaux arrivants
Prestation dentaire canadienne
Supplément unique à l’Allocation canadienne pour le logement
Faites faire vos impôts à un comptoir d’impôts gratuit
Allocation canadienne pour les travailleurs
Assurez-vous de maximiser les prestations auxquelles vous avez droit si vous êtes Autochtone, Inuit ou Métis
Ressources de déclaration de revenus 2021 - Agence du revenu du Canada
Nouvelles prestations canadiennes de la relance économique – À quoi s’attendre
Réponses à vos questions sur le remboursement de la Prestation canadienne d’urgence (PCU)
Recevez vos versements de prestations et de crédits! – Les les autochtones qui habitent au Canada
Prestations et crédits – Revenu modeste
Nouveaux arrivants, vous pourriez recevoir des prestations et des crédits!
Nouveaux arrivants, vous pourriez recevoir des prestations et des crédits! (Quebec)
Il y a des avantages à faire ses impôts! – Personnes agées
Mesures relatives à la COVID-19 à l’intention des personnes handicapées
Des prestations et des crédits pour vous! – Les personnes handicapées
Chaque dollar compte! – L’allocation canadienne pour les travailleurs (ACT)
Chaque dollar compte! Carte promotionnelle pour l’allocation canadienne pour les travailleurs (ACT)
Faites faire vos impôts gratuitement – Carte promotionnelle
Fondements de l’impôt sur le revenu
Pouruoi declarer? Les avantages de produire une declaration de revenus
Recevoir des paiements du gouvernement par dépôt direct
Que sont les déductions, les avantages fiscaux et les crédits d’impôt?
Considérations sur la période d’impôt pour lesautochtones qui habitent au Canada
Ressources pour en savoir plus
Comptoirs d’impôt bénévoles : Aidez les membres de votre communauté
Ressources
S’occuper de ses impôts et de ses prestations peut être payant – Agence du revenu du Canada
Service automatisé Déclarer simplement par téléphone (anciennement Produire ma déclaration)– Agence du revenu du Canada
Démystifier le crédit d’impôt pour personnes handicapées – Agence du revenu du Canada