The purpose of the study was to obtain Indigenous perspectives on tax filing to identify barriers to filing and benefit uptake. The objective of the research was to develop a better understanding of the reasons that Indigenous Peoples may file, or not file, a tax return. The CRA intends to use the...

The CVITP (Community Volunteer Income Tax Program) conducted an exploratory evaluation of their program. This evaluation aimed to discover barriers for organizations and volunteers when participating in the CVITP, potential gaps in programming, and structural issues with the Program. The goal of...

The federal government has indicated that it will expand WITB by approximately $250 million per year beginning in 2019 to “provide additional benefits that roughly offset incremental Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions for eligible low-income workers.”1 The changes to CPP will be phased in,...

This is a webinar presentation recorded with John Stapleton at Prosper Canada on October 4th, 2016. John Stapleton is a Principal of Open Policy, and has worked for the Ontario Government for 28 years in the areas of social assistance policy and operations. In the session John describes the...

This is a document from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada explaining tips on how to manage your refund at tax time to make the most of...

Disability supports should be designed to provide benefit and not burdens to eligible recipients. Unfortunately, this is not a reality when it comes to one of the main benefits open to Canadians with disability: the federal Disability Tax Credit (DTC). Designed to recognize some of the higher...

Many volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) sites experience inaccuracy in the taxes prepared according to audits conducted by the treasury inspector general for tax administration (TIGTA). Effective training strategies may influence the accuracy rates of tax returns prepared at VITA sites....

This webinar, "Planning a successful community tax clinic in Indigenous communities, Part 2," is the second in a 2-part series sharing information, community examples and promising practices with Ontario First Nation communities and Indigenous organizations to support the launch and planning of...

This webinar, "Planning a successful community tax clinic in Indigenous communities (Part 1)," is part one of two webinars trainings which share information, community examples and promising practices from Ontario First Nation communities and Indigenous organizations. This training will support the...

For Canadians living with low incomes, tax filing is an important opportunity to boost incomes by accessing a wide range of government benefits. In this webinar, "Insights on hosting volunteer income tax clinics," experts in Canada share their knowledge and practices on what it takes to host...

In this webinar, "How to deliver financial supports for people with developmental disabilities," you will learn about financial supports and government programs for people with disabilities in Canada. The topics covered include: social assistance programs, the Disability Tax Credit and other...

Even if you make no money, you should file a tax return each year. You may be eligible for a refund (money back). Filing your taxes triggers access to government benefits that you can’t get any other way. This worksheet will help you gather the information you will need at tax time. You will...

The Old Age Security program toolkit – Your complete guide to Canada’s Old Age Security...

Nouveaux arrivants : Le saviez-vous? Il y a des prestations et des crédits auxquels vous pourriez avoir droit si: Vous avez un numéro d’assurance sociale. Vous produisez votre déclaration de revenus chaque année même si vous n’avez aucun revenu. Nous utilisons les renseignements qui...

In recent years, many states and some local governments implemented or expanded their own, supplemental Earned Income Tax Credit (EITCs). The expansion of state EITCs may have stemmed in large part from wanting to provide a more generous program than the federal program, because state EITCs...

This infographic by Prosper Canada summarizes the barriers to filing taxes faced by people living on low incomes. These barriers include access challenges, fear, lower literacy, and other...

This is a presentation explaining the ODSP support program for people living with disabilities. Exact publication date is...

The federal government’s decision this year to cancel family income splitting and lower the annual contribution limit for tax-free savings accounts was driven largely by concerns about income inequality. Research by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Parliamentary Budget Officer and...

Most rural Native VITA sites, unlike urban VITA sites, face a unique set of challenges. The geographic isolation, low volunteer retention rates, economically distressed communities, and overall distrust of the federal government among many Native Americans can limit the success of traditional...

There has been a resurgence of political interest in Canada in the rather old idea of a universal basic income, sometimes called a guaranteed annual income. Essentially, a basic income is a “no strings attached” transfer from government to individuals or families that can be simpler to...

This report provides information on the results of Phase 1 of the Benefits Screening Tool project. Details on Phase 2 of the project (July 2016 to March 2018) are also included. The online Benefits Screening Tool (BST) enables health practitioners to screen patients for poverty and suggest...

In its 2016 budget, the Government of Ontario committed to conducting a basic income pilot project as part of its preparations for comprehensive reform of its social assistance programs. Taking particular note of “today’s dynamic labour market” and a need to “strengthen the attachment to...

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites are a useful tool for providing free tax preparation services to low-to-moderate income people and helping them claim a range of valuable tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit. In addition, they can help individuals avoid high fees for tax...

Every year there is one key and predictable moment – tax time – when many consumers who are struggling to make ends meet have an opportunity to choose to build savings that will insulate them from some of the financial stress that may occur later in the year. In 2013, nearly 93 million...

This article explores benefits screening, a system of auditing patients to identify those living in poverty and the benefits they may be eligible for, as an innovative step towards realizing the right to health in Canada by advancing health equity. In particular, it assesses one online tool...