Community Social Development hosts a free income tax program through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) initiative that offers free tax preparation services to individuals who may have difficulty completing their tax returns independently or who cannot afford to pay for tax preparation services. This program relies on volunteers who are trained and registered by the CRA to help taxpayers complete their income tax and benefit returns.

The CVITP aims to assist various groups within communities, including seniors, newcomers, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and individuals with low income, by supporting them to prepare and file their tax returns accurately and on time.

When is the Free Income Tax Program?

The program runs year-round; however, intakes for the 2024 tax season begin on March 1, 2024.

How does the program work?

1. Call Community Social Development at 780-962-7618 to be screened for eligibility.
2. Complete an intake by phone and provide verbal authorization for a CVITP volunteer to complete your tax return.
3. A volunteer will complete your taxes using "Auto-fill My Return", a secure CRA service that allows individuals and authorized representatives to automatically fill in parts of an income tax and benefit return, using certified software, with information that the CRA has available at the time of the request).
4. Once your return is complete, the CVITP volunteer will contact you to review it before submitting through EFILE, a service that lets authorized service providers send individual income tax return information to the CRA directly from the software used to prepare the tax return.
5. Community Social Development will send you a copy of your tax return summary either through password-protected email or regular postal mail.
6. You will receive a Notice of Assessment from the CRA within 8 weeks of your return being submitted.

Who is eligible for the program?

The Free Income Tax Program is available to residents of Spruce Grove and Parkland County with low to modest income and a simple tax situation. Residents of Stony Plain can register for the Stony Plain program.

Volunteers do not prepare tax returns for complex tax situations such as:

• self-employment income or employment expenses (some exceptions for individuals with T4A)
• business income and expenses
• rental income and expenses
• interest income over $1,000
• capital gains or losses
• bankruptcy in the tax year (or the year before, if that return has not yet been filed)
• deceased person
• foreign property (T1135)
• foreign income (some exceptions for individuals who receive US Social Security Benefits)

Questions?

Contact Community Social Development at 780-962-7618.

How do I volunteer?

If you have a basic understanding of income tax and would like to volunteer for this program, please call 780-962-7618 or email us for more information! Volunteers will receive free training, tax software, and reference materials.