Help available to file income tax returns

The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force and Grey Bruce Health Unit encourage everyone to file an income tax return, especially those with low or modest income. Filing a tax return helps identify benefits you can collect and may result in more money back.

Getting help with filing tax returns is available throughout the Grey-Bruce region. The task force has created a list of Free Income Tax Preparation Assistance services to help people find the service closest to them. To view the list, click here.

“Many people have no idea they can get money back,” says Jill Umbach, co-ordinator of the task force. “They fear being told to pay the government for large back taxes. But this is not the case for most people on low income.

“It is important to file this year to take advantage of tax credits to increase your annual income. You don’t have to file your previous taxes first to catch up. Many community tax clinics will help you to file for previous years as well.”

There are good reasons to file:
 

• To qualify for programs including the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the GST/HST credit, and the Ontario Trillium Benefit, which all pay cash when you qualify
• To take advantage of certain tax credits such as the Working Income Tax Benefit
• To recover any tax you may have overpaid from your pay cheque

People on low income may not have access to affordable or relevant tax-filing services and may not know about benefits and assistance available to them including targeted approaches suited to their specific needs.

Tax time is a good time to apply for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP). Those who have not applied to OESP, may be missing out on a monthly benefit toward their hydro bill, starting at $35 and upward, based on income. The United Way of Bruce Grey and the Grey Bruce Community Income Tax Clinic can assist with an application.

Free tax services are available to people on low income all across Grey Bruce. Call 211 or check on-line at 211 Information Bruce Grey.