The Canada Revenue Agency recognizes the value of free tax clinics that help Canadians do their taxes so they can get the benefit and credits they are entitled to, while knowing the costs of running these clinics can be a challenge for organizations who want to participate.
To support these organizations, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, previously announced that the CRA will invest more than $10 million over three years in a new grant program to help organizations offset some of their costs.
Two organizations in Nipissing-Timiskaming will receive funding from this investment: Low Income People of Nipissing (LIPI) and Temiskaming Shores CVITP.
“The work these community organizations perform are so important to many constituents in Nipissing-Timiskaming,” says the Honourable Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming.
“They continue to offer free tax clinics, despite the challenges related to COVID-19 that we are facing this tax season. I’m happy to see that their work is not going unnoticed at that they are getting support from the federal government to run the clinics this year.”
LIPI will receive $4,000 and Temiskaming Shores CVITP will receive $2,000.
Clinics in North Bay will begin in March of 2022. André-Philippe Rose says, “CVITP volunteers do more than prepare people’s taxes, they play a critical role in providing financial stability to people with low incomes in our community to ensure they receive or continue to receive, the benefit payments to which they are entitled. The grant program will help L.I.P.I. and volunteers offset some of these costs so they can focus on what they do best – helping people in need.”
The virtual, in-person and mail-in clinics will begin in March of 2022 and you can visit https://lipinipissing.com/ for more information.
Kim Shaler is with the Temiskaming Shores CVITP and she says, “The CVITP Grant is greatly appreciated, especially for our small group of volunteers. It will enable us to continue to serve our community and reduce the financial cost to us as individuals.”
She says they will start advertising for their clinics next month with more information for residents in the Temiskaming Shores area.
Before this funding, community organizations that run tax clinics covered the costs, which increased as the clinics helped more and more Canadians complete their income tax and benefit returns. Expenses include such things as office stationery, printers, document shredders and many other incidental expenses to support their dedicated volunteers. Recognizing the challenges of COVID-19, related costs including personal protective equipment, sanitation supplies, and plexiglass dividers will also be covered under the grant program.
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