Income Tax Clinic
ACT has qualified volunteer tax consultants to help people living with HIV complete their Income Tax Return. The service is free and confidential, is open to registered service users of ACT.
Welcome to ACT’s Virtual Tax Clinic, part of The Canada Revenue Agency’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Clinic Program (CVITP).
Due to COVID-19 and to respect physical distancing guidelines, ACT has developed a modified tax clinic to help individuals who qualify for assistance under the CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) to file a T1 Individual Tax and Benefits Return.
ACT’s Volunteer Tax Clinic is run on a first-come, first served basis. Please ensure you have all the relevant tax documents to file your taxes BEFORE requesting an appointment.
Due to limited availability of our Tax Clinic, please be advised we will do our best to accommodate all registrants, however we cannot guarantee that an appointment will be given.
A minimum of 48-hour notice is required for those unable to attend their designated appointment time. We cannot guarantee that a future appointment time will be given if appointments are missed or cancelled.
Eligibility
To be eligible for ACT's Virtual Tax Clinic the following conditions must be met:
- Living with HIV
- Registered Service User of ACT
- Province of Ontario only
- Income is within the allowable Total Family Income
- Simple Tax Situation
Total Family Income
- One Person - Up to $40,000.
- Two People - Up to $50,000.
- Three People - Up to $52,000.
- Four People - Up to $55,000.
- Additional People - +$2,500 per additional family member.
Simple Tax Situation
In general, your tax situation is simple if you have no income or if your income comes from any of these sources:
- Employment
- Pensions
- Benefits such as the Canada Pension Plan, Disability Insurance, Employment Insurance, and Social Assistance
- RRSP / RDSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan / Registered Disabled Savings Plan)
- Support Payments
- Scholarships, Fellowships, Bursaries, or Grants
- Interest under $1,000
Non-Eligible
Your tax situation IS NOT considered simple if you have any of the following:
- Income more than allowable Total Family Income
- Self-Employment or Employment Expenses
- Business Taxes or Business Expenses
- Earned Rental Income (Landlords)
- Declared Bankruptcy
- Taxes for a deceased person (Estate Taxes)
- Capital Gains or Losses from Investments
- Out of Province or Out of Country Taxes
Plan ahead for tax-filing season. To avoid delays and to reduce your potential exposure to COVID-19, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) encourages you to sign up for direct deposit and file your taxes online beginning 24 February 2021.
To discover more, please click on the links below:
Plan Ahead and Avoid Delays - Get Ready to do your Taxes
Tax & Benefits Guide 2020 - Federal Income Tax and Benefit Guide 2020
Tax Return 2020 - Income Tax and Benefit Return & Worksheet for the Return
Full Income Tax Package Details 2020 - 2020 Income Tax Package
Online Video Guides
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We want to make sure you get every tax credit and deduction to which you are entitled. Before you get started on your taxes, make sure you have all the required information slips.
Please ensure you have all the documents related to your tax situation before you begin the tax filing process.
Information Slips
- Notice of Assessment / Reassessment for your last tax return
- Employment Income (T4)
- Employment Insurance Benefits (T4E)
- Tuition & Education Receipts (T2202A)
- Universal Child Care Benefit (RC62)
- Old Age Security and CPP Benefits (T4A-OAS, T4AP)
- Other Pensions & Annuities (T4A)
- Social Assistance Programs (T5007)
- Worker’s Compensation Benefits (T5007)
- All other information slips
Receipts
- RRSP/RDSP Contribution Receipts
- Support for child, spouse, or common-law partner
- Professional or Union Dues
- Medical Expenses not covered by Provincial or Private Insurance Plans
- Public Transit (PRESTO) receipts
- Charitable donations
- Political contributions
- Childcare expenses
- Adoption expenses
- Children’s arts and sports programs
- Moving expenses
- Interest paid on student loans
- Office – in home expenses
- Exams for professional certification
- Rent or Property Tax Receipts
Other documentation
- Canada Revenue Agency Correspondence
- Northern Residence deduction receipts
- Disability Tax Credit Certificate
- Volunteer Firefighters certification
- Search and Rescue Volunteer Certification
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The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) enables you to take full control of your tax information and assists in filing your taxes online.
NETFILE is an electronic tax-filing service that lets you do your personal taxes online and send your income tax and benefit return directly to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It simplifies tax-filing and offers the following benefits.
- You can file your tax returns directly through a NETFILE certified tax software, which is more accurate with fewer chances of errors.
- Links to your CRA My Account so that you can use the Autofill My Return feature.
- You get immediate confirmation that the CRA has received your tax return.
- You do not have to send in receipts, unless the CRA asks for them at a later date.
- You get your refund faster through NETFILE.
- Sign up for direct deposit and you could receive your refund within 2 weeks.
- CRA offers telephone support to assist you with using NETFILE software.
NETFILE Your Taxes - Opens Wednesday 24 February 2021
CRA - Help Line - 1 (800) 959-8281 - If you need assistance with any of CRA’s online service, please give them a call. The CRA’s knowledgeable staff provide support, information and assistance with electronic services such as My Account and NETFILE.
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By CRA Invitation Only
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) offers this free service to help eligible individuals with low or fixed income to do their taxes.
"File My Return" will be available for eligible individuals who have low or a fixed income and whose situations remain unchanged from year to year. Those who are eligible will receive an invitation letter directly from the CRA by the end of February 2021.
The automated telephone service will verify and confirm the caller's eligibility at the beginning of the call. If the caller is not eligible, the automated call will not let them go further in the process.
The service is only available to eligible individuals who have received an invitation letter directly from the CRA.
If you receive an invitation letter from the CRA, please use this method to file your taxes.
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By Appointment Only - Limited Availability
Register for a Zoom videoconferencing appointment to have your taxes prepared by one of our Tax Clinicians.
Requirements: Computer, Secure Internet, Webcam, Microphone, Speakers.
Please note:
- Appointment times will be scheduled once your identity and eligibility are confirmed.
- ACT will send you a Zoom meeting invitation with the designated appointment time.
- Appointments will automatically be cancelled if Zoom invitations are not accepted within 2 business days after being sent.
- Appointments are limited to a maximum time of 30 minutes.
- Please ensure you have all your relevant tax documents before registering.
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No Walk-ins - By Appointment Only - Limited Availability
For people that are unable to file their taxes online with the CRA or thru ACT’s Zoom Clinic.
Register to drop off your tax documents and have your taxes prepared by one of our Tax Volunteers at a later date.
Registration Process:
- Once your identification and eligibility are confirmed, the Tax Clinic will send you a Tax Clinic Drop-Off Kit via Canada Post.
- Once you have received all your Tax Documents, please follow the instructions in your Tax Clinic Kit. Complete all the necessary forms and organize your tax information slips accordingly.
- The Tax Clinic cannot provide photocopying, scanning, faxing or the use of public computers. Please make sure you have back-up copies of all your documents before submitting to the Tax Clinic.
- Due to the sensitive nature of Tax Information, you cannot register or drop-off documents for another person, unless you are their spouse, legal guardian or have Power of Attorney.
- Drop-off information will be included in your Tax Clinic Kit.
REGISTER BY PHONE (Voice Mail)
416-340-2437 ext 412
- Please ensure you have all your relevant tax documents before registering
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The CRA has Community Volunteer Tax Clinics throughout the province of Ontario to help individuals who qualify for assistance under the CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) to file a T1 Individual Tax and Benefits Return.
If you are unable to file your taxes online or live outside the GTA, please click the link below to find a Volunteer Tax Clinic near you.
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Zoom provides online tutorials and webinars to help make your Zoom experience as easy as possible.
Please click on the link below to discover more.
- Join a Meeting
- Schedule a Meeting
- Meeting Controls
- Schedule a Meeting with your online Calendar
- And many more….
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