Canada Revenue Agency Offers This Service So You Can Get Your Taxes Done For Free

Since you can now file your 2023 income tax return, you might be stressing about Canada's tax season.

Well, the Canada Revenue Agency offers a service across the country that lets you get your taxes done for free!

There are a bunch of ways to do your taxes, including using certified tax software, using a paper return, or using an authorized representative like an accountant.

If you don't want to do it yourself or don't want to pay money, you have the option of getting your taxes done for free at a community volunteer tax clinic as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) is a partnership between the CRA, community organizations and volunteers.

Participating organizations host free tax clinics where volunteers complete income tax and benefit returns for eligible individuals to make sure that they receive the benefits and credits they're entitled to.

Community organizations are hosting free in-person and virtual tax clinics for the 2024 tax season.

There are different types of free tax clinics including walk-in (your tax return is done on a first-come, first-served basis with no appointment needed), drop-off (your tax return is done and you pick it up at a later time), and appointment (in-person, virtual or over the phone).

To be eligible for the CVITP and get your taxes done for free at a clinic, you need to have a modest income and a simple tax situation.

That can include students, youth, adults 65 years and older, housing-insecure individuals, Indigenous peoples, modest-income individuals, newcomers to Canada, and people with disabilities.

Modest income is typically considered:

• $35,000 for a one-person family
• $45,000 for a two-person family
• $47,500 for a three-person family
• $50,000 for a four-person family
• $52,500 for a five-person family
• $52,500 (plus $2,500 for each additional person) for a family of more than five people

Generally, a tax situation is simple if you have no income or if your income comes from these sources:

• employment
• pension
• benefits, such as the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, disability insurance, employment insurance, and social assistance
• Registered Retirement Savings Plans
• scholarships, fellowships, bursaries or grants
• interest under $1,000

The CRA has a directory of tax clinics across Canada where you can get your taxes done for free so you can find a free tax clinic near you.

There are a few dates to know about when your Canada taxes are due in 2024.

The deadline for taxes is Tuesday, April 30, 2024, for most Canadians.

Also, taxes are due Saturday, June 15, 2024, if you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed. However, since that's on the weekend, you have until Monday, June 17, 2024, to file.

If you owe money after filing your 2023 tax return, the deadline to pay your taxes is also Tuesday, April 30, 2024 — regardless of your employment situation.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.