You could be eligible to have your taxes done for you for free — Here's how

How do free tax clinics work?

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) partners with community organizations across the country to offer free tax clinics where trained volunteers help people file their income tax returns.

If you qualify, you can get your taxes done at no cost — and without the hassle. Plus, since volunteers are trained and supported by the CRA, you can trust that your return is being handled properly.

There are different types of free tax clinics to fit your needs:

• Walk-in clinics let you show up and get your taxes done on the spot.
• By-appointment clinics offer scheduled sessions, either in person or virtually (by phone or video call).
• Drop-off clinics allow you to leave your tax documents and pick up your completed return later.

If you're in Quebec, volunteers will also complete your provincial return along with your federal one.

Who qualifies for free tax filing assistance?

Free tax clinics are designed for individuals with a modest income and a simple tax situation — think students, seniors, newcomers and others who may not have the means to pay for professional tax preparation.

While each clinic can set its own eligibility criteria based on its capacity and the demographics of the area, generally, a modest income means earning around $35,000 or less as a single person, or around $50,000 for a family of four.

Your tax situation is generally considered simple if your income comes from basic sources like employment, pensions, government benefits, RRSPs or scholarships — but not from self-employment, businesses, rental properties, investment income over $1,000 or foreign sources.

If that sounds like you, you could be eligible to have a trained volunteer take care of your tax return for free!

What do I need to bring?

To get your taxes done at a free clinic, you'll need:

• Your tax slips and receipts
• A piece of ID
• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Your previous Notice of Assessment (if available)

If you've misplaced any tax slips, don't worry — you can retrieve them through your CRA My Account or by calling the CRA. Some volunteers can even use the CRA's "auto-fill my return" feature to automatically pull your tax slips for you.

If you're a newcomer filing your first-ever tax return in Canada, you'll also need to bring your Confirmation of SIN letter from Service Canada.

When and where can I find a free tax clinic?

While most free tax clinics operate during tax season (March and April), some run year-round so you can get help even if you're filing late or need to sort out taxes from previous years.

You can search for a clinic near you through the CRA's directory to find an option that works for you. As tax season approaches, more clinics could be added to the list, so if none of the options are convenient for you, try checking back in a few weeks.

Will I have to pay anything?

Nope! As long as you qualify for assistance, these tax clinics are 100% free — volunteers are not allowed to charge for their services or accept payment. The goal of the program is to help people file their tax returns so they can receive any refunds, benefits or credits they're entitled to.

Why should I bother filing my taxes if I don't owe anything?

Filing your taxes is essential to access government benefit payments like the GST/HST Credit, Canada Workers Benefit, Canada Child Benefit and other financial supports. Even if you don't owe any taxes, you could be missing out on money by not filing.