The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) still has space available!CVITP is a program run by the BWG Library and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and it helps individuals and families in need by preparing their income tax and benefit returns. The returns are prepared by community volunteers for people who meet the eligibility requirements of a modest income and a simple tax situation.
To ensure safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, the BWG Library has adopted a modified drop-off program for the CVITP in 2021. After registering, participants will be contacted by a librarian and arrangements will be made for dropping off tax documents and information at the Library. The Library will quarantine the documents before passing them to the volunteers, who will prepare the returns. After the returns are completed the documents will be sent to the participants. This process will take several weeks.
If you wish to participate in this program, please confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements and fill in the form found on the BWG Library’s website. You will be contacted by the BWG Library to arrange to drop off your documents and will be given a special envelope in which to place your documents and forms.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The CVITP may only be used for simple tax situations. In general, a tax situation is considered simple if an individual has no income, or if their income comes only from these sources:
- employment
- pension
- benefits, such as Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, disability insurance, employment insurance and social assistance
- Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)
- support payments
- scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, or grants
- interest (under $1,000)
The CVITP may only be used by those with modest income or less. In general, a modest income means that the total family income is less than the amount shown below, based on the size of the family.Family size includes an individual or a couple and their dependants.
- 1 person – $35,000
- 2 persons – $45,000
- 3 persons – $47,500
- 4 persons – $50,000
- 5 persons – $52,500
- More than 5 persons – $52,500, plus $2,500 for each additional person
The CVITP does not provide training or support for complex tax situations. If your return includes any of the following situations, you do NOT qualify for the program:
- self-employment income or employment expenses
- business or rental income and expenses
- interest income over $1,000
- capital gains or losses
- foreign property (T1135;
- bankrupt individuals in the year of bankruptcy (or the year prior, if that return has not been filed)
- deceased individuals
