The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) is open for appointments! Offered through the Okotoks Family Resource Centre, this free service helps residents of Okotoks and Foothills County with simple tax situations file their returns.
“This program reduces the stress and cost associated with tax preparation and provides support to residents with a lower income,” says Sian Anderson, community and social development team lead. “Even if you have no income to report, you may still qualify for government benefits, and our volunteers can also assist with filing past tax returns.”
This program is designed for individuals with a modest income and a simple tax situation. For those with higher income or more complex tax scenarios, the Town recommends seeking assistance from professional tax preparation services. The following tax situations are not suitable for the program:
- Self-employment income or employment expenses
- Business or rental income and expenses
- Interest income exceeding $1,000
- Bankrupt individuals in the year of bankruptcy (or the year prior if that return has not been filed)
- Capital gains or losses
- Foreign property (T1135)
- Deceased individuals
The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program is offered in collaboration with Family Community Support Services and Canada Revenue Agency. Volunteers are screened through the Okotoks Volunteer Resource Centre and are trained by the Canada Revenue Agency to prepare simple tax returns.
To schedule an intake appointment or learn more, call 403-995-2626 or email familyresources@okotoks.ca.
For full program details and eligibility criteria, visit okotoks.ca/CVITP.