You are Here: Home > Tax Clinics

2025 Tax Clinics

What is the CVITP?

The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) has existed since 1971 and is a longstanding partnership between the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and community organizations and their volunteers.

Participating organizations host free tax clinics where volunteers complete income tax and benefit returns for eligible individuals to ensure they receive, or continue to receive, the benefits and credits they are entitled to.

Eligibility Criteria:

In order to be eligible for the CVITP, individuals must have a modest income and a simple tax situation.

This may include:

  • adults 65 years and older
  • housing-insecure individuals
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • modest-income individuals
  • newcomers
  • persons with disabilities
  • students and youth

Modest Income

The following table provides a guideline to determine what is considered a modest income. In general, a modest income means the total family income is less than or equal to the amount shown in the chart below, based on the size of the family.

Family Size Total Family Income
1 person $35,000
2 people $45,000
3 people $47,500
4 people $50,000
5 people $52,500
More than 5 people $52,500, plus $2,500 for each additional person

*Family size includes an individual, or a couple, and their dependents.

Simple tax situation

In general, a tax situation is simple if an individual has no income or if their 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 (RRSPs)
  • scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, or grants
  • interest (under $1,000)

The CVITP does not complete complex tax situations. Returns with the following cannot be completed at these clinics:

  • self-employment income or employment expenses
  • business income and expenses
  • rental income and expenses
  • interest income over $1,000
  • capital gains or losses
  • bankruptcy in the tax year (or the year before, if that return has not yet been filed)
  • deceased person
  • foreign property (T1135)
  • foreign income

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register?

Registration for the 2025 tax clinics opens on Monday February 10, 2025.

If you are eligible for the program, you can call any library location to register for an appointment. Note: online registration is not available for this program. Registration must be completed by phone or in-person.

If 2 members of the household are eligible, such as a husband and wife, you will need to book 2 back-to-back appointments. A library staff member will ask you some short questions to ensure that you qualify, and then set you up with an appointment. Please note that none of the answers you provide to determine qualification will be recorded.

You will then be provided with a Taxpayer Authorization Form, which must be completed and submitted to your volunteer on the day of your appointment. If making an appointment over the phone please stop by any of our locations to pick up a copy.

How long are appointments?

Appointments are a half hour in length and will only be held in-person.

Where are appointments held?

All appointments will be held at the library’s Smithville Branch (177 West Street, L0R 2A0).

Please arrive at the library a few minutes before your appointment start-time so that you can get parked and find the proper room.

To find more free tax clinics in West Lincoln and the surrounding area, please visit Find a tax clinic

What should I bring?

For your appointment you will need to bring:

  • Your SIN card and one piece of government issued photo ID
  • T3, T4, T4A or T5 Slips (CERB, CESB and CRB)
  • Last year’s Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency
  • Proof of filing
  • Estimate of benefits and tax refund or tax owed from 2023
  • And your completed Taxpayer Authorization Form

Please bring all receipts that apply to your situation such as:

  • Charitable donations
  • Child care expenses
  • RRSP
  • Tuition and education
  • Rent – receipt or letter from landlord
  • Disability tax credit
  • Foreign pension
  • Medical receipts if over 3% of total annual income
  • Property tax

Thank you to our Volunteers!

This program would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers offering their time and expertise. We want to say a sincere thank you to each of our volunteers for their generosity and kindness!