Community groups offer tax clinics
Posted Mar 12, 2010 By Charelle Evelyn
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Tweet ThisEMC News - As the clock ticks down to the deadline to file income tax returns, community support groups are offering their services to eligible individuals to help them handle all of the paperwork.
The Nepean, Rideau, Osgoode Community Resource Centre (NROCRC) is offering free tax clinics at six locations throughout their catchment area. These include one at the community police centre in Manotick and at Rural Family Connections in Metcalfe.
Last year, the only location available in the area was at the Osgoode Youth Association, which didn't yield a large turnout, said Meghann Darroch, a community developer at NROCRC.
"We know the community better this year so we have better contacts," she said.
The resource centre has been focusing on reaching out to its satellite communities over the past few months by conducting surveys on resident's needs and attending community association meetings.
Along with more locations, the NROCRC tax clinics have expanded sessions from of three hours to five.
"We saw the major demand," Ms. Darroch said. "We had so many calls last year that we ended up serving 200 and meeting capacity."
To register for clinics, which are facilitated by volunteers trained through the Canada Revenue Agency's Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, clients first need to establish whether or not they are eligible for the service. Among the requirements is an income of less than $30,000.
For those who attend a clinic, Ms. Darroch said NROCRC has been referring people to the local community support services.
The Rideau Community Support Services (RCSS) and the Township of Osgoode Home Support Program both offer in-home tax assistance for seniors and adults with disabilities.
"Clients call in first and speak to me," said Terry Black Watson from RCSS, where an income of less than $30,000 is also an eligibility requirement. "I go over with them what papers they need and I assign them our volunteers."
At RCSS, clients can also drop off their paperwork to the office and have the volunteers work on it on their own.
The support service volunteers are also Canada Revenue Agency-trained. The Manotick location has 10 people who have made themselves available to help with the usual 200 clients.
"Without them, some of (our clients) would have difficulty," said Ms. Black-Watson.
Full eligibility requirements for the NROCRC clinics are listed on the resource centre's web site at www.nrocrc.org and can also be established by calling Ms. Darroch at (613) 596-5626 to set up an appointment.
To set up an appointment with Osgoode Home Support call (613) 821-1101 and for Rideau Community Support Services call (613) 692-4697.
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