November 16, 2023 Ottawa, Ontario Canada Revenue Agency
Free tax clinics made it possible for more than 649,000 Canadians with a modest income to file their taxes and receive more than $1.75 billion in benefits, credits, and refunds last year, announced the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue.
More than 3,400 community organizations, composed of over 14,700 volunteers, helped achieve these results. To support this essential work, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is awarding $5.2 million in grants to organizations that participated in the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) or the Income Tax Assistance - Volunteer Program (ITAVP) in Quebec in 2023. These grants are part of a three-year pilot project aimed at helping organizations offset some of the costs associated with hosting a free tax clinic.
Given these impressive results, the Minister of National Revenue announced today that the grant pilot project will be extended for a fourth year, with funding up to $5.9 million.
Volunteers at free tax clinics complete tax returns for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation, so they can access important benefits and credits that help make life more affordable. This is money that many people rely on to cover rent, pay for childcare or buy food for their families. The clinics are hosted by non-profits, charities or community groups in collaboration with the CRA through the CVITP or the ITAVP in Quebec.
The grant awards funding to eligible organizations to help them offset the cost of hosting free tax clinics. Organizations that serve Indigenous communities or that operate in northern, rural or remote communities are also entitled to an additional subsidy to support their specific needs.
