17^th Annual Community Volunteer Income Tax Program

Program Details

As March approaches, so does our 17th Annual Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. This year, the clinic will run from March 5 to March 24, Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

As March approaches, so does our 17th Annual Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. This year, the clinic will run from March 5 to March 24, Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm. We are currently seeking up to 150 volunteers and up to 20 supervisors to assist with the operations of our clinic. If you are interested in assisting with our program, please review the following:

What is the expected commitment for volunteers?

Volunteers will be expected to volunteer for at least 5 hours a week during the clinic’s duration for a total of about 15 hours over the span of the clinic. In addition, there will be a comprehensive training session that is mandatory for all volunteers to attend. Food and beverages will be provided. The training dates (there are two; volunteers are only required to attend one) are March 3 and 4. Supervisors will be required to attend an additional training session.

What tasks will the volunteers perform?

The volunteers will prepare tax returns for clients using our tax software (UFile). Volunteers will also be responsible for completing the appropriate paperwork and ensuring that client satisfaction is kept a priority.

What are the qualifications to be a volunteer?

Candidates should employ a positive attitude and appreciate free food and carbonated beverages.

What if I am uncomfortable with completing tax returns? Is there any other way I can help the clinic?

If this statement describes you, there is an additional opportunity to get involved. To ensure the consistency of service of our clinic, we are also seeking a number of specialized receptionists. These individuals will be responsible for greetings clients as they come to our clinic and reviewing their documents to ensure that they qualify for our clinic.

What duties will the supervisors be responsible for?

The supervisors will be responsible for performing quality assurance on the tax returns completed by the volunteers. In addition, they will be responsible for answering any taxation questions that may arise. The supervisors will also be responsible for dealing with any potential disagreements between clients and volunteers.

What are the qualifications to be a supervisor?

The ideal candidate will have volunteered at the tax clinic in prior years and will have taken at minimum ACCTG 467. Preference will be given to those who have had experience with completing taxes in a professional capacity.

What if I have additional questions?

Please email us at uaac@ualberta.ca with any questions or concerns you may have.

Volunteer application form: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/taxvolunteer12

Supervisor application form: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/taxsupervisor12

The deadline for volunteer applications is February 3, 2012 at midnight.

The deadline for supervisor applications is January 22, 2012 at midnight. Interviews will be held during the week of the 23rd.

16^th Annual Community Volunteer Income Tax Program

Program Details

Our tax clinic is a free service that allows low income individuals to have their annual tax returns completed. The clinic operates as a drop-in event where clients come into our organized rooms to have their tax return processed. In addition to completing their tax returns, our volunteers also walk the clients through the tax software and often explain the different steps involved in completing their personal tax return. As a result, we help both our student volunteers and clients to gain a basic understanding of personal tax returns.

Click the titles below to find out more information.

Location

Our clinic is held in the Tory Atrium at the University of Alberta's main campus.


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What do I need to bring?

People wishing to use our services should bring all of their tax documents, including (where applicable):

- SIN Card and one piece of photo ID
- USB flash drive, if possible
- Last year’s Notice of Assessment (NOA), if applicable
- All T4/T4A/T4A(OAS)/T4A(P)/T4RSP/T5/T2202A/T5007/RC62/RC210 slips
- Receipts for moving expenses (if you moved over 40km to be closer to school or work)
- Bus pass receipts (including U-pass)
- Receipts for charitable donations (must be from a registered charity)

What if I don't have a SIN number?

In order to make use of our services, you will need a SIN number. If you are a non-resident and are not working, you should still be filing tax returns because certain tax deductions are carried forwards to years in which you are earning income.

Please go to this website for more information pertaining to the acquisition of a SIN number.

What are all of these slips?

There are a number of different slips you have have received during the year. You may even recieve multiple copies of the same slip (for example, if you worked two jobs in 2009 you will receive two T4 slips). Please note that not all of these slips are applicable to everyone.

T4: This slip indicates your employment income during the year, including any deductions taken. Your employer should send you this.

T4/T4A/T4A(OAS)/T4A(P)/T4RS: These slips relate to any pension or retirement income received in the year.

T5: If you earned investment income during the year, it will be indicated on this slip. You would receive this from a financial institution.

T2202A: Education amounts are listed on this slip. It it used to determine the reduction you get in tax payable. U of A students can find this slip on Bear Tracks under "Financials" and then "T2202A Tax Form".

T5007: If you received benefits under worker's compensation or a social assistance program, you would have received this slip.

RC62: If you qualified for the Universal Child Care Benefit and received payments during the year, you would have been issued this slip.

RC210: This slip indicates advance payments received under the Working Income Tax Benefit.

Hours of operation

This year, the clinic will run from February 28 - March 19. We will be closed for one day on March 16. We are located in the Tory Atrium at the University of Alberta’s main campus. We will be open from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Saturday. If a client cannot make these times, we ask that they contact us at uaac@ualberta.ca to make alternative arrangements.

Restrictions

Under our agreement with the Canada Revenue Agency, there are a number of restrictions on returns we can process.

- Household income should not exceed the following amounts given a family size of...
        1 person: $30,500
        2 people: $37,500
        3 people: $41,000
        4 people: $44,000
        ...with an extra $3,500 for each additional person
- No investment income over $1,000
- No capital gains or foreign tax credits/foreign income
- No income derived from self employment, business, rentals, farming or fishing
- No employment/rental expenses
- The return must not be for a deceased or bankrupt individual

Unfortunately, if a community member has any transactions falling in the above restricted categories, we will be unable to process their return. In addition, UAAC reserves the right to refuse service based on items not included above.