The Castlegar and District Community Services Society will once again be offering a tax service for low income residents this year, and is looking for volunteers.
The society will provide free simple tax returns to lower income families beginning in March and running until the end of April.
“Right now, we’re going to be working Thursdays only, but if I get more volunteers, we may open up a second day to do it,” says Sharon Lelliott, a volunteer income tax preparer.
Volunteers can complete returns for individuals with an income of up to $30,000, for couples with an income of up to $40,000, for one adult with one dependent with an income of up to $35,000, with up to $2500 for each additional dependent. Also, the income interest on the return has to be less than $1000.
Preferably, volunteers would have some experience in filing a simple income tax return and would own a laptop.
“Also they would require their own laptop, because we don’t provide laptops or computers for them to do them on,” said Lelliott. However, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will provide the tax software.
The CRA requires volunteers to be registered, which takes about 30 days, so Lelliott asks anyone interested in volunteering to come forward right away, to get that process started.
Those who are interested in using the service should contact the society to make an appointment at 250-365-2104. Those interested in volunteering should contact Lelliott at 250-365-1161.