The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) is a free service to help low-income individuals with simple tax situations complete and file their income tax and benefit return.
Last year in the Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region, the total benefits and refunds to residents who used CVITP to complete their taxes was over $10 million. The average return to an individual client was around $3,500. In Brandon, 14 volunteers helped clients with their returns, and in the rural areas, there were 11 volunteers who gave of their time.
CVITP is a collaboration between community organizations and the Canada Revenue Agency. Through this program, community organizations such as PMH bring together volunteers who prepare income tax returns for free. This program helps ensure that seniors, newcomers, students and all low-income residents maintain access to all the benefits to which they are entitled. This includes GST refunds, Canada Child benefit, MB Rent assist, Disability Tax credits, Pharmacare deductibles and more.
You can get your income tax done FREE through this program if you fall under one of the categories:
• One person with income under $35,000/ *Two persons with income under $45,000
• *Three persons with income under $47,500 / *Each additional dependent add $2,500
If you qualify for this program, the PMH drop-off site in Brandon is located at 7th Street Health Access Centre, 20-7th Street. Drop-offs at 7th Street start February 24 and run until October 30, Mon.-Fri., from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The Brandon Neighborhood Renewal Corporation is offering an appointment service between March 3 and April 30. Call (204) 729–2490 to book an appointment. Outside of Brandon, several PMH sites are accepting drop-offs starting March 3. Partner sites have varying times, so for a current listing of times and dates, please visit Community Volunteer Income Tax Program – Prairie Mountain Health or check us out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PrairieMtHealth.
Participants are asked to bring their applicable forms (including T3, T4, T5, T5007) along with any receipts for daycare expenses, charitable donations, rent, tuition and medical expenses (not paid by an insurance company).
If you have questions regarding the Community Income Tax Volunteer Program, can not reach/access the sites, or would be interested in volunteering or having the program come to your community, email CVITP@pmh-mb.ca or call the 7th Street Health Access Centre at either 204-578-4812 or 204-578-4800.
The complete schedule is available on the website at Community Volunteer Income Tax Program – Prairie Mountain Health
