The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) is a national outreach program run in collaboration between the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and community organizations in each province. The CVITP volunteers prepare basic income tax returns for low income individuals (with individual incomes under $30,000 or family incomes under $35,000) whom are unable to do so themselves. This enables low income individuals to file for benefits they otherwise would not receive. As well, many senior centres across the province offer special clinics for income tax preparation.
In Manitoba, the CVITP is a partner with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the Province of Manitoba and Community Financial Counselling Services (CFCS) to deliver an income tax clinic. CFCS provides CRA-trained volunteers for the program and hosts a free clinic where volunteers prepare personal income tax returns for taxpayers with a modest income and a simple tax situation.
This CVITP clinic runs free of charge annually during the tax season, mid-February to April, in the basement auditorium at 401 York Avenue in Winnipeg. General information, including alternate CVITP locations, is available from Service Canada at cra-arc.gc.ca/volunteer or the CFCS website at debthelpmanitoba.com/other-services/income-tax-prep.
The Government of Manitoba’s Tax Assistance Office also trains volunteers on the application of Manitoba income tax and Manitoba’s many tax credit programs and partners with CFCS to set up the clinic location. For general information on Manitoba Tax Assistance Office and Manitoba tax credit programs please visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/tao/index.html or call 204-948-2115 (toll free: 1-800-782-0771).