Let’s face it, tax forms are intimidating, complex and require keeping track of receipts, forms and previous filings. Add a low-income to this equation and it’s even more of a challenge. The personal income tax system in Canada has become an important way for the government to deliver income support benefits, like the Canada Child Benefit and GST refunds. By not filing, many individuals and families may be losing out on thousands of dollars in benefits.
E4A in Action
Tax Filing Help
Not filing your taxes? You could be missing out!
20 January 2023
Not filing your taxes? You could be missing out!
$179 million
Refunds, credits and benefits paid to Albertans using free tax clinics in 2021
15%
Working-age Albertans don’t file their taxes
3%
Calgarians living in homelessness who received the GST tax credit
Help is Available
For the 2023 tax season, many community organizations are hosting free tax clinics. Volunteers can help eligible people complete and file taxes for free. Links to these resources along with a few others are provided below:
- The Government of Canada’s national directory of free tax clinics and find out what benefits you might be eligible for by taking this questionnaire.
- Several members of Aspire, Calgary's Financial Empowerment Collaborative, offer tax filing clinics and services.
- Prosper Canada has a Benefits Wayfinder that guides you to government benefits that can help put more money in your pocket.
- Need a computer? Check out the Calgary Public Library’s Borrow a Computer program.
- Need your documents to be faxed, scanned, or printed? Some tax clinic agencies like Rise Calgary provide this service for free. Call them at 403-204-8280 to make an appointment.
- Learn more about the types of benefits you might qualify for if you're living on a low income.
What you need to file your taxes
- T4 (employment income)
- T4A, T4A(P), T4(OAS), T4RIF, T4E
- T5 (statement of investment income)
- T5007 (income assistance)
- T3 (statement of trust income allocations and designations)
- PT5007 (statement of benefits)
- T4 - RSP (if cashed out in full or partial RIF)
- T2202 – Tuition and Education
- T2200 (working from home) - Review Simplifying the process for claiming a deduction for home office expenses for employees working from home due to COVID-19 for more information
- T4RSP (registered retirement savings plan)
- Your Notice of Assessment from last year’s taxes, if available
- Charitable Donations
- Medical/Dental Expenses not covered by a health plan
- Rent (only if self-employed)
- Child Care Expenses
- Property Taxes (only if self-employed)
A valid social insurance number (SIN) is required to file your taxes. For information on how to apply or what to do if you have lost your SIN, visit Employment and Social Development Canada.
A valid government issued photo id is required to file your taxes. The Canadian government will accept the following documents as acceptable id:
- Passport - an international passport is acceptable if it includes the name, date of birth, photo and signature of the applicant and, if not in English or French, is accompanied by a professionally translated version.
- Driver's license
- Enhanced driver's license
- Canadian military identification card
- Government-issued identification card
- Government-issued enhanced identification card
- Health card
- Canadian citizenship card issued before February 1, 2012
- Canadian permanent resident card
Learn more about applying for an ID card to use as photo identification.
