Revenu Quebec's Income Tax Assistance Service Is Open To Eligible Canadians & It's Free
When it comes to filing your own income taxes in Canada, Revenu Quebec is making navigating tax season slightly easier with a tax assistance program available to eligible residents.
This initiative is collaboratively overseen by both the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec.
According to Revenu Québec, the Income Tax Assistance — Volunteer Program enlists the support of numerous community organizations and volunteers to aid individuals requiring assistance with their income tax filings but lacks the financial means to hire professional services.
The new income tax program will be able to help Canadians who do not have access to experts or tax officials complete their returns promptly. The free service is also offered to people who cannot complete their taxes themselves and/or whose income is less than the average wage in Quebec, which is the case for many students and workers with lower incomes.
There are tons of volunteers in community organizations across Quebec, this way eligible residents can access the free program in their respective regions.
What You Need To Know: To be eligible for the free Revenu Quebec assistance program when filing your 2023 income taxes, you must meet two of the main prerequisites. Note that your total family income must not exceed the income limit for your situation.
First, your income must be below the following maximum thresholds:
- 35,000 if you live alone
- 45,000 for a couple (both incomes combined)
- 45,000 for single-parent families
- 2,500 for each additional dependant (the same if you live alone or as a couple)
Furthermore, you must fall under the "simple tax situation." Per Revenu Quebec, your tax situation is considered simple if you do not have any income or if the source of your income is:
- employment
- a pension
- benefits such as those from the Québec Pension Plan, a disability insurance plan, employment insurance or social assistance;
- income or an annuity from a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)
- support payments
- a scholarship
- income from interest (less than $1,000)
You do not qualify for the free program if:
- you are self-employed or have employment expenses (however, we consider your situation simple if your income is less than $1,000, you do not have employment expenses and you are not registered or required to register for the GST or QST)
- you have rental or business income and expenses
- you own property outside of Canada
- you sold a residence
- you have capital gains or losses
- you declared bankruptcy
- you are completing the return of a deceased person
What's Next: Several community organizations will host a virtual tax preparation session so that you feel better equipped to file your 2023 income taxes. Volunteers through the Revenu Quebec free assistance program can also provide help online, via phone or through a modified envelope system.
Eligible residents can consult the list of sessions on the official Revenu Quebec website, or call the government agency (as well as the Canada Revenue Agency) to find out which organization offers the service you need.
To avoid any late fees or penalties, it's best to have your taxes sorted and filed by April 30, 2024.
Keep Reading: In addition to the free assistance program, eligible residents in Canada should also look into the many benefits and credits offered across Canada and Quebec. Did you know that Canadians could receive up to $600 from Revenu Quebec?
Additionally, it's important to brush up on any changes set forth by Revenu Quebec and the CRA, as this could impact your 2023 income taxes.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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