Prince George, BC – There is help available for low income city residents looking for assistance in preparing their income tax returns…

Every year, Revenue Canada offers training to volunteers looking to help others file their income tax returns.  Tess Peters took the training several years ago and takes ‘refresher’ courses annually, as she coordinates the Community Volunteer Income Tax Preparation program at the Westwood Church.

Peters says CVITP is aimed at helping those city residents who would find it a financial burden if they had to pay to have their income tax done – single parents, seniors, students, and newcomers to Canada.  She says there’s a suggested income cap of $25-thousand dollars for individuals and $35-thousand dollars for couples seeking the volunteer service.

There are a number of venues offering the service here in Prince George, including the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Council for Seniors.  In addition, Peters says some volunteers go to UNBC and to the local seniors’ centres.  The program is open to the public at the Westwood Church, Peters just asks that anyone interested phones 250-562-3711, first, to arrange an appointment.

"People must be willing to sign a consent form recognizing that the person filling out their form is a volunteer," she says.  "They’re responsible for giving the correct information."  Revenue Canada has offered its obsolete computers to some of the service providers, so, if the individual is okay with that, their return can be submitted online at the Westwood.

As for why she got involved, Peters says her church was looking for a way to meet people in the community and, when she saw the ad for the program, she thought it would be a good seasonal volunteer opportunity.  Peters started the initiative with another woman, then ran it alone for several years, but says a number of volunteers are involved again this year.