The Income and Employment Security Action Group of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force supports a Grey Bruce Community Income Tax Program (CVITP) Network. Some 14 organizations across the two counties provide free income services. Income is an established social determinant of health, and arguably the most important.
Tax benefits provide money to people based on their life circumstances and, for some people, benefits can help to increase their income, lower expenses, and make a big difference to their quality of life, such as improved health, food security, housing stability and lower stress.
Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) recruits, trains and accredits organizations to provide free income tax services. Most local organizations in Grey Bruce offer drop-off/pickup, virtual and in-person services. Call 211 for the latest list of free tax services in Grey Bruce by calling 211 or go to FreeTaxClinics.ca
Volunteers are needed in Bruce and Grey Counties to support people who need help in preparing basic income tax returns. Call 211 or go to Volunteer4BGTaxes.ca to learn more. Note: we are currently not recruiting for volunteers while clinics are running during the March to May 2024 tax season. We shall be opening up the volunteer recruitment up again after October 31st, 2024.
In 2023, the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force along with the United Way of Bruce Grey and The Grey Bruce Community Foundation have released a Grey Bruce Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) Case Study. The study focused on the free income tax programs offered at The Meeting Place/Tobermory and the South East Grey Community Health Centre in Grey Bruce. A dollar value was calculated for each program and interviews were held with people using the services.
Together, The Meeting Place Tobermory’s CVITP and South East Grey Community Health Centre’s CVITP programs helped 332 residents access over $1 million ($1,165,528) in income benefits, tax credits and refunds across 5 municipalities. On average, each beneficiary received $3,100 ($3,099.81).
Of those interviewed, over 87% indicated the program had significantly decreased their stress levels around filing their taxes. Over 73% indicated their confidence in managing and filing their taxes had significantly increased. The majority of respondents indicated the filing of their taxes helped them to afford food, rent, utilities, transportation and medication.
A final workshop in June 2023 was held with Volunteer Coordinators/Volunteers, the Income & Employment Security Action Group of the Poverty Task Force, CRA and MP Alex Ruff representatives to look at system level barriers and solutions. Read the full Case Study here.
In June 2024, during the Grey Bruce CVITP Network Annual Gathering, three organizations—the Bruce County Public Library, South East Grey Community Health Centre, and The Meeting Place Tobermory—reported a combined $3,275,673 in benefits and refunds returned to households in 2023 Tax Season (Filed in March to June 2024).
A new report, Reducing Poverty Through Volunteers: The Impact of CVITP in Grey Bruce, December 2024 highlights the program’s impacts. Read the full Report here.
We have pulled together the “nuts-and-bolts” of the Grey Bruce Community Volunteer Income Tax Program Case Study so that partners can use and adapt these tools. In particular, we provide the Dollar Value Calculation template that has been used by The Meeting Place Tobermory and South East Grey Community Health Centre in this Case Study.
GB CVITP Case Study: Logical Framework and Evaluation Matrix
GB CVITP Case Study: Telephone Survey Questionnaire
GB CVITP Case Study: Dollar Value Calculation Tracking Sheet
INCOME TAX FILING TOOLS
Why Should You File Your Taxes? Slide Presentation to Clients with Low Income
CRA/CVITP has updated its website for the 2024 tax season:
Tax credits and benefits for individuals – Canada.ca
How to apply for the Canada Dental Plan Canada Dental Benefit
Learn about taxes for students and educators teaching materials
Prosper Canada has a Benefits Wayfinder Guide that walks you through what to do if you have filed or not filed your taxes.
The Benefits Wayfinder has a Portal for Agencies supporting clients
FINDING LOCAL RESOURCES
Many volunteers of the Grey Bruce Community Volunteer Income Tax Program support community members to access local resources. A list of resources are found in the Turning Over Stones guide. This guide is here to help you with practical resources that cover utility assistance, home energy programs, financial literacy, and more.
To find local community resources, social services, government assistance,
and health services, call 2-1-1 or check out informationbrucegrey.ca