Tax season comes around each year. Are you hoping to get a refund this year to help pay the bills? Or maybe you could use benefit payments to help you and your family make ends meet?

In order to get these benefits, you need to do your taxes. If you need some help, the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program may be an option. Through the program, community organizations across Canada host free, in-person or virtual tax clinics where volunteers complete income tax and benefit returns for eligible people.

If you have a low or modest income and a simple tax situation, it can be worth reaching out, since filing your taxes allows you to get benefits and credits like the GST/HST credit, the Canada child benefit and the Canada dental benefit. It’s also how you claim a refund or find out if you have to pay tax.

You and your spouse or common law partner need to do your taxes by April 30th every year to keep accessing benefits and credits, even if you have little or no income. Since April 30th is a Sunday this year, the deadline is Monday, May 1, 2023.

You can see if you’re eligible for free tax help or find a CVITP tax clinic at canada.ca/taxes-help.