Free Salvation Army Tax Clinics Help Clients Get More Financial Benefits

Tax season can be stressful, especially for those who can’t afford professional help. The Salvation Army in Corner Brook, N.L., strives to make the process smoother by offering free tax clinics for low-income families or individuals to ensure they file their taxes timely, accurately and hopefully earn some additional income.

“The majority of the clients that we serve are people who are on social assistance. They can’t afford to pay the $80, $100 that they’re charging now to get the forms completed,” says Zachary Wheeler, coordinator of The Salvation Army’s tax clinic in Corner Brook.

The service is completely free and open to people earning less than $25,000 annually. In some cases, the tax clinic takes in clients who earn more than that but still can’t afford to hire a professional to help them.

“We ask clients to bring proof of their ID, proof of income, and we base approval off that,” Zachary adds.

“Most times clients do get something back at the end of it, and they’re always ecstatic about that.”

Filing taxes with the assistance of The Salvation Army not only offers the possibility of a tax return but can also help clients access additional benefits they may not be aware of, such as child benefits and rebates for GST, HST, and carbon tax. In the past, Zachary has even assisted clients in filing their medical receipts.

“Most times clients do get something back at the end of it, and they’re always ecstatic about that,” says Zachary.

Zachary remembers a case that stood out to him. He helped a family who was struggling financially and had a son who was laid off from work. The son had not been able to file taxes in previous years. The filing took a lot of effort, but it paid off in the end.

The family received over $1,000 in tax returns, which they say helped them to have a great holiday season.

“Everything continues to be expensive, so I expect a bigger increase this year.”

“They all burst into tears because they didn’t expect to get that much back. It made their Christmas. They ended up getting gifts for their children. They were able to financially support their household and have turkey dinner for the family,” Zachary shares.

All volunteer preparers, along with Zachary, are CRA certified, ensuring that clients who use Salvation Army tax clinics receive expert advice and service.

Due to the current economic climate, tax returns are more crucial than ever, and tax clinics are in demand.

“There was a slight increase last year because of inflation. Everything continues to be expensive, so I expect a bigger increase this year,” Zachary says.

By Juan Romero