High River's Family and Community Support Services is gearing up for the annual free Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, starting early next month.

The FCSS team helps people file simple tax returns, ensuring they continue to receive benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit, GST, Climate Action Incentive and Alberta Seniors Benefit.

It's been in operation for over 15 years.

The program caters to individuals and families with straightforward personal tax situations (non-business income) with specific income limits:

  • 1 person - $35,000
  • 2 people - $45,000
  • 3 people - $47,500
  • 4 people - $50,000
  • 5 people - $52,500 + $2,500 for each additional dependant

Residents can drop off their tax documents at the Family and Community Support Services Centre at 251 9 Ave SW.

Volunteers will handle the rest and electronically file tax returns. 

Because of the flexibility of some returns, processing can take longer than the average of three weeks.

The team can file previous years' income tax returns but they typically take longer to process. 

They can also help write letters to the CRA to obtain missing slips (T4, T4E, T4RIF, etc.) to file taxes properly.

Walk-in intake for taxes will be accepted Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. starting March 4 and will end on April 26.