Tax filing resources for residents and organizations
The Peel Poverty Reduction Committee has partnered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to provide information and resources to support you in filing your taxes, including finding a free tax clinic near you hosted by community organizations.
File your taxes every year
It's important to file your taxes every year, even if you have no income to report. This ensures you'll receive all the government benefits and credits you may be eligible for.
Wealthsimple Tax and TurboTax are free tax software programs you can use to file your taxes.
You can also find a free tax clinic near you.
If you're an authorized representative under your spouse's CRA account, you can file their tax return. Exceptional cases can happen: if you're in doubt, call the General Inquiries line at 1-800-959-8281.
The Benefits Wayfinder tool
The Benefits Wayfinder by Prosper Canada is an online guide to government benefits that can help put more money in your pocket.
The Benefits Wayfinder:
- Helps Canadians living on low-to-modest incomes find and track benefits they may be eligible for.
- Is a one-stop, simple, virtual guide with 4 ways to search for federal, provincial, and territorial benefits.
- Can be used by individuals on their own or by tax clinic volunteers to support clients with their benefits search.
The benefits and credits you're eligible for depend on your personal and family circumstances.
Use the Canada Revenue Agency's Benefits Calculator to find out which benefits you qualify for and how much your payments might be.
Depending on your income level, you may qualify for the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, where you can file your taxes through a free tax clinic.
What to bring to the clinic
Be sure to bring your identification with you. If you are a first-time filer, specifically a newcomer, also make sure to bring your Confirmation of SIN letter from Service Canada.
Also be ready to provide (if applicable):
- Your spouse's legal name, date of birth, Social Insurance Number (SIN), and address.
- A list of all your dependents, their exact date of birth, and SIN (if they have one). Bring the following documents with you (as applicable).
For volunteers to do your taxes for you, make sure you have your:
- Tax information slips
- Receipts
- Social Insurance Number
- Identification
- Previous Notice of Assessment (when possible)
Income
- Salary and wages
- Pension, annuity and investment income, Canada or Ontario savings bonds (or both)
- Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement or spouse's allowance
- Canada Pension Plan
- Registered Retirement Savings Plan or Registered Retirement Income Fund
- Employment insurance benefits
- Social assistance payments/Workers Compensation benefits
- If you have received a lump-sum payment, bring the breakdown statement from the payer
- Receipts for expenses and credits (please total your deductions)
Housing
All property taxes or rent paid (provide in a list along with the total amount)
Children
Child care expenses
Education
Union dues, tuition fees, and education amounts
Medical
Medical expenses (provide in a list along with the total amount)
Transit
Public transit pass - seniors only (provide in a list along with the total amount; you can claim on a month’s duration or longer)
Donations
Charitable or political donations (have a list and total amount)
Other
- Details of spouse's and dependents' income
- Date of arrival to Canada and status (if a new immigrant)
- Indicate if your spouse is non-resident (if applicable)
- Proof of payment to non-resident dependents (18 years or older)
- Direct deposit information (void cheque or letter (or both) from your bank with your banking information)
If you cannot access your tax slips
If you create a MyAccount on the CRA website, you'll be able to access all your necessary tax slips for a given year.
If you do not have access to a computer and do not have your tax slips, call the CRA General Inquiries helpline at 1-800-959-8281 and request to have them mailed to you. If you are eligible for a free tax clinic, the volunteer preparing your return can also retrieve your tax slips.
Payments for tax owing
If your tax return shows that you owe money to the CRA, visit Make a payment for individuals – payments to the CRA to select a payment option.
Newcomers to Peel who landed on December 31 of the previous tax year need to file a tax return.
For tax purposes it's beneficial for newcomers to file their taxes so they can collect the credits or benefits (or both) that they may be entitled to.
The CRA Outreach program partners with community organizations to provide free presentations on various tax topics including newcomers, international students, and seniors.
For more information about the Outreach Program, call the CRA at 416-420-0906 or visit Request a CRA Outreach visit to arrange a presentation.
If you have a basic understanding of income tax and want to help others in Peel, consider volunteering to process and submit tax returns at a Community Volunteer Income Tax Program clinic.
As a tax clinic volunteer:
- You'll help thousands of people get their entitled benefits and credits.
- You can choose to file and complete people’s taxes in person or virtually by videoconference or by phone.
- You'll receive training, guidance, access to a dedicated help line, and free tax software.
For more information on record checks, visit register to volunteer.
These tax filing resources provide information to organizations about hosting a free clinic and referring clients to appropriate tools.
Where to refer clients
Clients who are eligible for filing through a free tax clinic can visit free tax clinics, the clinic directory to find a clinic in their area and select their applicable criteria to search.
CRA resources
Registered Community Volunteer Income Tax Program host organizations and volunteers will have access to the volunteer training page, live and recorded training webinars on tax-related topics, the helpline, tax filing software, and a E-FILE number.
Hosting a free tax clinic
For information on hosting a free tax clinic and to register your organization, visit host a free tax clinic.
Community Volunteer Income Tax Program Grants
The grant helps offset costs incurred by community organizations that host free tax clinics and provides funding for income tax returns filed.
To apply for a grant, visit questions and answers about the tax program grant.
For more information about tax clinics and filing, call the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) at 1-800-959-8281. For information about the resources provided email the Peel Poverty Reduction Committee.