File Your Taxes

• One person - $35,000 or less
• Two people - $45,000 combined (add $2,500 for each additional person in the family)

Note: Organizations can modify the total family income based on the local economic environment, the population they serve, and their resources. Community organizations may also establish additional criteria.

When is a tax situation simple?

A tax situation is considered simple if an individual has no income or if their income comes from:

• Employment
• Pension
• Benefits such as Canada Pension Plan, Disability, Canada Child Benefit, Employment Insurance or Ontario Works
• RRSP
• Support payments
• Scholarships, fellowships, bursaries or grants
• Interest (under $1,000)

When is a tax situation not simple?

A tax situation is not simple when an individual:

• Is self-employed or has employment expenses
• Has business or rental income and expenses
• Has capital gains or losses
• Files for bankruptcy
• Is completing a tax return for a deceased person

In Ontario, there are 41 income and benefits programs that can only be accessed by filing income tax. These include benefits like:

• Canada Child Benefit (CCB) 
• Working Income Tax Benefit 
• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
• HST/GST credits 
• Trillium benefits 

These benefits can increase annual income and are only available if taxes are filed every year.

Supported self-filing tax preparation is a pilot program to assist people, who have simple tax situations and modest incomes, to prepare and file their own tax return. Please see the "Find out if you are eligible to use a free tax clinic" tab above for eligibility details. This is a free service for those who want to learn how to do their own taxes.

Interested people are connected to a volunteer, an experienced tax preparer, who has done many low-income tax returns and the volunteer will help to guide people to prepare and file their own tax return.

Our Supported Self-Filing model is currently offered as a virtual option (phone/online) until COVID restrictions relax enough to offer an in-person option.

To be successful, you must be comfortable with technology, have an email address and access to a computer with internet. You are eligible if you have modest income and a basic tax situation – no business, deceased or bankruptcy returns.

Please see the "Find out if you are eligible to use a free tax clinic" tab above for eligibility details.

Email livingwithlowincome@durham.ca or call 1-888-341-8612.  We will contact you and get you started filing your own taxes.

CONSENT FORM—Online Survey

Building Bridges Together: Co-production of Financial Empowerment Strategies with People Experiencing Low Income

CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

You are being invited to participate in an anonymous online survey as part of a research study led by Lorraine Closs from the School of Health and Community Services at Durham College. The survey asks questions about your financial well-being and your financial decisions. It will take about 15 minutes to complete.

If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to contact Lorraine Closs at 905-721-2000 ext. 3667

PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY

The survey has the following goals:

1. To learn about the financial choices and financial well-being of people living on low income (individuals living on less than $30,000/year)

2. To learn about the financial needs of people living on low income.

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION

Your participation in this survey is voluntary.  It is your choice to be part of this survey or not.

PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL

If you volunteer to participate in this survey, you may withdraw at any time from the survey, for whatever reason, even after agreeing to consent or part way through the survey.   If you decide to withdraw from the survey there will be no consequence to you of any kind. Withdrawing from the survey will not impact your receipt of services from Ontario Works or any other agency. Simply exit the survey and none of your information will be saved.

The information we collect will be put into a database and will not identify you.  This means that if you withdraw after completing the survey, your responses cannot be withdrawn from the survey; however, we will not be able to identify which responses are yours.

You may also refuse to answer any questions you don’t want to answer and still remain in the survey.

You should also be aware that in some cases, where warranted, the researcher may withdraw you from the research.

RIGHTS OF RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS

If you withdraw your consent at any time and choose not to participate, there will be no negative impact to you nor any penalties.  Withdrawal from the survey will have no negative impact to any of the financial supports you may receive. Withdrawal from the survey will have no negative impact to your involvement with any community agencies where you receive services.  You are not giving up any legal claims, or legal rights because of your participation in this research survey.  This survey has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through the Durham College Research Ethics Board, application #214-2021  If you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant, you can email reb@durhamcollege.ca. 

PROCEDURES

If you volunteer to participate in this survey, we would ask you to do the following things:

1. Complete an online survey through a link on this website. The survey should not take you any longer than 15 minutes to complete.
2. Information about you like your age and your income level will be kept confidential and anonymous. We will not use your name or other information that would allow you to be identified. You will be assigned a number so that your answers will not be identified to your name.
3. With your consent, the final report of the research survey will be sent to you by email. The results of this survey may be published and for a copy of that publication you can contact Lorraine Closs Lorraine.closs@durhamcollege.ca You will not be identified in any publication or presentation of the results of this survey.

POTENTIAL RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS

There are minor possible risks or discomforts expected or identified with your participation in this online survey given that some of the questions are of a personal nature.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS AND/OR TO SOCIETY

There are potential benefits to you and the community for your participation in this research survey.

The potential benefits to the Durham Region community and to the participants are to understand the Durham specific financial literacy needs. By using the community volunteer income tax clinics, this project has the potential to reach a broad section of low income residents in our area and to assess their financial empowerment needs, create meaningful strategies grounded in their lived experiences and to measure the impact of those strategies.Other possible benefits include defining financial education best practices for the local, provincial and federal agencies working with people living on low income.

The findings of this project will be shared within the Durham College community, DC research day, organizations who participate in the CVITP, the Region of Durham Social Services department and peer reviewed conferences and journals.

CONFIDENTIALITY

You are participating in this survey confidentially.  You will be assigned a number for the purposes of this research survey. We will not use your name or other information that will allow you to be identified. The final report may contain anonymous quotes from participants of the online survey. Also, other participants will be able to view the results of the survey once the final report is completed.

Your responses to the survey will be reviewed by a community research steering committee made up of members of the community and community service providers but there will be no identifying information that would link your name to your survey responses.

Online survey information will be collected by the Durham College Research Assistants and it will be encrypted and password protected. All information will be stored in a locked location at Durham College in the locked office of the Principal Investigator, Lorraine Closs. All information will be retained for a 7 year period as required by Durham College’s Responsible Conduct of Research Policy; in a secure location and at the 7 year mark all information will be destroyed. Any paper records will be destroyed through confidential shredding at Durham College. All electronic information will be encrypted and then destroyed by deletion of the electronic file at the 7 year mark. Your information will not be released to any other party for any other purpose. All members of the research team, including the Research Assistants will sign a confidentiality consent form.

Immediate Assistance

If you would like to talk with someone or would like assistance with anything that is causing you to feel unsafe, concerned, worried or anxious, please contact any of these 24/7 resources:

Distress Centre Durham

1-800-452-0688

Durham Mental Health Services

1-800-742-1890

www.togetherall.com

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SURVEY

If you have questions later about the research, you may contact:

            Lorraine Closs - Lorraine.Closs@durhamcollege.ca or call 905-721-2000 ext. 3667 

This survey has been reviewed by the Durham College Research Ethics Board.   If you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant in this survey, please contact:

            Megan Parker, Finance and Ethics Compliance Coordinator

            Research Ethics Board

            Durham College

            2000 Simcoe St. N.

            Oshawa, Ontario  L1H 7K4

            reb@durhamcollege.ca 

Portions of this form have been adopted from Conestoga College with their permission.  Durham College gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the Conestoga College in this regard.

FORMULAIRE DE CONSENTEMENT — Sondage en ligne

Construire des ponts ensemble : Coproduction de stratégies d’autonomisation financière avec des personnes à faible revenu 

CONSENTEMENT À PARTICIPER À LA RECHERCHE

Nous vous invitons à participer à un sondage anonyme en ligne dans le cadre d’une étude menée par Lorraine Closs de l’École des services de santé et des services communautaires du Collège Durham. Le sondage pose des questions sur votre bien-être financier et vos décisions financières. Cela prendra environ 15 minutes.

Si vous avez des questions ou des préoccupations au sujet de la recherche, n’hésitez pas à communiquer avec Lorraine Closs au 905-721-2000 poste 3667

OBJET DE L’ENQUÊTE

Le sondage vise les objectifs suivants :

1. Se renseigner sur les choix financiers et le bien-être financier des personnes à faible revenu (personnes vivant avec moins de 30 000 $ par année).

2. Se renseigner sur les besoins financiers des personnes à faible revenue.

PARTICIPATION VOLONTAIRE

Votre participation à cette enquête est volontaire.  C’est votre choix de participer ou non à cette enquête.

PARTICIPATION ET RETRAIT

Si vous vous portez volontaire pour participer à ce sondage, vous pouvez vous retirer du sondage en tout temps, pour quelque raison que ce soit, même après avoir accepté de le faire ou en partie.   Si vous décidez de vous retirer du sondage, il n’y aura aucune conséquence pour vous. Le retrait du sondage n’aura aucune incidence sur la réception des services d’Ontario au travail ou de tout autre organisme. Il vous suffit de quitter le sondage et aucun de vos renseignements ne sera sauvegardé.

Les renseignements que nous recueillons seront versés dans une base de données et ne vous identifieront pas.  Cela signifie que si vous vous retirez après avoir répondu au sondage, vos réponses ne peuvent pas être retirées du sondage; Cependant, nous ne serons pas en mesure de déterminer quelles sont vos réponses.

Vous pouvez également refuser de répondre aux questions auxquelles vous ne voulez pas répondre et continuer à participer au sondage.

Vous devez également savoir que dans certains cas, lorsque cela est justifié, le chercheur peut vous retirer de la recherche.

DROITS DES PARTICIPANTS À LA RECHERCHE

Si vous retirez votre consentement à tout moment et choisissez de ne pas participer, il n’y aura aucun impact négatif pour vous ni aucune pénalité.  Le retrait du sondage n’aura aucune incidence négative sur le soutien financier que vous pourriez recevoir. Le retrait de l’enquête n’aura aucune incidence négative sur votre participation à des organismes communautaires où vous recevez des services.  Vous ne renoncez à aucune réclamation ou droit juridique en raison de votre participation à cette enquête de recherche.  Le Conseil d’éthique de la recherche du Collège Durham a examiné et approuvé le sondage, demande 214-2021. Si vous avez des questions concernant vos droits en tant que participant à la recherche, vous pouvez envoyer un courriel à reb@durhamcollege.ca.

PROCÉDURES

Si vous vous portez volontaire pour participer à ce sondage, nous vous demandons de faire ce qui suit :

1. Remplissez un sondage en ligne au moyen d’un lien sur ce site Web. Le sondage ne devrait pas vous prendre plus de 15 minutes.
2. Les renseignements vous concernant, comme votre âge et votre niveau de revenu, demeureront confidentiels et anonymes. Nous n’utiliserons pas votre nom ou toute autre information qui vous permettrait d’être identifié. On vous attribuera un numéro afin que vos réponses ne soient pas identifiées à votre nom.
3. Avec votre consentement, le rapport final du sondage vous sera envoyé par courriel. Les résultats de ce sondage peuvent être publiés et, pour obtenir une copie de cette publication, vous pouvez communiquer avec Lorraine Closs Lorraine.Closs@durhamcollege.ca. Vous ne serez identifié dans aucune publication ou présentation des résultats de ce sondage.

RISQUES ET INCONVÉNIENTS POTENTIELS

Votre participation à ce sondage en ligne comporte des risques ou des malaises mineurs étant donné que certaines des questions sont de nature personnelle.

AVANTAGES POTENTIELS POUR LES PARTICIPANTS ET/OU POUR LA SOCIÉTÉ

Votre participation à ce sondage de recherche présente des avantages potentiels pour vous et la collectivité.

Les avantages potentiels pour la collectivité de la région de Durham et pour les participants sont de comprendre les besoins particuliers de Durham en matière de littératie financière. En utilisant les comptoirs d’impôt sur le revenu des bénévoles de la collectivité, ce projet pourrait atteindre un large éventail de résidents à faible revenu de notre région et évaluer leurs besoins en matière d’autonomisation financière. Parmi les autres avantages possibles, mentionnons la définition de pratiques exemplaires en matière d’éducation financière pour les organismes locaux, provinciaux et fédéraux qui travaillent auprès des personnes à faible revenu.

Les résultats de ce projet seront communiqués à la communauté du Collège Durham, à la journée de recherche de DC, aux organismes qui participent au PCBMI, au service des services sociaux de la région de Durham et aux conférences et revues à comité de lecture.

CONFIDENTIALITÉ

Vous participez à ce sondage de façon confidentielle.  Un numéro vous sera attribué aux fins de ce sondage de recherche. Nous n’utiliserons pas votre nom ou toute autre information qui vous permettra d’être identifié. Le rapport final peut contenir des citations anonymes des participants au sondage en ligne. De plus, d’autres participants pourront voir les résultats du sondage une fois le rapport final terminé.

Vos réponses au sondage seront examinées par un comité directeur de la recherche communautaire composé de membres de la collectivité et de fournisseurs de services communautaires, mais il n’y aura pas de renseignements permettant de lier votre nom à vos réponses au sondage.

Les données du sondage en ligne seront recueillies par les adjoints de recherche du Collège Durham et elles seront cryptées et protégées par mot de passe. Tous les renseignements seront conservés dans un endroit verrouillé au Collège Durham, dans le bureau verrouillé du chercheur principal, Lorraine Closs. Tous les renseignements seront conservés pendant une période de sept ans, conformément à la Politique sur la conduite responsable de la recherche du Collège Durham; dans un endroit sûr et à la date de 7 ans, tous les renseignements seront détruits. Tout dossier papier sera détruit par déchiquetage confidentiel au Collège Durham. Tous les renseignements électroniques seront chiffrés, puis détruits par la suppression du fichier électronique à la fin de la période de sept ans. Vos renseignements ne seront divulgués à aucune autre partie à d’autres fins. Tous les membres de l’équipe de recherche, y compris les adjoints de recherche, signeront un formulaire de consentement à la confidentialité.

Aide immédiate

Si vous souhaitez parler à quelqu’un ou demander de l’aide pour tout ce qui vous fait vous sentir dangereux, inquiet, inquiet ou anxieux, veuillez communiquer avec l’une de ces ressources en tout temps :

Centre de détresse de Durham

1-800-452-0688

Durham Mental Health Services

1-800-742-1890

www.togetherall.com

QUESTIONS SUR L’ENQUÊTE

Si vous avez des questions plus tard au sujet de la recherche, vous pouvez communiquer avec :

            Lorraine Closs - Lorraine.Closs@durhamcollege.ca, 905-721-2000 poste 3667

Ce sondage a été examiné par le Durham College Research Ethics Board.   Si vous avez des questions concernant vos droits en tant que participant à ce sondage, veuillez communiquer avec :

            Megan Parker, coordonnatrice, Conformité, Finances et éthique

            Comité d’éthique de la recherche

            Collège Durham

            2000, rue Simcoe Nord

            Oshawa (Ontario) L1H 7K4

            reb@durhamcollege.ca

Des parties de ce formulaire ont été adoptées du Collège Conestoga avec leur permission.  Le Collège Durham est reconnaissant de la contribution du Collège Conestoga à cet égard.

Ajax Tax Clinics

Ajax Public Library

Clinic runs beginning March 2 - by appointment only, for the current tax year.

To qualify, you must be a resident of Ajax, have a valid Ajax Public Library card and a simple tax situation.

For more information or to book an appointment visit www.ajaxlibrary.ca or call 905-683-4000 X8813. 

Ajax Welcome Centre

Clinic runs February 25 - April 30, 2021

Remote tax filing services available by appointment only.

To qualify for this clinic, you must have been in Canada for five years or less.

For more information or to book an appointment, please call 1-877-761-1155, or email: awc@welcomecentre.ca. 

Alleyn & Associates Tax Office

Virtual Tax Clinic available from March 16 to December 31, 2021.

Income tax preparation - online only (current and prior years).

For more information or to book an appointment, 647-533-4850 or 647-244-2963 or email alleynetaxes@gmail.com.  

CADJPro Tax Clinic

Virtual clinic runs March 1 to December 31. Income tax returns will be prepared via telephone, email and videoconference. Appointments are needed to drop off tax returns.

For more information or to book an appointment, please call 647-762-2235, or email: cadjprovolunteer@outlook.com.  

Diverse Financial Group

190 Harwood Avenue South (inside G Centre), Ajax

By appointment only

Current and prior year returns. SW and HT friendly.

call 647-887-8725 or email: diversefinancialgrp@gmail.com 

Durham Region Housing Services 

Drop off/pick-up service offered to Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation (DRLHC) tenants only. Call 905-666-6222 ext. 2458 to arrange this service.

To qualify for this service, you must live at one of the following DRLHC locations:

 Ajax/Pickering

• 655 Harwood Ave.
• 1330 Foxglove Ave.
• 1910 Faylee Cres.

Ontario Works Locations - Year-Round

The Income and Employment Support Division (IESD) can provide tax filing for Ontario Works (OW) recipients. Tax filing is provided through Drop Off Tax Clinic Services only. 

Ontario Works clients can contact the following staff at their OW office for more information. 

Ajax Office

Contact Agata Humphries: Call 905-428-7400 ext. 6606 or email agata.humphries@durham.ca for tax filing packages and information.

Clarington Public Library 

Virtual tax clinic available by appointment. Completing tax returns for the current year only (2020). Clinic is running on two dates:

• March 13, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• March 29, from 12 to 9 p.m.

To book an appointment, please contact Samantha Aitken, 905-623-7322 ext. 2708 or email saitken@clarington-library.on.ca. 

Durham Region Housing Services 

Drop off/pick-up service offered to Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation (DRLHC) tenants only. Call 905-666-6222 ext. 2458 to arrange this service.

To qualify for this service, you must live at one of the following DRLHC locations:

Bowmanville

• 2 and 4 Nelson St.

Discovery Church 

Virtual tax clinic available by appointment. Completing tax returns for the current year only (2020). Clinic is running from March 15 to April 30.

To book an appointment, please visit Discovery Church website.

Backdoor Mission - Mission United

66 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa

Walk-in Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Please ask to see the Coordinator. Drop-off and pick-up service. Envelopes will be provided for your tax information drop-off.

Durham Region Housing Services 

Drop off/pick-up service offered to Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation (DRLHC) tenants only. Call 905-666-6222 ext. 2458 to arrange this service.

To qualify for this service, you must live at one of the following DRLHC locations:

Oshawa

• 1481, 1499, 1525, 1529 Ritson Rd. S.
• 1490, 1520 Birchcliffe Ave.
• 229 Lakeview Park Ave.
• Cedar St, Carlton Crt., Wasaga Crt., Nevis Ave., Christine Cres., Normandy St., Lomond St., Linden St., Poplar St.
• 416, 424, 432, 440, 448 Malaga Rd.
• 155 King St.
• 385 Beatrice St.
• 460 Normandy St.
• 439 Dean Ave.

Office of Jennifer French, MPP Oshawa

Offering drop-off service for income tax filing. Current year and last year only.

2-78 Centre Street North, Oshawa

Oshawa Public Libraries

This year, Oshawa Public Libraries CVITP Tax Volunteers can file your 2020 taxes for free through a drop-off and pick up service at either the McLaughlin or Jess Hann branch. There will be no in-person appointments due to COVID-19.

OPL's tax clinic will run from March 1 to April 30.

Contact the library today at (905) 579-6111 ext. 5200 or jossea@oshawalibrary.on.ca to book your document drop-off appointment or get more information.
 
Before the drop-off appointment is scheduled, be sure to have completed the two mandatory forms:

Tax Clinic Intake Form and CVITP Authorization Form (T1S60).

Oshawa Senior Community Centres 55+

Income Tax - appointments for individuals and couples can be made beginning March 24, 2021. Please call 905-576-6712 extension 2900.

Ontario Works Locations

The Income and Employment Support Division (IESD) can provide tax filing for Ontario Works (OW) recipients. Tax filing is provided through Drop Off Tax Clinic Services only. 

Ontario Works clients can contact the following staff at their OW office for more information. 

Oshawa Office

Contact Kelly Spurs: Call 905-436-6747 ext. 5208 or email kelly.spurs@durham.ca for tax filing packages and information.

People of Motherland and COFRD 

Bilingual services (English and French)

Virtual tax clinics by phone or by videoconference (Zoom, Google Meet) or by email.

By appointment only. Current and prior year returns

Please call 416-458-8106.

Pickering Welcome Centre 

Clinic runs February 25 - April 30, 2021

Remote tax filing services available by appointment only. Income tax returns will be prepared via telephone and videoconference.

To qualify for this clinic, you must have been in Canada for five years or less.

For more information or to book an appointment, please call 1-877-761-1155, or email: info@welcomecentre.ca. 

Durham Region Housing Services 

Drop off/pick-up service offered to Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation (DRLHC) tenants only. Call 905-666-6222 ext. 2458 to arrange this service.

To qualify for this service, you must live at one of the following DRLHC locations:

Whitby

• 409 Centre St. S.
• 315 Colborne St. W.
• 850 Green St.

Ontario Works Locations

The Income and Employment Support Division (IESD) can provide tax filing for Ontario Works (OW) recipients. Tax filing is provided through Drop Off Tax Clinic Services only. 

Ontario Works clients can contact the following staff at their OW office for more information.

Whitby Office

Contact: Cindy McColm - Call 1-905-668-7711 x2773 or email Cindy.McColm@durham.ca for tax filing packages and information.

North House

24 Toronto Street North, Unit 1, Uxbridge

By appointment only.  Current and prior year tax returns.

• In Uxbridge/Scugog call 289-640-1929, ext. 104
• In Brock call 705-432-8654, ext. 104