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.

Income Tax Clinics in Durham Region

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.

Business Tax Canada

203D - 1105D Kingston Road, Pickering

Clinic running year-round. Current and prior years.

For more information and to make an appointment

• Call 905-837-3067
• Email businesstaxcanada@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:

• Call 647-762-2235
• Email: cadjprovolunteer@outlook.com.

Diverse Financial Group

1400 Bayly Street, Office Mall 2, Unit 8, Pickering (directly beside the Pickering GO Station at Liverpool and Bayly, in Pickering)

Current and prior year returns. SW and HT friendly.

To book an appointment:

• Call 647-887-8725
• 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.

Bowmanville

• 2 and 4 Nelson St.

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.

Durham Tamil Association

1-62 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax

Clinic running March 19 to December 31, 2022

Current year only. Offering service in English and Tamil.

To book an appointment:

• Call 905-428-7007 or 647-294-3980
• Email: durhamtamilsprograminfo@gmail.com  

North House

24 Toronto Street North, Unit 1, Uxbridge

Clinic running March 1 to December 2, 2022

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

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.

Oshawa Office

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

Whitby Office

Contact: Cindy McColm - Call 1-905-668-7711 x2722 or email Cindy.McColm@durham.ca for tax filing packages and information.

People of Motherland - A World of Cultures

Clinic will run from February 10 to July 29, 2022. Current and prior years. Offering service in English and French.

For more information and to book an appointment:

• Call 416-458-8106
• Email people.taxclinic@gmail.com or people.motherland@gmail.com

The Refuge

300 Court Street, Oshawa

The Refuge will be offering free tax help starting the week of February 14 for current and former patrons.