Volunteer Income Tax Ministry
The time to file 2021 taxes is almost upon us. The Canada Revenue Agency has again invited BSBC to be part of the "Community Volunteer Income Tax Program" to prepare income tax returns free of charge for seniors, students, and other low-income individuals. But COVID-19 is also upon us. So, the opportunity to minister to people from our downtown core and elsewhere in a meaningful and practical way through hosting a tax return clinic will be very different.
Working with the BSBC Board of Management and the BSBC COVID-Committee we have worked to develop a process which we believe will allow us to assist those in need while keeping us all safe. We will conduct clinics on Tuesday afternoons. But we will hold them in the gymnasium rather than the Barnabas Centre. We will minimize the time meeting with clients by quickly collecting their information and paperwork. We will process the returns apart from the client in a separate process after they have left the gym. The church will mail their forms and confirmation of the filing back to them.
The tax clinics and hours of operation (assuming we are in Level 1 or Level 2) will be as follows: Tuesdays, 1 to 5 p.m. from March 1 until April 26.
Who can help? The basic requirement is only a willingness to help others who could use our assistance. If you have basic computer skills, you can easily learn how to prepare the computerized returns. Any volunteers who may not be comfortable using a computer would be able to help in a screener/greeter/information taker role.
What do you need? Canada Revenue Agency provides the computers and software. You just need the willingness to serve.
Believe it or not, completing tax returns can be more exciting than watching paint dry. It is fun because of the fellowship we share and more importantly, we are showing His love in a practical way. We look forward to hearing from you! Please keep this ministry, and equally if not more importantly, those in need in your prayers.
If you are interested in helping or have any questions, please contact Ron Smith or Shelley Pronk.
Respectfully,
Ron and Shelley
