By Matt Nemeth

Free tax help available for low-income families, individuals

Apr 21, 2017 | 6:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The deadline to file your taxes is just over a week away and the province is urging low-income families and individuals to file this year free of charge so they can access all the benefits available to them.

In Medicine Hat there’s one volunteer tax preparation clinic located at the Crestwood MB Church on Dunmore Road SE.

“We don’t want anybody out there that needs to get their tax(es) done and can’t afford to do it to miss out,” said Medicine Hat Canadian Volunteer Income Tax Program Coordinator Tom Fry inside the church’s lobby Thursday morning. “We don’t want anybody to miss out on their benefits, that’s our whole goal here.”

Starting with an intake sheet, volunteers walk applicants through every step of the filing process then E-File their tax return — for free.

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The office, which is open every day of the week from 10 am to 4 pm except Wednesday opened at the beginning of March and closes Friday April, 28.

Individuals making less than $30,000 or couples with a combined income under $40,000 are able to use the service, and Fry says last year they did close to 2,000 returns.

“Some of them come in very stressed,” says Fry. “The majority walk out with a smile on their face.”

One thing the province is reminding low-income families this year about is the Alberta Child Benefit. It can be worth up to $1,100 for those families with one child who make under $41,746 and up to $2,750 for families with four or more kids under 18.

At the clinic in Medicine Hat up to four volunteers at a time are available to help people file their taxes, while another eight or so can do them from home once the intake sheet and proper paperwork are provided by applicants.

Fry says they also offer the income tax help year round, people just have to call and make an appointment.

“So if you didn’t make the clinic you’re not stuck,” he said.

More information about the local income tax help that’s available can be found here: Medicine Hat Tax Preparation Clinic