Promote equality in your community by becoming a participating community organization for the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program to help individuals claim the benefits and tax credits they are entitled to.

What is expected of a participating community organization?

As a participating community organization, you:

• help individuals meet their tax obligations and receive the benefits and credits they are entitled to without interruption
• plan and hold income tax return preparation sessions online or in person
• recruit volunteers, manage and coordinate their efforts and make sure they complete returns for eligible individuals

What are the benefits of participating in the income tax assistance program for organizations and their volunteers?

As a participating community organization, you:

• may be eligible for two grants: one from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and one from Revenu Québec
• will get tax preparation software and training material that you can provide to volunteers on the basics of completing personal income tax returns
• will benefit from support and coaching provided by CRA and Revenu Québec coordinators throughout the year
• will have access to an electronic toolkit to help you recruit volunteers and to announce the dates and locations of your income tax return preparation sessions
• may benefit from the CRA's laptop donation program
• can promote your income tax return preparation sessions on the Government of Canada website
• will receive certificates from the CRA and Revenu Québec

Your volunteers will:

• receive comprehensive training to prepare them for the entire season
• have access to CRA and Revenu Québec phone lines just for them
• have access, if they meet certain requirements, to the CRA's and Revenu Québec's online filing services, as well as the CRA's Auto-fill my return and Revenu Québec's Tax Data Download service

How to register as a community organization for the income tax assistance program

To register as a community organization for the program, complete the form on the Register as a Community Organization page.

Grants for community organizations participating in the income tax assistance program

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program Grant (CRA)

This grant offsets the costs incurred by community organizations that hold free tax clinics. Grant amounts vary according to the number of federal income tax returns filed.

For more information and to check your grant eligibility, see Grant for Hosting Free Tax Clinics on the Government of Canada's website.

Revenu Québec grant

As a participating community organization, you may be eligible for a $5 grant from Revenu Québec for each Québec income tax return (form TP-1-V) your organization files under the income tax assistance program.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible as a community organization, you must:

• be registered for the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program
• be a non-profit organization (NPO) registered in the Québec enterprise register and have a Québec enterprise number (NEQ)
• have prepared provincial income tax returns during the filing period that normally runs from June 1 of the year to May 31 of the next year
• complete form LM-94.9.PB-V, Grant for Community Organizations Participating in the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program, and send it to Revenu Québec by December 31 following the end of the filing period

The grant is awarded only once for each Québec income tax return prepared during the filing period. Therefore, you must submit only one grant application to Revenu Québec for this period.

Accountants and tax professionals

If you are an accountant or tax professional, you must make a clear distinction between your own clients and the individuals taking advantage of the income tax assistance program. You or your volunteers cannot use the EFILE and NetFile Québec numbers used for your business when preparing returns under the program. You must obtain separate numbers for use under the program.

Need more information?

For more information, complete the CRA's Contact a program coordinator – community organizations  form.