National Virtual Tax Clinic

For many Indigenous families and low-income households, tax time is an opportunity to access benefits. AFOA Canada and AFOA Canada members support the Indigenous community by delivering a virtual tax clinic through Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) online platform. Due to COVID-19, our services are entirely by phone or virtually. By appointment ONLY.

You can volunteer with AFOA Canada National Virtual Tax Clinic in one of two ways:

      1. As an AFOA Canada Member, you can volunteer directly with the tax clinic and will file income tax returns on behalf of clients who are unable to access their usual tax clinic due to the pandemic; or
      2. If you have received training through one of AFOA Canada’s Tax Clinic Training Sessions, you would like to volunteer but do not know where you can volunteer, AFOA Canada will act as a host organization to your community. You must be a volunteer through the CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), and in your application, please identify VIRTUAL -AFOA Canada Tax Clinic as your host organization. Once approved, you will receive training, guidance, and tax software.
AFOA Canada Certified Members (CAPA & CAFM) – Volunteering through AFOA Canada’s Virtual Tax Clinic is an opportunity to earn the hours required to maintaining your certification.

How the Program Works

AFOA Canada delivers a virtual tax clinic through CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). When you register as a CVITP volunteer, please identify Virtual – AFOA Canada Virtual Tax Clinic as your host tax clinic.  As a CVITP volunteer, you’ll receive training, guidance, and tax software.

      1. Register as a volunteer with the CRA. During registration, designate AFOA Canada as the virtual tax clinic. After registering as a volunteer, you will also be required to apply for a volunteer EFILE. Business EFILE numbers cannot be used for this program.
      2. CRA will approve your application and provide a volunteer EFILE number via email confirmation. Please note, it may take up to 30 days for your application to be approved.
      3. Receive a welcome email from AFOA Canada, which will include details on training opportunities. If you have already participated in one of AFOA Canada’s Virtual Tax Clinic Training sessions, we will add you to the volunteers’ list and coordinate with your schedule.

Training and Reference Materials

For More Information

Volunteer support will be available with CRA. Their hours of operation are listed below for your reference. Please note that wait times may be longer than usual during this unprecedented time.

EFILE Helpdesk

Dedicated Helpline for volunteers (1-866-398-3488)

Hours during tax filing season (February 28, 2022 – April 30, 2022) :

Monday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 PM EST

Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Contact email: taxclinic@afoa.ca

What is a Virtual Clinic?

A virtual clinic is any clinic that offers eligible individuals the option to have their taxes completed by an AFOA Canada volunteer without any physical contact.

Who can volunteer at a Virtual Clinic?

The virtual clinic option is best suited for volunteers with some experience and who are comfortable working independently. Ideally, volunteers should also be approved to use Auto-fill My Return (AFR), but that is not mandatory. Also, volunteers may need some or all of the following depending on the virtual clinic chosen:

      • a valid CVITP-EFILE account*
      • CVITP UFile software*
      • reliable internet service*
      • access to video conferencing software (download of an app may be necessary)
      • access to a phone
      • an email address

How many hours are required to be a volunteer?

Volunteers may spend as many hours as they wish to volunteer. We recommend committing at least three (3) hours volunteering at a virtual tax clinic.

Should our Virtual Tax Clinic not suit your schedule, and you are looking for a tax clinic closer to home, you can also volunteer with the CVITP. Your coordinator will connect you to a placement that fits your availability.

TO RECEIVE SUPPORT THROUGH A VIRTUAL TAX PREPARATION CLINIC IN YOUR AREA visit Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) ‘s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) website to see a complete list of clinics operating in your province or territory. You can also call CRA for additional support at toll-free 1 (800) 959-8281.

For more information on virtual tax clinics, please visit the CRA’s COVID-19 free virtual tax clinics page.

For more information

Toll-free: 1-866-722-2362

EMAIL AFOA CANADA
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