HOLLAND COLLEGE
Accounting Technology students volunteer with CRA to assist low income islanders and seniors

Students from Holland College's Accounting Technology program will be assisting qualified low-income Islanders, students, and seniors with their income tax returns again this year through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.

The college's Accounting Technology students have been working with the Canada Revenue Agency in the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program for more than 40 years. An individual with income of less than $35,000, or a two-person family with income of less than $45,000 (plus $2,500 for each additional person in the family) can get their return done free of charge through the program at tax clinics across the province.

(L-R) Accounting Technology student Ava Washington and instructor Shane Kelly discuss the upcoming Community Volunteer Income Tax Program clinics with students Harper Hippenstall and Kristoff Pinder. The three students will be part of the team working in the free tax clinics in March and April.

The students are supervised by a volunteer approved by the CRA who checks their work before the returns are submitted. Allison Doughart, manager of the business programs at Holland College, said the CVITP program gives students invaluable experience not only in completing income tax returns, but also in working with the public.

"Our students find participating in the free tax clinics to be personally satisfying as well, because they are ensuring that everyone has access to assistance in completing forms that can be very daunting for some individuals," she said.

The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program runs on Mondays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March and April at Murphy's Pharmacies Community Centre, 200 Richmond Street in Charlottetown. Please call 902-566-9602 to find out if you qualify, to make an appointment, or to find a free tax clinic in your community, visit www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html or call 1-855-516-4405.