Tax Program

The basics typically are:

• A Social Insurance Number or Individual Tax Number (for those without a SIN)
• T4s from any employer that you worked for
• T2202 – proof of tuition fees paid; found through your MySAIT or by contacting the Office of the Registrar.
• T4A – scholarships or bursaries
• 2019 Notice of Assessment (this makes the process a lot easier!)

Some additional information can include:

• Receipts for moving expenses, childcare expenses, medical expenses

The basics online are the same as those in person! Instead, you don’t necessarily need to have them printed out as you previously might have had to do, just make sure you’re ready to read out those numbers to your volunteer over video chat!

Option 1: you can do them yourself online through a program like TurboTax or StudioTax

Option 2: you can pay an organization such as H&R Block

Option 3: you can access Saitsa’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, open from March 15 – April 16, 2021. See above for details!

You are eligible to use the Saitsa Tax Program if you:

• have $35,000 maximum net income individually
• have $45,000 maximum net income if you’re married or common-law + $2,500 per dependant
• do not have capital gains/losses
• are not self-employed
• do not have rental income

I didn’t receive a T4 from my employer, can I still file my taxes?

You can find all your information on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website. Create an account and you will be able to locate all the information associated with your SIN or ITN.

If I am filing with a spouse or common-law partner, can I file for the both of us?

For us to process the return, we will need both partners present at the clinic.  

Can I book an appointment to come in to have my taxes done?

No, we are only taking walk-ins on a first-come-first serve basis. The whole process, from start to finish, will likely take between 25-45 minutes if you’d like to prepare for coming into the Tax Clinic.

Why do I need the prior year’s notice of assessment?

If you filed taxes for 2018, this gives the Saitsa CVITP volunteers the most up to date information relating to you for the previous year file. We need this to look for RRSP contributions or anything that carries forward into future years.

Can I claim my transit expenses if I have the U-Pass?

No, this was unfortunately eliminated effective June 2017.

What if I didn’t work and don’t have a T4?

You should still file as you will have your T2202A for tuition credits. This doesn’t guarantee a return, but you should still file taxes.

Can I claim my textbooks as an expense? 

No, this was also unfortunately eliminated in 2017.

I paid tuition this year, does this affect my taxes? 

Yes, this reduces the amount of taxes you will need to pay. Your tuition will show on your T2202A which you can find in your My Student account on MySait. 

• Only the volunteer that you are matched with will have access to your information, and volunteers are mindful of their surroundings when volunteering in their own home.
• Volunteers will keep their camera on for the duration of the interaction with you while filing your return.
• Volunteers will share the UFILE screen with you, if requested, so that you may see the information that is being entered and verify it.
• You are required to give your consent throughout the call, and if you are uncomfortable with proceeding, you may leave the call and the return will not be processed.