WESTLOCK – At a quick glance, the success of the Westlock Family and Community Support Services’ (FCSS) annual Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, which kicked off March 1, is undeniable.
Over the last three years the program, which caters to low-income residents, has handled 2,168 tax returns for people in town, Westlock County and the Village of Clyde.
But as town councillor and FCSS board chair Murtaza Jamaly explained at council’s March 8 meeting, the service itself is just a small part of what makes the program important for the community.
Jamaly said FCSS staff use the returns to help people apply for other income-assistance programs, which in turn brings extra dollars to families in need.
“And that’s dollars back in our community. The total dollars brought back into communities from the tax returns done by FCSS was $27 million across the province. And if I take $27 million and multiply that by 15 per cent (the total of Westlock returns done versus the province), and granted that isn’t a good calculation, that’s roughly $4 million brought into our community just by doing tax returns,” said Jamaly.
“So, the work that FCSS is doing in tax returns is super valuable work and is appreciated.”
Added mayor Ralph Leriger: “It is clearly an important program for our community.”
Jamaly also went on to note the 2019 stats that saw 763 returns done locally, compared to 5,954 done at FCSS offices across Alberta. Last year, FCSS did 646 returns — 452 for town residents, 147 for county folks and 47 for people from Clyde — while in 2018 there were 759 returns completed and filed.
“So, the Westlock program (in 2019) made up roughly 15 per cent of the total provincial tax returns that are done by FCSS. That’s something to be said about the size of our program,” Jamaly noted.
Eligibility to apply is based on yearly income which is under $35,000 for a single person and under $45,000 combined for a couple. Jamaly said finding volunteers — they have three lined up currently — is always a challenge, although they’ll be OK for this tax season.
“And this came up at a meeting I had last Friday about how there is no provincial strategy for the volunteer income tax program … there are some communities that don’t offer the program because they’ve got nobody to do it,” said Jamaly.
“I know we have some really good volunteers and I think we’re doing OK, but there’s always a desire to have more people who can help.”
FCSS director Tracy Proulx said the big change this year due to COVID-19 will be that the returns will be done by appointment only as walk-ins at the FCSS office aren’t allowed — Pembina and Smithfield residents can fill out the forms at their respective lodges.
After the info is dropped off, a volunteer picks it up and will then e-file each return — folks with more questions, or those who want to book an appointment can always call FCSS at 780-349-5900.
“And the paper copies are then mailed back to the client to reduce the number of people coming into the office,” she said, noting they’re asking residents to have all of their T4s before making the appointment.
Proulx conclude by noting that people need to remember that these are basic tax returns as they don’t handle capital gains, farm returns, business/rental income or expenses, deceased returns or bankruptcy.
