Seniors, low-income residents turn to free tax clinics

Many seniors and low-income families who have been hit particularly hard by the recession are turning to non-profit agencies for help filing their taxes.

"I'm looking for a job, and I'm looking for every penny I can keep myself," said Sue Angus, who is getting her taxes done for free this year.

"It's not a lot of money -- $50-60 it costs me to do my taxes -- but it is a savings. And you know, my 14-year-old son can use that $60," she told CTV Ottawa.

The Senior Citizens Council of Ottawa and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, also known as ACORN, are both offering free tax services to low-income individuals.

"Some of them are losing their jobs and, therefore, losing income, and therefore things are tighter for them than it was before," said ACORN member Roy Anderson.

"We may only save them between $50-100, but for people who are only earning $20,000 a year, that is a significant amount to save and, therefore, that's more money that can be spent in the businesses in the community -- and in that way, it is a stimulus package."

The non-profit agencies aim to spot tax credits for low-income individuals, putting a dent in the millions of dollars that go unclaimed every year.

"One thing that's certainly missed is the bus passes. People aren't aware of it. There are also child tax benefits that people may not be claiming, and maybe GST," said Madalena Santos, ACORN's tax co-ordinator.

For seniors, the guaranteed income supplement is one that often gets missed, said Kay Freeman of the Senior Citizens Council of Ottawa.

The non-profit organization is offering free tax help for anyone earning less than $25,000 a year.

"We know it makes a difference. The accountants come back year after year because they get so much appreciation," said Freeman.

To schedule an appointment with one of the two agencies, people can call the Senior Citizens Council of Ottawa at 613-231-6992 or ACORN at 613-746-5999.

ACORN says the demand for its free tax service has been so high, the organization is now looking for donations from the public to keep the service running for a few extra days.

The deadline to file personal income tax for 2008 is April 30, 2009.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Vanessa Lee