The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), offered by FCSS, provides eligible residents assistance with filing their annual income taxes. The program is supported by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and assists eligible low-income residents with a simple tax situation.
This important service would not be possible without our community volunteers. Last year, 4 trained community volunteers assisted with filing 649 tax returns. The tax assistance provided through this program has positively impacted hundreds of seniors, children and low-income individuals by ensuring they receive all obtainable benefits.
Eligibility for the program is based on income. Please refer to the table below for household income eligibility.
Family size includes an individual, a couple, and their dependents.
Household composition
Annual Income
1 person
$35,000
2 people
$55,000
3 people
$57,500
4 people
$60,000
5 people
$62,500
more than 5 people
$62,500 plus an additional $2,500 for each additional person
Frequently Asked Questions
A tax situation is considered simple if an individual has no income or if their income comes from the following sources:
Employment
Pension
Benefits (e.g., Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, disability insurance, employment insurance, social assistance)
Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)
Scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, or grants
Interest income (under $1,000)
The program cannot assist with returns that include:
Self-employment income or employment expenses
Business income and expenses
Rental income and expenses
Interest income over $1,000
Capital gains or losses
Bankruptcy in the tax year (or the previous year if that return has not yet been filed)
A deceased person’s return
Foreign property (T1135)
Foreign income
CVITP tax preparation services are offered free of charge to everyone who meets the eligibility criteria.
All clients must provide updated paperwork, consent and proof of address. New clients are required to attend an in-person appointment.
To book an appointment with a CVITP volunteer, call FCSS at 403-851-2250.
Yes, you must reside in Cochrane, West Rocky View County or Mînî Thnî to access our program.
If you are outside our service area, you can visit the following website to find a free tax clinic near you:
Proof of identity (valid government-issued photo ID)
Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Direct deposit information
previous income tax year information
Donation receipts
Tuition receipts (T2202A)
Medical expense receipts (if claiming medical expenses)
RRSP receipts
For newcomers:
Date of arrival in Canada
Amount of foreign-sourced income earned in the tax year before arriving in Canada
February 24, 2025: Earliest day to file your taxes online
April 30, 2025: Deadline to file your taxes
Payment date for 2024 taxes
April 30, 2025: Deadline to pay your taxes
Yes, our volunteers utilize the CRA's auto-fill my return service.
Yes, volunteers can help file taxes for the years 2019 to 2024. You will need copies of your T4s from previous years, as they may not be available in the system for auto-fill.
Contact Information
Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)
