A group of Okanagan College business students are volunteering their time to help make tax season a little less stressful.

For the sixth year, they’ll be offering a series of free public weekday tax clinics until April 29.

The Okanagan College Accounting Club will host the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guided Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) to help people with an income less than $30,000 or a family income of less than $40,000.

“There’s a definite need; last year we helped more than 400 community members,” said business student Alex Urbanovitch, who is also the Director of the College’s CVITP. “For the volunteers, it’s a step towards gaining career training, and it gives the clients an opportunity to ask questions face-to-face to clarify their tax concerns and ensure they can get the most out of their returns.”

Photo Credit: Okanagan College.Okanagan College Accounting Club volunteers Alex Urbanovitch and Jessica Belanger manning the free CVITP tax clinics on campus.There are 30 student volunteers who have all completed the Canadian Income Tax I course and trained with a CRA-led webinar.

Urbanovitch said the service is also available to fellow College students.

“Students who do not work may think they don’t need to file taxes, but there are great advantages to doing so, such as receiving GST credit,” explained Urbanovitch. “Filing taxes means a record is kept of your tuition expenses for credit, which can be carried over to future years when income is earned. Or the credit can be transferred to a family member to lower their taxes payable.”

The software they use saves costs and prevents errors, they don’t keep your paperwork and all files are password encrypted for security and privacy.

For those wanting to participate, clinics will be first-come-first-served.

They will be held in the Atrium of the Centre for Learning at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesdays from 3 to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m.

No clinics will be offered on Mar. 23, 25 or 28.

To take part, you have to bring your ID, Social Insurance Number, slips from employers, schools, government (any T4-type slips, T2202A, or T5007) and important receipts for medical, childcare, and transportation.