SUMMERSIDE: A regional outreach partnership officer with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and it’s her job to help ease the pain for Canadians.
Clarke recently explained some of the changes Canadians can expect to encounter while filling out their 2014 returns.
For starters, CRA is pushing electronic filing more than ever, she said.
“We are moving towards more electronic communications with Canadians, because that’s what a lot of people want,” she said.
There are many advantages to filing online, she added, not the least of which is government cost savings and a speeding up of the process for Canadians.
“You could have your refund in as little as eight business days, if you have direct deposit set up.”
“It’s just really easy.”
Canadians who want to file online can find a host of resources at www.Netfile.gc.ca, including a list of CRA certified programs to help them.
This website will point people in the directions of the various tax credits they may be eligible for.
New to that list this year is the much talked about family tax cut announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2014.
That is a non-refundable tax credit up to $2,000, available to eligible families with children under 18.
The good news is that Canadians don’t really have to worry about calculating this change into their returns, said Clarke, as anyone filing online will have it automatically included as they fill out their returns.
Also new this year is the increase of the children’s fitness tax credit, up from $500 to $1,000.
Search and rescue volunteers can now also claim a similar tax credit to what has previously been available to volunteer firefighters.
Canadians might also notice a new box on their tax returns where they can include an email address and sign up for something called Online Mail.
This service allows the government to send people their notice of assessment electronically through a secure system.
