It’s common to feel like you’re the only one who has avoided filing your taxes. It can be scary to watch the years go by and realize just how long it’s been. If you’re feeling like it’s too late to file or just don’t know how to get started or what you need, you are not alone—and there is help, and potentially financial benefits, to be had.
This was the case for Daniel and Sarah*, parents of three children in Manitoba who had avoided filing taxes for nine years. The couple had been struggling. Not only had an injury left Daniel unable to work for several years, but their debt was growing. They owed over $100,000 to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
The idea of filing their taxes made them feel understandably anxious and overwhelmed, and their small town had limited access to tax filing assistance.
But relief was on its way. Daniel and Sarah were able to access a service that would change everything.
Culturally appropriate, judgement-free tax filing clinics are an essential service
Daniel and Sarah moved to a First Nations community in Manitoba where the Community Financial Counselling Services (CFCS) team was holding a free tax clinic. These tax clinics, designed to empower individuals to steward their financial well-being, provide free resources and support people in reaching their financial goals. But that‘s not all. CFCS’s involvement in the communities they serve, and awareness of the issues facing those communities, make them a natural fit to support the people living there. They have spent years building the trust needed to make people feel comfortable seeking these services. These clinics are judgement-free zones, created to not only help people in a practical sense, but to provide the invaluable service of giving people financial agency and ultimately, a place to turn to when the burden of their financial stress becomes overwhelming to manage.
Answers to practical money and tax questions—and help following through
Many questions related to filing taxes seemingly have very little do with taxes but are essential steps in the process of receiving benefits. That’s why clinics like these go beyond tax filing help and get to the root of the financial issues facing communities across Canada. Some common questions that come up again and again are:
How do I get an ID card in Canada?
How do I get the documents I need to file my taxes?
Do I need a driver’s license to file my taxes?
I have children, but I’ve never received a child benefit. How do I get access to my benefits?
What benefits am I eligible for in Canada?
I was injured at work, and I don’t know how to get disability benefits. Where do I start?
How do I get a copy of my birth certificate in Canada?
I don’t know how to get a passport in Canada
I’m retired and I don’t know how to access my Canada Pension Plan or my Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement
I really need help with my finances. Where do I start?
The CFCS clinics answer these questions and guide people through the barriers to accessing funds they’re entitled to—sticking with them every step of the way.
Access to benefits: Tax filing can significantly help your financial situation
When the topic of taxes comes up, many people become anxious. But overcoming the fear of filing also allows you to access many significant benefits that you may be eligible for. For Daniel and Sarah, they were able to access $145,000 by working alongside the Community Financial Counselling Services team to file their taxes.
The relief they felt cannot be overstated. Not only were they able to pay off their substantial debt and the majority of their outstanding dues, they were also able to start receiving the Canada Child Benefit they had missed out on during the years they did not file, providing them with an extra source of reliable income.
Relieving financial stress allows everyone to thrive
Daniel and Sarah left the tax clinic that day with a sense of both relief and forward momentum. Not only were they looking at a more secure situation for their family, they felt empowered to take control of their financial future.
Their story is a powerful reminder of just how vital the tools and resources offered by free tax clinics are—especially when these resources are provided by a trusted community organization in the communities that need them most. Daniel and Sarah were able to enter a space where they didn’t feel judged but rather welcomed and supported. And that made all the difference.
These clients were supported through the Financial Wellness in First Nations project. Led by Prosper Canada and funded by IG Wealth Management, it aims to deliver culturally appropriate financial wellness supports through existing community organization services in Manitoba and Ontario First Nations communities.
*Names changed to protect privacy.
Katharine is an Officer in the Marketing and Communications team.