First time filing taxes?
T
Get it right from the start
here are so many firsts in life first steps, first word, first day of
school, first job... you get the idea.
There’s also the first time you file income tax
and benefit return with the Canada Revenue
Agency (CRA). Whether you’ve just landed
your first part-time job and need to pay
taxes or claim a refund, turned 19 and want
to claim the GST/HST credit, or moved
to Canada and want to fulfill your tax
obligations, the CRA is there to help.
The deadline to file your 2013 income tax
return and pay any tax owing is April 30,
2014. Filing on time will ensure you receive
your credits and benefits without delay or,
if you owe taxes, avoid a late filing penalty.
Twenty million Canadians took advantage
of the CRA’s electronic filing services last
year. To file online, all you need is your
social insurance number, your birth date,
your income tax information, and access to
certified software or a web application. The
$
CRA provides a list of options at
www.netfile.gc.ca/software; some can be
purchased and some are free for everyone.
The amounts to include in your tax return
are those that appear on your various
information slips and receipts. However,
you don't need to send these documents to
the CRA. If the CRA needs your slips or
receipts, they will contact you at a later date.
More taxpayers are choosing to go paperless
after discovering how convenient, easy,
and secure filing online really is. And if
you’re entitled to a refund, you can enjoy
your money in as little as eight days if you
combine online filing with direct deposit.
And if you’re a benefit or credit recipient,
direct deposit gives you access to your
benefit and credit payments faster.
As a first-time filer, you may find completing
a tax return confusing. Not sure where to
begin? Go to www.cra.gc.ca/getready to
learn some of the ways to reduce your taxes.
tax
time
You can also use the search function on the
CRA’s website to get information on the
online Learning About Taxes program, a selfpaced learning unit that explains Canada's
tax system and teaches you how to prepare a
basic tax return.
If you’ve gone through the website and still
need help filing your tax return, you can
call 1-800-959-8281 and speak with a CRA
agent, who will answer any questions you
have.
If you have a modest income, and a simple
tax situation, you can also contact the
Community Volunteer Income Tax Program,
which runs volunteer tax clinics across the
country. To find a volunteer tax preparation
clinic, go to www.cra.gc.ca/volunteer.
With so many choices available to guide you
through this tax season, there’s no excuse to
delay filing your taxes. ■
Swift Eyewear is pleased to announce a partnership
with St. Lawrence College to offer students, teachers
and alumni an exclusive purchase program.
Go to swifteyewear.com to see how you
can save on your next pair of glasses.
14 SA Voice April 2014
Student Association of St. Lawrence College | www.SAvoiceSLC.com