Surinderpal Rathor is gearing up for his 42nd season offering the volunteer income tax return program in Williams Lake.
Beginning March 14, there will be sittings held at various locations around the city, with three additional sittings in McLeese Lake, thanks to another volunteer, he said.
Who is eligible for the free service?
Rathor said the program is for students, seniors, people with disabilities and new immigrants.
"Eessentially anyone who cannot afford to pay to have their income tax return done for them."
The service is offered to single people with an income up to $30,000, a couple with an income up to $40,000, a single parent with one child with an income up to $35,000, plus $2,500 for each additional child.
People that are not eligible for the service are those with an interest income of more than $1,000, bankruptcy, employment expenses or capital gains or loss.
"I cannot process a deceased person's return either," Rathor said.
As always, the program is not trying to take away business from companies who wait all year to offer tax return services, he added.
When asked what brings him back every year, he responded that it is his love for playing with numbers and helping people.
"Income tax returns are necessary for so many things," he said. "It's how your MSP, HST, GST and child tax benefits are calculated. For some seniors, it will also determine their CPP and Pharmacare."
Anyone with prescriptions to claim is encouraged to go to their pharmacy and ask for a print out of the last year's medications because that will ensure none are missing.
"And if they have medical travel receipts or a safety deposit box, they need to bring that in too," he said.
Rathor encourages people to drop off their income tax information at the Seniors Activity Centre between Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., except on holidays.
"A lot of people are not coming back afterwards to pick up their papers at the Seniors Activity Centre so I am asking people to make sure they do by the end of June because they won't be held after that," Rathor said.
Schedule of sittings in Williams Lake
March 14, 10 a.m. to noon. at Seniors Activity Centre, 176 Fourth Ave. North
March 16, 10 a.m. to noon at Seniors Village Retirement Concepts, 1455 Western Ave.
March 21, 10 a.m. to noon at Sunset Manor, 60 Westridge Drive
March 23, 10 to noon at Glen Arbor, 564 Oliver Street
March 28, 10 a.m to noon at Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society 118C North First Avenue
March 30, 10 a.m to noon at Salvation Army, 267 Borland Street
April 4, 10 a.m to noon and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at United Steelworkers Union Local 1-425, 124C North Second Ave.
Sittings in McLeese Lake
McLeese Lake Hall 10 a.m. to noon on March 15, March 29 and April 12.
For more information, Rathor can be reached between Tuesdays and Fridays at his home phone 250-398-5222 or cell phone 250-392-0909.