By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Bashaw Star
A program helping low-income earners with their taxes is back for another year, with a few pandemic-related changes.
The Bashaw Municipal Library tax program is in its fifth year. Run in partnership with the Certified Professional Accountants of Alberta, low-income earners and seniors are able to drop off their tax documents with library staff, where they are scanned and submitted to volunteer accountants from across the province.
Previously, a volunteer would come out from either Stettler or Camrose and help people with their taxes in the library, however, like many other things in the COVID-19 age, the program has had to pivot and adapt as well.
“We had to change it. People can still bring their tax forms in, but it’s all done online,” said library manager Cindy Hunter.
“It works so nicely for people, seniors, who haven’t left town in a year and have no place to take their tax forms.”
In order to qualify for the program, taxes must be simple, with just T4 or T5 documents to enter. An individual can have a maximum income of $35,000, and a couple may have a maximum income of $45,000.
Complicated tax forms, such as those with home-based businesses, or dealing with estates are not eligible.
Anyone wishing to partake in the program is asked to contact the library at 403-372-4055 prior to dropping off their documents. Once submitted, people typically have their taxes back within a week.
The program started in early March and the final day to submit tax documents to the library for assistance is April 8.
The Bashaw Library is currently open to the public from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and is still offering curbside service for those not wanting to venture into public.