Callan Forrester – LJI reporter
As March approaches, the end of the fiscal year is sitting heavy on many people’s minds. It can be stressful figuring out how to most efficiently and effectively file taxes, especially when access to resources like accountants can come with a pricey bill. In the Valley, ADDS (the Association pour la Défense des Droits Sociaux) may be able to help with filing those taxes.
Marie-Ève Gagné, the general manager of ADDS, explains that they have a free income tax clinic to help ease the stress of tax season, with the goal of reaching residents of the Haut Saint Laurent who are in vulnerable situations. These clinics will be available at the main office in Huntingdon, as well as in Ormstown, Saint-Anicet, Saint-Chrysostome, and Dundee. The tax clinic is open from March 3 to April 17. Clients must be members of ADDS (which costs $10) and they must meet the financial criteria. To be eligible, a single person must have made less than $32,000 or a couple has to have made less than $42,000.
The goal of these clinics is to help vulnerable residents to receive all of the benefits that are available to them. “These benefits, by increasing their income, enable them to access their most basic social rights, namely adequate housing, clothing, and, above all, food,” Gagné says.
ADDS works with residents at a certain socio-economic level. Having a free service like this helps people who may hit barriers like a lack of digital skills or the high cost of tax services. Plus, it is a part of “reducing the stress associated with tax obligations; it helps to empower members by informing them about their tax situation, while ensuring that they don›t miss out on financial assistance to which they are entitled,” Gagné says.
Living in a rural area can mean that access to resources can sometimes be more difficult. But Gagné believes that it is important to fight for access to all regional resources. During the clinic, ADDS will also “be accompanied by various partner organizations, depending on the location, who will be promoting community services such as transportation, food, mental health, and community involvement,” Gagné says. They will also be conducting a survey to learn how they can better serve community members.
Gagné joined ADDS as the general manager recently and has found it to be both stimulating and rewarding. “I realized the challenges we had to face, but also the opportunities we had to strengthen the organization›s impact in the community,” she says. Her first goal was to understand the internal and external dynamics of the organization, and make sure she could maintain relationships with everyone involved from the other employees to the members to the partners. “Every day allows me to learn and adapt, always with the goal of pursuing our mission of defending social rights and supporting those who need it most,” she adds.
To be better prepared for tax season, Gagné offers some advice. The biggest thing is to make sure to have all of the necessary forms ready to go, including T4 slips, social assistance statements, donation receipts, medical or childcare expense statements, and the 31 return, which is provided by the landlord.
“It›s a good idea to keep these documents on hand throughout the year, to avoid rushing at the last minute,” Gagné says. Preparing early is also an asset. To book an appointment with ADDS, call 450-264-6888.