Five residents have stepped up to offer this year’s community volunteer income tax program in Williams Lake.
“We are here to help people who really need the help, not to take away business from others,” said Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor who is in his 50th year with the program. “As mayor it helps, it gives me a sense of how people are doing and helps me make decisions.”
Rathor said he is excited about the commitment and expertise of the team which includes Judy Gibbons, Debbie Seland, Sukhwinder Boyal and new this year, Leonard Uri.
Seven sittings are scheduled for March and the first week of April for residents to drop off their papers in person and sign a paper authorizing the volunteers to file the returns. All of the time slots are 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Thursday, March 6 - Glen Arbor, 564 Oliver Street, residents only
Tuesday, March 11 - Sunset Manor, 60 Westridge, residents only
Tuesday, March 18 - Seniors Activity Centre, 176 Fourth Ave. North
Thursday, March 20 - Seniors Village - 1455 Western Avenue
Tuesday, March 25 - Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy - #302 - 172 Second Ave. North
Thursday, March 27 - Age Care, 185 Fourth Ave. North - residents only
Tuesday, April 1 - Salvation Army, 267 Borland Street
Diane Walters also offers the program through the Women’s Contact Society at 201 - 350 Barnard Street.
The program is limited to eligible individuals with a modest income of $35,000 for individuals, $45,000 for couples, plus $2,500 for each dependent.
Rathor said they cannot file returns for people who are self-employed, run a business, earned more than $1,000 in interest, have capital gains or losses, employment expenses or have filed for bankruptcy. They also don’t file returns for deceased persons.
The final day for submitting returns is Wednesday, April 30 so the sooner the team receives the necessary papers the better.
This story has been updated to include the March 20, Seniors Village date.
Aside from those specific sitting times, anyone wanting to access the free service is asked to drop their papers off at either the Seniors Activity Centre, 176 Fourth Avenue North or at the Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy 302-172 Second Ave. North. Both offices are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Gibbons said she loves doing income tax return, and always has.
“Every year I meet new people - it’s really cool,” she said. “It keeps me busy and challenges my brain.”
At 86-years-old, Gibbons said the more she does the better it is for her.
This is Seland’s second year with the program as a volunteer. For 15 years she ran a business and did returns and before that worked as an employee for someone else doing returns since she was 23.
The people are why she enjoys volunteering, she said.
“Everyone is unique - your mind has to work hard - it keeps you challenged.”
Boyal said he works at a sawmill and volunteering helps him meet other people in the community.
“It improves my communication and skill development and keeps me connected, by meeting new people.”
Rathor also enjoys the math challenges of preparing returns and helping people and said he is lucky to have everyone on the team and honoured to work with them.
“I am also thankful to the community wanting us to help them.”
Anyone with questions can reach Rathor at 250-392-0909.
In 2024, through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, 3,410 organizations and 15,970 volunteers helped more than 758,540 individuals file their income tax returns.
