Once a year, we engage volunteers through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) to file simple tax returns for people who meet the eligibility requirements for the program. Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC) volunteers prepare simple tax returns for our low-income clients of SWCHC or Individuals/families who live in our service area.

Our clinics will take place in March/April 2025. 

Onsite services: March to April, every Tuesday and Wednesday (by appointment only),

Location:

• SWCHC Branch – 30 Rosemount Ave. (Tuesdays)

• Rochester Heights Community House, 865 Gladstone Ave. (Wednesdays)

Registration:

Please call 613 324 4920 or email to  cvolunteer@swchc.on.ca for appointments. Virtual services are available by staff referral or through a special assessment by our registration staff. If you have had your taxes filed with SWCHC and have questions, please contact us, at 613-324-4920  or cvolunteer@swchc.on.ca.

We are grateful to the team of exceptional volunteers who make this possible. Thanks volunteers - for playing your part to enable the best possible health and wellbeing for the people and communities we serve!

Information for Ottawa Community Housing Tenants & Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation:

If you are a resident of Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) or Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC), your Ontario Trillium Benefit will be greatly reduced this year.

Here is an explanation:

• A decision was made by the City in 2014 to exempt Ottawa Community Housing, and Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation, from Property Taxes, and therefore applies to all tax returns done since tax year 2015.

• The main Trillium benefit has two parts:

• A sales tax credit

• A combined credit for energy and property tax (OEPTC): this can only be claimed by tenants whose rent includes a portion that covers the landlord’s property tax for that unit.

• Since OCH & CCOC does not pay property tax, OCH & CCOC tenants cannot claim this portion of the Trillium credit. This affects the Ontario Energy and Property Tax component of the Trillium Benefits, but has no impact on the Sales Tax component.

How does this impact OCH & CCOC tenants?

• OCH & CCOC tenants cannot claim the OEPTC. This will mean that Trillium benefits for these tenants will be lower than they were in previous years starting in July 2020.

• Ontario has begun to enforce this. As a result, some OCH & CCOC tenants have been reassessed by the Canada Revenue Agency and are being required to repay that part of the credit.

If you have had your taxes filed with SWCHC and have questions, please contact us.