Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
If your income is modest and your return is simple, you can get tax help for free at a community tax clinic that runs through the CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. Volunteers prepare the return for you. Some clinics take walk-ins, some want you to drop off your papers, and some work by appointment in person, by phone or by video.
Can I get my taxes done for free?
Often yes, and this is the option people skip most. The CRA describes a simple tax situation as one with no income, or with income from sources such as CPP, Old Age Security, disability insurance, Employment Insurance or social assistance.
What counts as a modest income? The income limit is stated differently on different CRA pages, so we’ve left the dollar figure out. Check the clinic directory page before you go, and if you’re near the line, phone the clinic.
Bring photo ID issued by a government, your social insurance number, every tax slip, receipts and last year’s notice of assessment if you have it. Missing paperwork is what slows a clinic visit down more than anything else. Our checklist of documents for your tax return gives you a list to tick off the night before.
Picture Alina, a student in Saskatoon with one T4 and a T2202 from her school. She phones the clinic on Monday, drops off her papers on Wednesday and picks up a copy of the filed return the next week. That kind of simple return is exactly what these clinics are set up for. The slow part can be waiting for a slot, so try not to leave it until the last week of April.
Quebec runs its own version, the Income Tax Assistance Volunteer Program. Federal returns are free there. The CRA page says minimal fees may apply to the provincial return under Revenu Quebec’s rules.
Which kind of help fits my problem?
| Your situation | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Low income, few slips | A free tax clinic |
| Want to know roughly what you owe | An online calculator |
| Benefit payments look wrong | Your CRA account, then the CRA by phone |
| Self-employed or sold investments | A paid preparer |
| Someone helping you with the CRA | A representative you authorize |
The rows aren’t rules. A clinic may turn you away if your return is more involved than it can handle, and then you’re into paid territory anyway.
What if I only need to understand a number?
Many people who search for tax help near them really want to know what a salary turns into. Put $45,000 of employment income into the income tax calculator and the answer for Ontario is $5,243.01 of federal and provincial tax. CPP and EI take another $3,202.75, which leaves $36,554.24.
Move the same salary to Alberta and the income tax falls to $4,860.46, so you keep $36,936.80. Two provinces, one salary, a gap of about $383 a year. If that surprised you, the calculator just saved you a trip.
If the question is a benefit, try the GST/HST credit calculator or the tax credits calculator, which covers federal credits only. Those are estimates and the CRA decides the real amount.
Can a friend or relative help me with the CRA?
Yes, if you authorize them. The CRA says a representative can be anyone who wants to access information and services on your behalf. You sign in to your CRA account, open Profile and add an authorized representative, or you fill in Form AUT-01 for help by phone, mail, fax or in person.
Use that route and keep your sign-in details to yourself. There are two levels: information only, or information plus certain changes. Start with information only.
What should you check before you go?
Three things save a wasted trip. Confirm the clinic is still running this season, since volunteer programs change from year to year. Ask whether you need an appointment, and what they can’t take, whether that’s business income, a rental or a return for someone who died. Then run through the checklist of what to check before you file so your name, address and banking details are right. A wrong direct deposit number is a quick way to turn a refund into a headache.
What goes wrong when people look for help?
The usual mistake is paying for something a clinic would have done free. The next is signing a form you haven’t read. Never sign a blank one, and ask for a copy of what was filed.
Some people also wait until they get a letter. It’s easier to ask before you file. Where money is owed, the tax installments calculator tells you if you may have to pay in advance next year, which matters if you have income with no tax taken off.
We didn’t check what any individual clinic, firm or app offers or charges. Prices and services change from place to place, so ask.
Where we got these figures
Clinic and authorization details come from Canada Revenue Agency pages read in 2026. Tax amounts come from our calculator with 2026 federal, Ontario and Alberta rates, for employment income only.
Frequently asked questions
Who can use a free tax clinic?
People with a modest income and a simple tax situation. The CRA pages differ on the income limit, so check the clinic directory page for the current wording.
What should I bring to a clinic?
Government photo ID, your social insurance number, your tax slips, receipts and your last notice of assessment if you have one.
Is Quebec different?
Yes. Quebec uses the Income Tax Assistance Volunteer Program. Federal returns are free, and minimal fees may apply to the provincial return.
Can someone help me deal with the CRA?
Yes, if you authorize them in your CRA account or on Form AUT-01. You choose information only or information plus certain changes.
How can I check what my salary leaves after tax?
Use an income tax calculator. On $45,000 of employment income in Ontario it shows $5,243.01 of income tax before CPP and EI.
- How to choose a tax preparer in Canada
How to decide if you need a tax preparer, what a preparer does, the questions to ask before you hire one and where to find free help in Canada