For Release - March 31, 2009
OTTAWA- March 31, 2009 – Member of Parliament Ed Holder is pleased
to provide the following article for use in your publication without
charge.
Benefits for filing taxes
At this time every year, most Londoners sit
down with receipts and scraps of paper to do their tax returns.
While none of us enjoys paying taxes, they are essential to pay for
the type of government and society we enjoy in Canada.
Generally, personal income taxes for most
Canadians are due on April 30th and if you file
electronically, you can have your refund in just a few days.
This year, I want to encourage everyone to file
their taxes. Filing a
tax return for most Canadians does not result in money owing, but
instead results in a refund.
If you have a lower than average income, it is
even more important that you file your tax return as this is the
only way to access the benefits due to you, such as GST rebate
cheques, child benefit programs, the Universal Child Care Benefit
and benefits for Seniors.
If you have not filed for several years, you can end up with
a lump sum cheque for the benefits you were due going back a few
years. It pays to bring
your tax affairs up to date.
For those with average incomes, our
Conservative government has brought in many tax changes that help
all Canadians, from a 2% cut in the GST to pension income-splitting
for Seniors. I have
posted a special tax guide with most of the new personal tax credits
on my website at www.edholdermp.ca.
I encourage you to review it and determine if you are
eligible for an even greater refund than you first thought.
If you need help filing, the Canada Revenue
Agency has 25,000 volunteers across Canada who will help you,
including several in the London area.
You can contact the CRA on any tax-related matter either by
telephone toll-free at 800-267-6999 or via the internet at
www.cra.gc.ca.
I hope this information is of help to you.
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