H&R Block Canada donates a $1,000,000 worth of tax preparation to food banks
across Canada
Encouraging low income Canadians to file returns can trigger benefits and credits
TORONTO, March 22 /CNW/ - H&R Block is helping ease the stress of filing taxes for lower income earners by donating 11,000 gift certificates to Food Bank clients across Canada. Valued at more than $1,000,000, the gift certificates entitle a client of the Food Bank to have their tax return completed by a trained tax professional at participating H&R Block offices.
"Low income Canadians have some of the most complicated tax situations and one of our goals is to help people understand why they need to file a return and the benefits it can bring," says Bob Lougen, Senior Vice President and General Manager, H&R Block Canada. "Filing a tax return could trigger payments like the Child Tax Benefit and the GST/HST credit which can have a significant impact on the amount of income a family receives."
Lower income taxpayers can experience challenges when trying to file. Some do not realize they need to file a return even if they have a small amount of income while others may not have a Social Insurance Number (SIN). If they are self-employed, they may require assistance understanding their deductions and how to estimate their expenses.
"By distributing gift certificates, it means people can come at a time that is convenient for them, meet with a tax professional to discuss their situation and receive all of the same services as any other H&R Block client including year round support and Audit Assistance," explains Lougen. "In our third year of the program, the 11,000 certificates represent a major expansion. Our goal is to make sure every Canadian gets their maximum refund."
The gift certificates are being distributed by food banks in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, Toronto, Windsor, Ottawa, Montreal, Sault Ste. Marie, St. John's, Saint John, Lethbridge and Halifax.
About H&R Block Canada
H&R Block Canada has been preparing taxes for more than 40 years and is Canada's leading tax preparation firm. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the company serves Canadian taxpayers in more than 1,100 offices across the country. H&R Block Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of H&R Block, Inc., a diversified company with subsidiaries providing a wide range of financial products and services. Additional information about H&R Block Canada is available at 1-800-HRBLOCK or visit www.hrblock.ca for more tax tips.
For further information: Tina Quelch, Calador Communications, (416) 925-6034, [email protected]
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