Tax Tip - Seniors: tips to help you this tax season!

OTTAWA, March 11, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - As a senior, you may be eligible for benefits and credits when you file your taxes. We have tips to help you get all of them!

Get free tax help

If you have a modest income and a simple tax situation, volunteers near you may be able to do your taxes for free. Tax clinics are usually open from February to the end of April. Some are open year-round.

To find a free tax clinic, visit canada.ca/taxes-help.

You can also quickly and securely file your taxes online. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a list of certified tax software that are easy to use, fast, and secure. Some are free!

Don't get scammed

Look out for suspicious emails, telephone calls, letters, or text messages that say they are from the CRA. If someone asks for personal information, such as your credit card, or passport number, it's a scam.

To learn how to protect yourself, visit canada.ca/taxes-fraud-prevention. 

Get benefits, credits, and claim other expenses

You may be able to claim many things during tax season, such as the disability tax credit, the Canada caregiver credit, receive the GST/HST credit and the related provincial or territorial benefits and credits for those with modest incomes.

If you owe money this year, you may be able to deduct medical expenses, home accessibility expenses, the age amount, the pension income amount, and take advantage of pension income splitting. Claiming these items will help lower what you owe at tax time.

Do you receive the guaranteed income supplement (GIS)? The GIS is a monthly benefit for Old Age Security pension recipients, who have low income and are living in Canada. If you receive this supplement and an old age security pension, file your taxes by April 30 to keep your benefits coming if you continue to be eligible.

Making sure you claim potential benefits and credits is important. It helps you pay for what you need and puts more money in your pockets. Do your homework for eligible benefits and credits so you don't miss out!

The CRA has more information on benefits, credits, and deductions for seniors.

For more tax information for seniors, go to canada.ca/taxes-seniors. You can also call us at 1?800-959-8281 for individual tax enquiries, and 1-800-387-1193 for benefit enquiries.

Stay connected

• Follow the CRA on Facebook
• Follow the CRA on Twitter ? @CanRevAgency
• Follow the CRA on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to a CRA electronic mailing list
• Add CRA RSS feeds to your feed reader
• You can also watch CRA tax-related videos on YouTube

SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency