It’s tax time!
Don’t worry, though. The Mac’s Money Centre Tax Squad is here to help, offering accessible online services to help you file your taxes on time with as little stress as possible. As a student, filing your taxes usually means getting money back in your bank account. The deadline to file returns for the 2021 tax year is April 30, 2022.
Did you find these services helpful? Pay it forward by spreading the word on social media using #HelpingHamilton, #CVITP and #CPACanada.
New! Additional tax support in July
July 6, 2022, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET (Gilmour Hall 110)
Don’t worry if you missed our previous tax support services. We’re offering an additional tax clinic day in July to help you file your return and answer your questions. You can also ask about filing taxes for previous years. This tax clinic is taking place on campus in the Student Success Centre, Gilmour Hall 110.
Do-it-yourself tax webinars
Learn all about filing taxes in Canada, the tax impacts of COVID-19 benefits and new tax deductions.
Note: If you’re an MBA student and you’re having trouble registering, please email kabikan@mcmaster.ca. We’ll add you manually.
Drop-in virtual tax appointments for students
Sign up for a free online tax appointment to have your tax return prepared by a trained Tax Squad volunteer.
Register for a drop-in appointment timeslot
- Tax appointments: March 14, 2022 (afternoon)
- Tax appointments: March 26, 2022 (morning)
- Tax appointments: March 26, 2022 (afternoon)
- Tax appointments: April 25, 2022 (evening)
- Tax appointments: April 28, 2022 (morning)
- Tax appointments: April 28, 2022 (afternoon)
To register, select a timeslot. Appointments will take place on a first-come, first-served basis during these times. Please be aware that there may be a bit of wait if many students arrive at the Zoom meeting at the same time — our tax services are popular! We recommend you have something to read or work on as you wait for your appointment during the timeslot.
If you have any questions about the drop-in appointments, please email money@mcmaster.ca. If you need accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please let us know. All personal information will be kept confidential.
Register by appointment
Don’t worry if you can’t make it to one of the timeslots. You can book a tax appointment at a time that works for you on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Mac’s Money Centre.
What to bring to your tax appointment
- T4: Employment income slip
- T4A: Scholarships, bursaries, CERB, CESB
- T5: Investment income, RESP
- T2202: Tuition — please consult with your parents if you are transferring up to $5,000 unused tuition funds (domestic students only).
- Rent receipts for 2021
- Medical expenses: UHIP premium and health-care expenses not covered by insurance
- Moving expenses to attend school in Hamilton
- Childcare expenses
- RRSP contributions
- Charitable donations
- Last year’s notice of assessment form (if you have it)
Things to note
- If you are filing with your spouse or partner, please have them join the Zoom meeting with you and bring all necessary tax documentation. (Note: Both individuals will still need to submit separate returns.)
- You must have a social insurance number (SIN) to file a tax return.
- If you have never filed your taxes before, we can prepare your taxes for previous years. Please remember to bring any slips/receipts and all necessary documentation for the previous tax years to do this. Filing your taxes will allow you to collect your GST/HST credits, rent rebates and register your tuition credits for future use.
- The deadline to file your taxes for the 2021 tax year is April 30, 2022, to collect your benefits on time.
How to access your McMaster tax forms
McMaster has made it simple for students to access and print their university tax forms on Mosiac.
How to find your T2202/T4A:
- Log in to Mosiac using your MacID.
- On the home page, select “Student Centre.”
- Scroll to the section titled “finances.”
- Use the drop-down menu and select “print/view tax forms.”
- Select the appropriate tax form(s) and the tax year.
- Print your tax slip(s).
How to find your T4:
Student staff, as well as part-time and full-time McMaster employees, can also access their tax forms on Mosaic.
- Log in to Mosiac using your MacID.
- Go to “Mosiac home.”
- Select “employee self-service” from the drop-down menu.
- Choose “view T4 slips”
- Print your tax slip(s).
Unfortunately, we’re unable to file tax returns for international students living outside of Canada. However, you can file your 2020 tax return when you return to Canada.
Please note that tax filing requirements and your ability to access tax benefits and credits are based on residency. It is not based on immigration status or citizenship. Visit the Filing Your Taxes page for more information.
Personal tax preparation is available at no charge to local community members with a modest income
Trained tax volunteers ask a few questions at the drop-off, verify your identity and gather contact details (in case they need to ask more questions while preparing your return). It’ll take about 15 minutes to gather this information at the drop-off.
Volunteers then prepare and file the tax return off-site, send a copy to you and return your documentation at a mutually agreed upon pick-up date and time. The turnaround is about two weeks.
The following individuals/families are eligible for support from the Tax Squad:
- One-person family: $35,000 or less
- Two-person family: $45,000 (combined) or less
- Three-person family: $47,500 (combined) or less
- Four-person family: $50,000 (combined) or less, plus $2,500 for each additional person
Volunteers do not prepare complex returns, such as returns for individuals who:
- Have self-employment income
- Have business or rental income and expenses
- Have capital gains or losses
- Have employment expenses
- Have interest income greater than $1,000
- Have filed for bankruptcy
- Are deceased within the year
Hamilton Public Library
Submit your tax documentation to Tax Squad volunteers at any of the following Hamilton Public Library locations:
- Barton: 571 Barton St E, Hamilton, ON L8L 2Z3
- Central: 55 York Blvd, Hamilton, ON L8N 4E4
- Dundas: 18 Ogilvie St, Dundas, ON L9H 2S2
- Red Hill: 695 Queenston Rd, Hamilton, ON L8G 1A1
- Terryberry: 100 Mohawk Rd W, Hamilton, ON L9C 1W1
- Turner Park: 352 Rymal Rd E, Hamilton, ON L9B 1C2
Drop-off hours are 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET. Visit the Hamilton Public Library website’s event page to find room information and more details for specific dates and locations. No appointment is necessary.
- March 16, 2022: Terryberry and Barton locations
- March 19, 2022: Central, Terryberry and Redhill locations
- March 26, 2022: Red Hill location
- March 30, 2022: Red Hill and Terryberry locations
- April 2, 2022: Turner Park and Red Hill locations
- April 13, 2022: Dundas and Central locations
- April 20, 2022: Turner Park and Barton locations
- April 23, 2022: Red Hill location
- April 27, 2022: Turner Park and Barton locations
Good Shepherd Family Centre (Hamilton)
Drop off your tax information at the Good Shepherd Family Centre, 143 Wentworth Street South (meeting room). No appointment is necessary.
- March 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET
- April 14, 2022, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
- April 21, 2022, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Brantford Public Library
Drop off your tax information at the Brantford Public Library, 173 Colborne St, Brantford, ON N3T 2G8. No appointment is necessary.
- April 6, 2022, 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
- April 8, 2022, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Six Nations Dajoh Youth and Elders Centre
Drop off your tax information at the Dajoh Youth and Elders Centre, 1738 4th Line, Ohsweken, ON N0A 1M0. No appointment is necessary.
- April 9, 2022, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
To make sure your tax return is completed correctly, please bring all of the necessary information that applies to your situation.
Information slips
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- T4 (employment income)
- T4A, T4A (P), T4 (OAS), T4RIF, T4E
- T5 (statement of investment income)
- T3 (statement of trust income allocations and designations)
- PT5007 (statement of benefits)
- RC62 (universal child care benefit)
- Your notice of assessment from last year’s taxes
Receipts
- Charitable donations
- Medical/dental expenses not covered by a health plan
- Rent
- Child care expenses
- Property taxes
- RRSP contributions
- Children’s fitness activities
- T2202 (tuition and education)
About the Tax Squad
The Tax Squad Program is part of the Hamilton Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), which helps Hamiton individuals and families with low income get their taxes done for free. The CVITP program is a partnership between the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Canadian Professional Accountants (CPA).