Upcoming Webinars

You could get some money back by filing your taxes. To receive your benefits on time, file by June 1, 2020. To help you file your taxes and claim any refunds or credits, Mac’s Money Centre is offering free tax webinars through Zoom. Check out these upcoming sessions to learn about managing your money during COVID-19 and the benefits of an online CRA account.

Money and COVID-19

Tuesday, May 26, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Managing your money effectively during times of financial hardship is critical. This can be challenging, but you’re not in it alone. Join our money experts Terry Bennett and Gina Robinson to discuss the government’s financial relief plans and different ways to approach budgeting, including practical tips and strategies to manage your money effectively. Register on OSCARplus.

Get Online with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Wednesday, May 27, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Now more than ever, it’s important to have quick access to the most recent information on your tax refunds and benefits. By registering online with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you can get answers to your tax questions and check the status of your tax return and benefits such as the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund (CERB). Join our money experts Terry Bennett and Gina Robinson to learn more about what a CRA account can do for you. Register on OSCARplus.

Getting Prepared

What to bring to the webinars:

• T4 — employment income slip
• T4A — scholarships, bursaries
• T2202A — tuition (Please consult with your parents/guardians if you are transferring up to $5,000 unused tuition.)
• T5 — investment income
• Rent receipts for 2019
• Medical expenses — UHIP premium and health-care expenses not covered by insurance
• Moving expenses to attend school in Hamilton
• Transportation costs
• Childcare expenses
• RRSP contributions
• Charitable donations
• Last year’s assessment form (if you have it)

Additional items to consider:

• If you are filing with your spouse or partner, please have them with you and bring all necessary tax documentation.
• You are required to have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) in order 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 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.
• Due to COVID-19, the government has extended the tax deadline until June 1. However, this doesn’t mean that June 1 is the last day you can file. For most students, filing taxes means getting money back — not paying additional taxes. The deadline mostly applies to people who are in a tax payable situation, which means that they owe money. In this case, filing after the deadline results in interest and penalties.

Access Your Mac Tax Forms

McMaster has made it simple for students to access and print their university tax forms (T2202A/T4A) through Mosaic.

• Log in to mosaic.mcmaster.ca.
• 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 tax slip(s).

Student staff, as well as part-time and full-time McMaster employees, can also access their tax forms (T4) through Mosaic.

• Log in to mosaic.mcmaster.ca.
• Go to “Mosaic Home” at the top of the page.
• Select “Employee Self Service” from the drop-down menu.
• Choose “View T4 Slips.”
• Print tax slip.

Drop-In Tax Clinics

Please note that, due to COVID-19, our in-person community tax clinics for 2020 are cancelled.

Personal tax preparation service is available at no charge to individuals with a modest income. The following individuals/families are eligible:

• One-person family: $35,000
• Two-person family: $45,000 (combined) or less
• Three-person family: $47,500 (combined) or less
• Four-person family: $50,000 (combined) or less
• Five-person family: $52,000 (combined) or less
• Family with more than five people: $52,500 (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

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
• 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
• Transit passes for monthly or weekly passes
• Children’s fitness activities
• T2202 — tuition and education

Join the Tax Squad

As a Tax Squad volunteer, you are participating in the Hamilton Tax Preparation Assistance (TPA) Program.

Gain valuable experience and help people in your Hamilton community. No experience is required. All training will be provided.

The Tax Squad Program is part of the Hamilton Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), which helps lower-income individuals and families in the community get their taxes done for free. The CVITP program is a partnership between the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Canadian Professional Accountants (CPA).

To be considered as a volunteer, you must be prepared to commit to 10 hours for training and a minimum of 15 volunteering hours.