Income Tax

There are a number of volunteer tax clinics in Vancouver as well as in other cities across Canada that may be able to help you prepare your tax return for free. Click on the "Find a tax clinic in your area" link to perform the search. Please note that some have restrictions (such as age or income based eligibility) and most are only able to file a client’s current year’s return.

Additional information on organizations that offer free or low cost tax help can be found in BC211.

Every year, two computers stations on Level 4 of the Central Library are set up as tax filing stations throughout the months of March and April. A designated tax filing station is also made available at the Renfrew branch, and the Kitsilano branch.

What You Need

• A VPL library card and PIN
• An active email address and password
• A USB drive is recommended for backing up your work
• All tax-related paperwork relevant to your tax return
• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Basic computer skills, including using a keyboard and mouse

How to File

1. There are many CRA approved programs that can be used to prepare and file your income tax return. Here are a couple of free options that we recommend:

   • Wealthsimple Tax  – a web-based program for filing taxes that can be used on any of our computer stations. Users can create an account for themselves, fill out a return from 2020-2023, and submit to the CRA electronically via NETFILE. 

     Note: It is not possible to opt out of Wealthsimple's data collection. 

   • GenuTax – a computer-based program for filing taxes. Users must save the form to a personal USB drive or email it to themselves as a file. 

     Returns from previous years (2003-2022) can also be prepared using this software, but only those from 2017 onward can be submitted electronically with NETFILE; earlier returns will need to be printed and mailed to the CRA. 

     GenuTax is only available on stations CEN4013 and CEN4015 on Level 4 of the Central Library, on REN1033 at the Renfrew Branch, and on KIT1015 at the Kitsilano Branch.

     Note: GenuTax is available year round at Central Library

      

2. Use this link to begin using Wealthsimple Tax. Or for GenuTax, double click on the appropriate desktop icon to open the software application.

    

3. Follow the directions for the tax filing program. For GenuTax, there are questions to answer as you go. For Wealthsimple Tax, select the type of tax forms you have from the list available in each section. Save your work after filling in your personal information:

   • For GenuTax, you can save the file in My Documents on the computer or on a USB drive if you have one. 

     PLEASE NOTE: Everything you save on the computer will be erased when the computer restarts.

   • For Wealthsimple Tax, create a login account using your email address. 

     PLEASE NOTE: Save your progress as you go to prevent losing your information.

      

4. When finished filling in all the information for your taxes, you can either print and mail your return or submit it electronically using NETFILE, the Canadian Revenue Agency’s approved, secure method for filing your taxes online. An account with NETFILE will need to be created using your email address. Electronic submission through NETFILE is only available for returns from 2017 onward.

    

How to File Older Tax Returns

GenuTax offers the ability to file older tax returns from 2003 onward. 

Additionally, CRA maintains a list of free or pay-what-you-want tax software, and some are able to file older returns.