Volunteers rally to help with taxes
Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 18/01) - With tax time upon us, it's not unusual to be stressed at the thought of filling out those forms.
One perk of being a senior is not having to face that, or be one of the 11 million tax filers who pay someone else to handle the unpleasantness of the yearly exercise.
About 15 Yellowknife seniors take advantage of that luxury every year, courtesy of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Bean counters are in numbers heaven this time of year, and in Yellowknife they don't hesitate to volunteer their skills. That's a relief to seniors who can't or just can't stand doing their taxes.
"We enjoy doing it because it allows us to use our skills to give something back," says Cathy Munro, the institute's NWT and Nunavut president, and one of four Yellowknife accountants who volunteer for seniors every year.
They go right to the Avens Centre, which is the best part for Agnes Casaway and other residents not as mobile as they used to be.
"It helps us a lot," the 68 year-old says.
Other Avens residents agree.
"I don't understand accounting," says Madeline McDonald, who also takes advantage of the service.
"I'm an artistic person."
It's not just older folks overwhelmed with income tax. Even Revenue Canada, or rather the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA), acknowledges taxes are taxing.
"Often times people are intimidated with the whole ordeal," admits spokesman Michel Proulx.
It's not always easy for CCRA staff either. Their job includes making the process as easy as possible for those who continue preparing their own taxes.
"It's a monumental task and a major challenge for our people to take such complex legislation as the Income Tax Act and translate it so it's understandable to the average person," Proulx says.
The Income Tax Act is a 3,000 page, three-inch thick document.
Munro says that "every time the government tries to make things easier, it changes the process. For the every day person it's frustrating."
