HAY RIVER - For many people, filling out their income tax returns is a dreaded annual ritual.

However, help is available for those in the most need of assistance.

Karen Willford, who works at Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre in Hay River, helps needy people prepare their tax returns with computer software from the Canada Revenue Agency. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

In some NWT communities, low-income earners can get help from volunteers such as Karen Willford, a receptionist at Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre, in Hay River.

This is the second year Willford has helped people complete their income tax returns.

"It only takes 15 to 20 minutes if they have all the information," she said, adding all she has to do is put the information into a computer program provided by the Canada Revenue Agency. "It does all the calculations for you."

Willford is part of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, which is sponsored by the Canada Revenue Agency.

She said it feels good to help people with their income tax returns.

"They're happy to get it done and have their money down the road," she said.

Last year, Willford and another Soaring Eagle employee helped 22 people do their taxes.

She finds time during her working day to fill out the tax forms for people. "They call and see when they can come in."

The service will be offered at Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre until the end of April.

Along with Hay River, Gillian Mercer, Canada Revenue Agency's business outreach co-ordinator in Edmonton, noted volunteer training was offered this year in Yellowknife (The Yellowknife Seniors' Society and The Centre for Northern Families) and Inuvik (Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre).

However, she noted other volunteers, who received training in previous years, may also be offering the service in additional communities.

Mercer, who conducted the training in Hay River and Inuvik, said tens of thousands of volunteers help each year across Canada. "And hundreds of thousands of returns are done."

The program helps individuals with simple tax situations who are unable to complete income tax returns themselves and unable to pay for assistance.

Across Canada, the income ceiling is $25,000, but is about $30,000 in the North because of the higher cost of living, Mercer noted.

"It depends on the individual," she said, adding people are also helped because of disabilities or literacy problems.

Mercer said the volunteer program has existed since 1971 and is a very valuable service.

"We like to try to provide it because it's meeting a need."