'Pretty rough year': Tax experts urge Calgarians to file tax returns ahead of April 30 deadline

With the tax filing deadline less than a week away, tax professionals and organizations providing free tax clinics in Calgary are urging residents to start that process as soon as possible to avoid delays amid a bumpy tax season.

Most Albertans have until April 30 to submit their tax returns, and certified tax professional Sharon Numerow with Calgary's Choice Tax Services said she's been flooded with last-minute filings.

Numerow said some people are facing difficulties getting all the slips they need, due to glitches with the Canada Revenue Agency's new validation process. It's causing some documents to not appear on CRA systems.

"Many employers and financial institutions were unsuccessful in loading their slips into CRA's system…. And so what's happening is people are waiting longer and longer because now that they can't find it in their CRA account, the onus is on them to have the slips," said Numerow, who now also operates in Lethbridge.

That means it's taking at least double the amount of time for tax preparers like her, she said.

"It's a pretty rough year."

Numerow wants to remind Albertans that missing the filing deadline could lead to penalties.

"If you do not file by April 30 and you're an employee, you will be charged five per cent of the outstanding balance or the income tax you owe as a penalty, and then one per cent … of the entire balance until you pay it off," said Numerow.

In a statement to CBC, the CRA said anyone whose tax slips aren't appearing on the CRA website can get them directly from their employer or financial institution.

It's also reminding Albertans that April 30 is the deadline to pay the CRA any taxes owed — even if they're self-employed and don't have to file taxes until June 15.

High demand for free tax clinic

Local charity Carya Calgary has also been busier than usual with their free tax clinic this year. It offers that service to low-income seniors and Calgarians receiving income support or AISH who have no dependents.

Manager Jocelyn Cuthbert Mora said they've completed 635 taxes so far this year, and are expecting that figure to reach 700 by next week's deadline — roughly 50 more than their typical volume.

She said it's especially important for low-income seniors and Calgarians with disabilities to file their taxes on time.

If not, "they risk getting the benefits and supports cut off. For older adults specifically, if they don't file, they're not going to qualify for Old Age Security," said Cuthbert Mora.

"If you're used to receiving so much a month and it doesn't come because you were late filing taxes, then it can obviously have huge ramifications for your housing, for poverty."

Cuthbert Mora said another recent change by the CRA has also been creating challenges this year for seniors with low computer literacy. Canadians who set their preference to "electronic mail" online no longer receive their notices of assessment by mail, which contains information needed for the next tax year.

"[It] can be a bit more of a challenge of having to help them do the phone call to get them connected."

She said eligible Calgarians who still need to file their taxes can still drop off their documents at Carya's Bowmont Commons and Village Commons locations, which are open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday to Thursday.