CA Tax Preparation Clinics 2012

Volunteers Wanted

York University's School of Administrative Studies and the Atkinson Professional Accounting Association (APAA) work with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO) to hold Income Tax Clinics during March. These clinics help low-income taxpayers fill out their tax returns. Our clients include families and seniors who reside in the community surrounding York, including many new immigrants to Canada.

Since the inception of the program in 2005, the School of Administrative Studies has logged more volunteer hours of any other accounting program in Ontario and has won the ICAO University Tax Clinic Challenge each year. This achievement has been recognized annually on the ICAO website.

This year we are having clinics again and are looking for accounting students eager to gain experience assisting individuals and families in completing income tax returns.

Volunteer Duties & Responsibilities:

Complete income tax returns for individuals that live in the community
Assist in educating individuals about the benefits of completing income tax returns
Must have the ability to work independently within a team environment
Must maintain confidentiality
Must be punctual and reliable
Must participate in related training workshop
Must be welcoming, friendly and open-minded
Must bring pencils and erasers and a calculator to the training and the clinic

Skills Required:

Students must have passed ADMS 3520 or ADMS 4561
Must be a participant in the ICAO's University Ambassador program
Must have good communication skills
Must have understanding of the challenges experienced by low-income individuals
Must be friendly, reliable, responsible, non-judgmental and non-discriminating
Must have strong English language skills
Must be flexible and willing to learn

Orientation, Training and Benefits:

Volunteers are required to attend a 1.5 hour training session at York as well as work in at least one three hour clinic off campus.

We always run out of spaces for students so you are advised to get your training and register as soon as possible.

Joanne Magee and Jason Fleming

Five Steps To Apply and Work in a Clinic:

1. Register now (don't wait) as a participant in the ICAO University Ambassador (UAP) program.

You need to pay $20 and the registration is good until August 31, 2012. Do this now to avoid delays later. If you are a part-time student when you register, the website instructs you to click to email Ted Peart: put York- ICAO Tax Clinics in the header of your email to Ted Peart to speed up this process. If you are not working towards your CA, you need to let him know.

2. In early February 2012 before the training sessions, download and print the cases and solutions

The materials for a training session are listed below and under 'Announcements.' on the ADMS 4562 M course website.

Students who do not have a hardcopy of the cases and solutions with them will not be admitted to a training session.

Briefing Notes (pdf)
Example Problems (pdf)
Solution Problem #1 (pdf)
Solution Problem #2 - Dorothy (pdf)
Solution Problem #2 - George (pdf)
Understanding the Changes to the Ontario Credits (pdf)
Volunteer Training Presenation (pptx)

3. Get trained by Professor Fleming in February 2012

Attend one of the eight training sessions below. No registration is required. Arrive early with your cases and solutions, pencils, eraser and calculator. Room capacity in 222 Atkinson is 12 persons.

222 Atkinson Building
Tues Feb. 14 from 2:30pm to 4pm
Tues Feb. 14 from 4pm to 5:30pm
Wed Feb. 15 from 12:30pm to 2pm
Wed Feb. 15 from 2pm to 3:30pm
Tues Feb. 21 from 3pm to 4:30pm
Tues Feb. 21 from 4:30pm to 6pm
Thur Feb. 23 from 3pm to 4:30pm
Thur Feb. 23 from 4:30pm to 6pm

At the end of the training session, you sign a list with Professor Fleming indicating your UAP registration # and where/when you would like to volunteer (see times and dates below). He will fax this ASAP to Paula Duncan at the ICAO with verification that you are trained and have taken ADMS 3520 or 4561.

4. After you are trained, email Paula Duncan (pduncan@icao.on.ca) to register for a clinic:

You can do this the next day. Provided you are a participant in the UAP program, her staff will register you for a clinic because she knows you also have (a) the required tax course and (b) the training. The list of clinics is below.

5. Work in one 3 hour clinic

Be early. Bring a calculator, sharp pencils, eraser and a stapler. The returns are done manually and tax return forms will be provided.

Clinic Times and Location:

• The Clinics will be held at three locations in North West Toronto:

3 clinics from 2 to 5 pm at Jane Finch Community Ministry,
Unit 107- 36 Marsh Grass Way North York M3N 2X4 Telephone: 416-747-5616 (intersection: Jane/Finch, south of Finch)

Supervised by Professor Fleming:

Tuesday, March 6
Tuesday March 20
Tuesday, March 27

5 clinics at Doorsteps Neighbourhood Services, 40 Falstaff Ave., Unit 101 in the Family Room North York M6L 2C8 from 9 am to noon (Intersection: Jane/Wilson, just south of the 401)

Supervised by Professor Magee:
Monday March 5
Wednesday, March 7
Monday, March 19
Wednesday, March 21
Monday, March 26

5 clinics at TD Community Engagement Centre, Yorkgate Mall -,
Suite 232 (intersection: Jane/Finch, northwest corner) from 10 to 1 pm

Supervised by Professor Magee:
Tuesday, March 6
Thursday, March 8
Tuesday, March 20
Thursday, March 22
Tuesday, March 27