Tax season has recently ended. For many, this season is simply about sending statements to an accountant before the deadline. But for many low-income people, this season rhymes with stress, fear and anxiety.
Stress from not understanding overly complex forms, having to find a free tax clinic, or running into limited places. Fear of having to cut groceries to pay for travel or the contribution needed to file their return. Anxiety that a mistake will occur and be costly for them.
But the worst is the risk of being deprived of tax credits, various aids and allowances if they fail to file their declaration!
Again this year many people will be deprived of much needed income. Low-income single-parent families, elderly people living in poverty, illiterate people, people with mental health problems or serious physical health problems, certain newcomers and homeless people… More than 45,000 people will be disenfranchised simply because the forms are complex and they can’t find help filling them out!
In response to this situation, more than fifty community organizations and regional groups from across the province have come together under the name of the “What’s the Report?” Coalition. ask the Government of Quebec, and in particular Revenu Quebec, to introduce a simplified tax return for people living exclusively on government benefits. And this, for more than two years already!
The “What’s the Report?” Coalition simply can’t get over having learned on May 3, during the study of Revenu Québec’s credits in a parliamentary committee, that the introduction of a pre-completed income tax return would be “too complex” and “would prevent certain taxpayers to obtain all the tax deductions to which they are entitled!”
Refusing to set up pre-filled tax returns because certain tax deductions, usually unnecessary for low-income people, are not known to the agency is simply shocking!
However, Revenu Québec already has all the necessary information concerning taxpayers’ income. Despite this, we prefer to oblige households living solely on government benefits to file their returns, even if it means cutting off these benefits if the returns are not filed. And for what reason? To avoid an increase in the workload, which then falls on people who are already vulnerable…and on community groups! This situation is unacceptable, especially in a most worrying context where inequalities are growing!
It is all the more disappointing that 4 years ago, the Minister of Finance, Éric Girard, showed himself in favor of simplifying declarations where possible. Even Carlos Leitão, former Minister of Finance of Quebec, who is not necessarily known to be in favor of social measures, had himself shown interest in the establishment of a pre-filled declaration for taxpayers. Before him, Jean-Marc Fournier, then Minister of Revenue between 2007 and 2008, had launched a pilot project to establish such a service. This means that after 15 years and several ministers, nothing has changed. From there to saying that Revenu Québec is systematically obstructing changes that could simplify the lives of low-income taxpayers, there is only one step to take…and we are taking it today!
The Coalition denounces this situation and asks the Minister of Finance, Éric Girard, to “put on his pants” and bring his senior civil servants to order, because for the moment it is increasingly clear that this is not not he who leads his boat!
Members of the advisory committee of the “What’s the report?” campaign
Émilie Laurin-Dansereau, Cooperative Family Economics Association (ACEF) of North Montreal
Charles-Étienne Filion, Action-Gardien, Pointe-Saint-Charles Community Development Corporation (CDC)
Frédéric Boudreault, Association for the Protection of Consumer Interests of the Côte-Nord (APIC Côte-Nord)
Danielle Arcand, Adult Education Committee of Little Burgundy and Saint-Henri (CÉDA)
Sylvia Bissonnette, Pointe-Saint-Charles Social Assistance Committee (CPAS)
Sylvain Bergeron, Place of Actions and Services Working in Unity with the Unemployed (LASTUSE du Saguenay)
Michel Savard, Table of Popular Groups of the North Shore
Reference-www.tvanouvelles.ca