Sasha Erfanian, Centretown News
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now is running a free tax clinic until May.While some Ottawa residents bring their income tax records to an accountant – a service that can cost hundreds of dollars – others who can’t afford to are turning to a different method.
The local branch of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, located at 404 McArthur Ave. in Vanier, is holding free tax clinics at its office for low- to moderate-income Ottawa residents.
Other volunteer tax clinics are located in Centretown, including one on Catherine Street run by the City of Ottawa and three for new Canadians unfamiliar with the country’s income tax system.
Angell Salkey, a senior citizen and Vanier resident who has used ACORN’s tax clinics since their start in 2009, says it’s the only option she has.
“I find going to the other tax companies (such as accountants) is very expensive,” she says. “It’s quite a bit out of your monthly earnings when you’re getting the government pension like I am.”
Seniors such as Salkey are one of the most vulnerable groups according to ACORN, as many rely solely on minimal pensions and government assistance.
According to Ottawa ACORN’s website, the free clinics have seen a sharp spike in users since 2009. While the number of people served from 2009-2012 stayed steady at about 600, there were 1,594 users in 2014 alone.
Currently, ACORN’s volunteers are overwhelmed by the demand to book appointments, says Jill O’Reilly, the head organizer of the Ottawa branch.
One of the biggest reasons seniors use these services is the unfamiliarity with computer technology, O’Reilly says. It doesn’t help that the Canada Revenue Agency has been pushing online filing through its website by limiting in-person services at its locations, citing the fact that only 22 per cent of taxes filed last year were done by pen and paper.
“It’s very difficult,” Salkey says. “I wouldn’t have a clue how to do my taxes on the computer.”
Another difficulty seniors face is anxiety and procrastination.
Tim Pychyl, a Carleton psychology professor who studies procrastination, says a lot of anxiety people face stems from uncertainty, such as the lack of computer filing knowledge or fear of punishment if they file incorrectly.
“All that negative emotion leads to a fight or flight response,” he says. “Most of the time it’s flight and avoidance.”
Pychyl says people often say they’re going to start their taxes early in March, but end up putting it off. As the deadline approaches, people feel anxiety because they don’t have enough time.
Salkey says she doesn’t get too anxious about anything, including tax season.
“I don’t like to be stressed out. When you get stressed you get sick, and I can’t afford to get sick.”