Tax Aid
The GSA-UW hosts an Income Tax Aid Clinic for graduate students. The Tax Aid Clinics are held in March and April each year to help graduate students learn how to complete their income tax return forms. Tax returns are due to the Canada Revenue Agency on May 1, 2023. Consultations are provided for graduate students registered this term (GSA-UW members) and who have paid the GSA Advising Fees. Please note that the GSA-UW does not provide a tax filing service.
Tax Aid is available in two forms in 2023:
- Income Tax Seminar for Graduate Students (Group): Thursday March 16: 2:00-3:00 PM in SLC 3216 (Grad Lounge). No registration is required.
- Personal Appointments with GSA Accountant: Registration is REQUIRED. Available for March 24 and 30; and April 6, 14, 20, and 28, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Appointments in SLC 3218 (GSA Board Room).
Income Tax Seminar for Graduate Students
Thursday March 16: 2:00-3:00 PM in SLC 3216 (Grad Lounge)
A Tax Seminar is held by the GSA Accountant for general information each March. This seminar will provide an overview of the Canadian income tax return submission process. No registration is required. For questions please email the General Manager. This in-person workshop will follow University of Waterloo COVID-19 guidelines. Face masks are not required.
If you cannot attend, please see below for a video recording made by the GSA Accountant, that explains the income tax return process. With the video, refer to the attached PowerPoint Presentation that you can download, print, and use to take notes as you watch the video.
Update
Please note that our Income Tax Seminar video was recorded in 2020 by our Accountant. This video will still be very helpful to you for filing your taxes for because little has changed since the video was recorded, with the following exceptions:
- Dates mentioned in the video will now be referring to the current year.
- All URLS mentioned in the video have changed. We included updated URLs for Canada Revenue Agency in the PowerPoint Presentation for 2023.
- Two more credits you can now apply for: Canada training credit and the Climate action incentive.
This video seminar and PowerPoint Presentation is designed to introduce you to income tax in Canada with a focus on those tax issues most applicable to students. The video provides reference to two documents prepared by the Canadian tax authorities which further supplement the presentation. You are strongly encouraged to read these two documents.
After watching the video and reading the two documents, you should be somewhat comfortable with filling your tax return.
Personal Consultations – By Appointment (during Tax Season)
The GSA offers additional support if you feel the need to clarify specific issues regarding your tax return. This support is in the form of an individual consultation with our Accountant that can be scheduled between March and April and prior to the deadline for submitting income tax returns. Through a one-on-one 15-minute meeting (in-person or phone call) with our accountant, you will be able to ask any further questions you may have.
Please note that it is highly recommended that you watch the Income Tax Seminar video while reading through the PowerPoint Presentation before booking a personal consultation.