Attention all University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) Undergraduate Students,

Did you know that all domestic and international students MUST file their tax return annually with the Canadian Government to receive eligible refunds and credits (property, HST, tuition and education)?
Don’t know how to file your Canadian Income tax Return?

No problem, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) will be hosting FREE SCSU tax clinics to help you one-on-one with tax filing from February 27 – March 9, 2012.

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 How should I prepare to file my Canadian Income tax return?

STEP 1: Attend an info session

Attend a FREE information session titled “ISC Income Tax Filing Benefits Info Session”, delivered by ISC staff, to prepare your documents and to learn:
• how to maximize your tax refund and credits from the Canadian Government
• what documents and receipts you will need to file your taxes
• when to file and how much FREE $$$ you can expect to receive

Many info-session dates and times are available to accommodate your schedule. You only need to attend one (1) session and sign-up on the UTSC intranet is required.

• Wed. Jan 18, 2012
  2pm-3pm
  IC-318
  (Instructional Centre, 3rd Floor)
  Intranet sign-up
• Thurs. Jan 19, 2012
  2pm-3pm
  IC-318
  (Instructional Centre, 3rd Floor)
  Intranet sign-up
• Fri. Jan 20, 2012
  12pm-1pm
  IC-318
  (Instructional Centre, 3rd Floor)
  Intranet sign-up
• Mon. Feb 6, 2012
  2pm-3pm
  IC-318
  (Instructional Centre, 3rd Floor)
  Intranet sign-up
• Date: Wed. Feb 8, 2012
  2pm-3pm
  IC-318
  (Instructional Centre, 3rd Floor)
  Intranet sign-up

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STEP 2: Prepare, print and gather all of the relevant documents 

 In order to file your 2011 Canadian Income Tax Return in March 2012, you need to gather the following (if to applicable):

1. University of  Toronto student T-Card
2. Passport *only required for International Students at UTSC
3. Income Tax Number (ITN) letter or Social Insurance Number (SIN) card (NOTE: If you do not have a SIN card or ITN, please contact the ISC  for assistance). Students wishing to obtain a second copy of their ITN can access it through the following link.
4. Direct Deposit Information or VOID Cheque (information required from your financial institution: Account #, Branch #, & Institution #), necessary to set-up direct deposit of your tax refund
5. A Canadian address where your tax letters can be mailed back to you during Summer 2012. (NOTE: If you will be leaving Canada for the summer 2012 for vacation, please make alternative arrangements to secure a local mailing address (examples: friend or family member’s address, Canada Post mail box  rental, etc.))
6. Rental receipts for any off-campus housing or a copy of cancelled/returned cheques/money orders/bank drafts you used to pay your landlord (NOTE: students living on-campus in UTSC’s Residence do not require any receipts)
7.  T2202A  – 2011 Tuition, Education and Textbook Amounts Certificate Form (can be printed from ROSI under “tax forms”)
8.  T5 Slips – Mailed in January-early March 2012 directly to you by your Canadian financial institution if you have a high interest bank account, GIC and/or investment (contact your financial institution for details)
9. TTC Monthly Passes, TTC Weekly Passes, or Go Transit Monthly Passes and receipts of purchase
10. T4 Slip (if you were employed and paid in Canada during the tax year of 2011)
11. Any receipts of charitable donations you made
12. 2010 Notice of Assessment  (if you filed your income tax return last year)
13. Your CRA Netfile Access Code  if you have previously filed your taxes before and are eligible to file your tax return electronically.

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 STEP 3: Attend an SCSU tax clinic

 Come to the SCSU Tax Clinic at the Meeting Place from Monday, February 27^th to Friday, March 9^th 2012. These are drop-in, first-come first-served appointments. Each tax year will take approximately 1-hour to file. Please be sure to bring all items listed in STEP 2 that are applicable to you. If you are a first-time filer or are planning to print and mail your tax return to CRA, you must also bring $ on your t-card to print your return on campus.

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STEP 4: Review, sign & file copies of your return

 You are responsible for double checking the accuracy of your personal income tax return before submitting (by Netfile or mail) to CRA. Check-out the tax filing tutorials on the ISC website.

• If you are filing by paper copy and mail, be sure to sign your tax return on page 4 of the T1 General.
• Make a copy of your tax return and all receipts and forms for your own records.
  NOTE: CRA expects you to retain copies of your tax return and supporting documents (from STEP 2) for up to six-years (6-years) in case CRA asks you to support your claims.

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STEP 6: Mail

• Be sure to mail your tax return and all required schedules and slips to the correct CRA location (depending on your situation). Check out the ISC’s Tax Return Mailing Instructions tip sheet.

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 Alternatively:

1. You can file your own Canadian income tax return using UFILE online software and the online tutorials available soon on the ISC website and instructions from Canada Revenue Agency.
2. You can pay to have your Canadian Income Tax Return completed by an external company or licensed accountant (CGA or CA).

For detailed information about tax filing, visit Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) website.

For information about the SCSU Income Tax Clinics being held at the University of Toronto Scarborough from February 27 – March 9, 2012 visit the SCSU website.

Are you an international student with tax questions? Contact the ISC.