Free Tax Clinics in Vancouver for Newcomers

Tax season in Canada runs from February to April, and if you're a newcomer earning under $35,000/year, you can probably get your taxes done for free. The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) runs clinics all over Vancouver, and they're specifically set up to help people who've never filed Canadian taxes before.

How Free Tax Clinics Work

Trained volunteers (not accountants, but CRA-certified volunteers) will prepare and file your tax return for you. The whole thing takes 30-60 minutes. No charge. They use CRA-approved software and can e-file your return on the spot.

Free Tax Clinic Locations in Vancouver (2026)

Vancouver Public Library — Central Branch, 350 W Georgia St

VPL runs one of the biggest free tax programs in the city. Clinics happen from March through April, usually on Saturdays. No appointment needed — first come, first served. Expect a line of about 30-45 minutes during peak times.

Neighbourhood Houses

Several neighbourhood houses host clinics:

• Mount Pleasant NH — 800 E Broadway (by appointment)
• Collingwood NH — 5288 Joyce St, near Joyce-Collingwood SkyTrain
• Kitsilano NH — 2305 W 7th Ave
• South Vancouver NH — 6470 Victoria Dr

MOSAIC — Multiple Locations

MOSAIC is a settlement agency that specifically serves newcomers. They run tax clinics with multilingual volunteers (Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Farsi, Tagalog, and more). Check mosaic.bc.ca for the 2026 schedule — clinics start in late February.

SUCCESS — 28 W Pender St

Another major settlement org. Their tax clinics have Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking volunteers. Usually by appointment — call ahead.

Eligibility for Free Tax Clinics

You qualify if your income is:

• Single: under $35,000
• Couple: under $45,000 combined
• Family: under $45,000 + $2,500 per dependent

Your tax situation must be straightforward — no self-employment income, rental income, or capital gains. If your situation is more complex, you'll need a paid preparer or software like Wealthsimple Tax (free for simple returns).

What to Bring

• SIN (Social Insurance Number)
• All T4 slips (from your employer)
• T5 slips (bank interest — even if it's $2)
• Tuition receipts (T2202) if you're a student
• Rent receipts (for BC Climate Action Tax Credit)
• Previous year's tax return (if you filed one)
• Direct deposit info (for faster refund)

Want to estimate your refund before you go? Try our income tax calculator — it handles federal and BC provincial tax brackets.

Why You Should File Even if You Earned Nothing

If you arrived partway through the year and didn't earn much (or anything), file anyway. Filing a return qualifies you for the GST/HST credit ($496/year for a single person) and the BC Climate Action Tax Credit. That's free money you're leaving on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

I just arrived in 2026. Do I need to file taxes?

If you arrived in 2026, you'll file for the 2026 tax year in early 2027. But if you arrived in 2025 and haven't filed yet, do it now — you may be owed credits.

Can the free clinic file my first-ever Canadian tax return?

Yes, absolutely. They handle newcomer first-time filings all the time. Bring your date of entry to Canada and immigration documents along with your SIN and T4 slips.

What if I missed the April 30 deadline?

You can still file late. If you're owed a refund, there's no penalty for filing late. If you owe money, there's interest and a late-filing penalty — file as soon as possible to minimize it.

References

[1] Canada Revenue Agency, "Tax Information for Newcomers." https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html

[2] Government of Canada, "Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship." https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html

[3] City of Vancouver, "Open Data Portal." https://opendata.vancouver.ca/

[4] Government of British Columbia, "BC Government Services." https://www2.gov.bc.ca/

More money tips: Read our guide on choosing the best bank account to avoid unnecessary monthly fees.