forms which are ‘such a: puz-

26 - Sunday, March 3, 1985 - North Shore News

Business

Instant refunds at tax time

for which statistics are available) over $5

I n the 1982 tax year (the most recent year

billion was refunded to taxpayers by

Revenue Canada.

This year, the total refund
should also be in the billions
of dollars. But some people re-
quire the money from their re-
fund now, and can not wait
the. eight weeks it takes
Revenue Canada to . Process
and assess their refund.-

‘That's’ where the: dis-
counters — income tax firms
that will calculate your refund,

have you sign ‘it over.to them, ’

and give you ‘a cheque for 85
per cent of the'ref unds usual-
ly within one or two days —
come in.

* The maximum a discounter’

can charge you is 15 per cent
of the refund.

, Legislation also: stipulates .«

that discounters must: mail
their customers a statement of
the exact amount of the re-
fund they receive from
Revenue Canada. If the dis-

counter. receives more money:
than originally expected, any.

extra amount: larger. than $1
‘must be returned in full to the
customer. If the customer

- can’t be:contacted within 30:

days; this - money | must :be

_ returned to Révenue Canada. .

2 1f, on.the other hand, the

Tax ‘help for
re needy

” Marriage Exemption and the:

".. throughout:March ‘and: April
at the North’Shore Informa-

‘Pemberton ‘Avenue,
North Vancouver. ~

‘ Specially ” trained volun-
. teers’ will-help complete the

zle'to many. Seniors.

: Supplement) forms, which
must be sent in by March 31.

any. tax. and. do not expect.a

form for your future refer-

‘ence and to know if you are |

eligible for other benefits
such as G.1.S., and premium
assistance on the Medical
Services Plan of B.C.

For those-.whose taxable:
income is under $1,990 there: ©

is 90% assistance, and, for a
taxable “;income.’.between
$1,990 and.$2, 930: there! is
50%: assistance. --

Help is also available for
single parents on low. in-
come. Mothers are reminded

‘and Volunteer Centre at’

Persons who: do’ not ‘owe

refund do not need to file a'*-
return: However, it is -§
very ‘useful ‘to complete the ~

By LISA SMEDMAN.

Canada is less than expected,
it is up.to the discounter to
locate clients and charge them
“15 per cent of the difference.

On the North Shore, two

firms offer a refund-:

purchasing’ service. H & R
Block, with offices at 1754
Lonsdale,- and in the
Westlynn,.. Sears “ Capilano,

- and Eatons mails, offers che-

ques for returns that have a re-
fund of $100 or more.
Customers must have two
pieces of ID, and can expect
‘roughly. 24 hours to clapse
before a cheque is issued. The

cash-back service includes’
working out each customer's _

income tax return — all you
need to'do-is bring the ap-

: propriate forms.

At the Bentax Discount
Centre, at 123 East 15th in
North Vancouver, the
minimum refund handled is
$150. Bentax also charges 15
per cent of the refund, and can
have a cheque ready for
customers. who _have pre-
viously used their service in
one working day. For first-
.time customers, there is a two-
working-day wait, while Ben-

that even if they. have no in-
canhave.income tax: forms.
' prepared ‘free tcof © charge.

come: they may. be eligible
for the Child -Tax':Credit,
‘depending on the income of
‘their spouse or other *sup-
porting . person:"’ Single

~ mothers . should also’ be.

aware of the ‘‘Equivalent to

OFFICES:

1 1754 Lonsdale Ave. 984-4288
Lynn Valley Centre 984-6412
Eaton's Park Royal 922-3325
Sears Capilano Mail 985-7722

.] Woodwards Park Royal -922-6111
CASH BACK AVAILABLE WITHIN 24 HOURS!

+) lf youreceived a T1 General income tax
_ return this year, bring it to H&R Block.

“Our specially-trained tax experts will

_ look into over 300 deductions, exemp-
tions, and credits that could save you
money. Visit your nearest H &R Block

office soon, or call for an appointment.

‘T1 General from”

“Ask about ee artoe

- It pays to be prepared by

caren niman sassammaveg mam pemeamemn aaa
EN
THE INCOME TAX SPECIALISTS
~| NORTH SHORE

tax checks to make sure that
you have no taxes owing from
previous years.

If taxes are owing, Bentax
first deducts that amount,
then pays 85 per cent of the re-
maining refund to the
customer,

At the other end of the
scale, there are taxpayers who
will owe Revenue Canada
money on their 1984 income
tax returns, but who won't be
able to pay. As of last year,
there were a record 1.1 million
delinquent taxpayers who ow-
ed a total of $3.5 billion.
Revenue Canada will be spen-
ding $10 million in an attempt
to recover this money by hir-
ing the equivalent of 190 full-
time staff per year in 1985 and
1986.

Susan Bernanose of
Revenue Canada’s public rela-

tions department says that tax-_

payers should file a return by
April 30, even if they can't af-
ford to pay taxes owing.
(Failure to file on time means
a five per cent penalty on the
money owing, plus a one per
cent interest charge per month
that the payment is
outstanding.)

Although Revenue Canada
can take legal action to collect.
what is due from a delinquent
taxpayer's wages, bank
deposits, or from the seizure
and sale of assets, it is possi-
ble to make arrangements with

deductions for child care ex-

_penses. The volunteers will

“help complete these forms. _
‘Give.us a call if we can:

help | ‘at 985-7138 — The-

North |: Shore ‘Information:
and Volunteer Centre.

DOWNTOWN

OFFICES; ©

339 W. Hastings St. 687-5321
(District Office)

1107 Robson St. 688-8564
ALSO LOCATED DOWNTOWN AT:
Woodwards. The Bay.
Eatons. Sears.

Revenue Canada’s collections
department to make payments
after the due date, so long as
you are in arrears for one year
only. Interest, will be charged
on these payments. You must
be able to provide a statement
of income and expenses to
prove that you are unable to
pay by the due date, says
Bernanose.

According to a Revenue
Canada information circular
on collection policies: ‘The
Department normally con-
siders prosecution action on-
ly after all other measures
have failed and there has been
a record of previous delin-
quency.’’ The ‘‘other
measures”’ referred to include
first a request and then a de-
mand for payment that are
mailed to the delinquent tax-
payer prior to any seizures of
assets or funds.

For more information
about collections procedures,
the number you should call is
determined by the first few let-
ters of your surname. In
March, call: A - E, 666-0956;
F - Ker, €66-3988; Kes - Rup,
666-2587; and Rug - Z,
666-2269. After April I, call
666-6322.

PERSONAL —
MINIMUM $2,500.

JUST IN TIME FOR:

Real Estate
Career Night.

Thurs., March 7.
7-9 p.m.

Bring your questions to this frank
discussion of considering real estate
as a career. 3 panel speakers. @ €¢

Location:

The Permanent

107 Kap 100. Building
South Park Royal
West Vancouver”
922-1244.

Everyone is welcome free.

e NEW CAR PURCHASES:

°@ HOME IMPROVEMENTS

¢ RRSP PURCHASE
e PAY OFF HIGH INTEREST CREDIT CARDS

© VACATION

We have a fast loan approval service plus. we can
help you evenings: PHONE 986-4322 or 986-4323...
only between 5:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday to hw

North Shore
Credit Union

Seven convenient locations to serve you.

Farliors in your Couunsunily

LONSDALE
1100 Lonsdale Avenue
986-4321

LYNN VALLEY
1247 Ross Road
980-6556

VILLAGE
3131 Edgemont Boulevard
985-8221

MARINE DRIVE PARK ROYAL

1080 Marine Drive South Mall (Gailery West)
986-1116 926-8571

DOLLARTON* WHISTLER

399 Dollarton Hwy. North 4313 Skiers Approach
929-8111 932-5314