DABC is seeking a Tax Advocate

Open:
October 18, 2021

Closes:
November 1, 2021

Job Type:
4 days/week—may increase depending on the needs of the program.

This position is until March 31, 2024, with the possibility of an extension.

Salary:
$33,600 annually

Benefits:

• Extended Health Care Benefits after 3-month probationary period

• Paid Vacation

• Paid sick leave

Report to: Director, Tax AID

Who We Are

Since 1977, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. We champion issues impacting the lives of people with disabilities through our direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, research, and publications.

Our mission: to support people, with all disabilities, to live with dignity, independence, and as equal and full participants in the community.

Program Description

Tax AID DABC partners with the Together Against Poverty Society, the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, and the Active Support Against Poverty Society, to provide free support to people with disabilities across BC to file income taxes for current and previous years. In addition to simple tax filing, we help with self-employment income, outstanding amounts owed to the Canada

Revenue Agency (CRA), applying for other tax related government programs/benefits, and matters related to financial literacy.

Job Description

DABC is seeking an advocate to join our Tax AID program. Under the supervision of the Tax AID Director, the Advocate/Program Coordinator will work one-on-one to assist people with disabilities with their income taxes and raise awareness about the program through strategic partnership and community outreach. The successful candidate will have other administrative responsibilities related to the program’s operations including developing and conducting workshops, assisting with program reports, and participating in team meetings and training on an as needed basis.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

· Prepare and file accurate tax returns for current and previous years in compliance with CRA standards

· Liaise with clients and the CRA on specific issues related to personal taxes

· Manage multiple client files simultaneously

· Report any questions or concerns to the Director

· Compile and organize client records

· Attend trainings to further develop knowledge on income tax matters

· Organize and assist with volunteer training and potentially their supervision over time as the candidate grows in their role

A successful applicant must

· Be able to work effectively with people with disabilities

· Possess a four-year undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience

· Meet the requirements to be a tax filer through CRA’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (CVITP) program

· Have more than 2 years of proven experience using income tax preparation software (e.g., UFile) to prepare income tax returns for clients

· Be self-motivated and adaptable and able to work effectively with a team

· Be detail-oriented and have excellent organizational skills

· Have strong verbal and written communication skills

· Understand the importance of preserving the confidentiality of sensitive client information

· Be computer literate and proficient with word-processing software, including the Microsoft Office Suite

· Be comfortable working in the office and remotely

· Be available for occasional travel to communities across Lower Mainland

The following would also be assets in the position:

· Knowledge of tax law

· Volunteer or coordination experience with the Canadian Revenue Agency’s CVITP Program

· Working knowledge of income tax programs for people with disabilities including the Disability Tax Credit, Canada caregiver amount and other deductions

· Completion of an accounting or tax certificate or diploma/degree

DABC is an open and diverse organization that promotes inclusive hiring practices. We encourage applications from qualified applicants who identify as visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and brief cover letter addressed to Cynthia Minh (Director, Tax AID & Access RDSP) cynthia@disabilityalliancebc.therightfitbc.org using the subject heading “Job Application: Tax AID Advocate.” No phone calls or faxes please.

Applications are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on November 1, 2021. DABC welcomes all applications, however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. Interviews will be conducted in November and the position start date will be mid-November 2021.

Download the job posting here: Job-Description-Tax-Advocatefinal_Oct2021.

Call for Disability Tax Credit Fee Stories!

Everyone should be talking about barriers to the DTC!

Our Access RDSP advocates have heard from many clients about the financial barriers that have made it more difficult for them to apply for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Barriers to the DTC (and, by extension, the RDSP contribute to poverty amongst the disability community in BC. We continue to advocate for the removal of these barriers.

While applying for the Disability Tax Credit, if you dealt with:

– A fee from your medical practitioner that you couldn’t afford

– A company that charged you an application fee or percentage of your return

We want to hear from you! You can reach us by email at rdsp@disabilityalliancebc.therightfitbc.org, or by phone at 1-800-663-1278 to share your story.

If you haven’t applied for the Disability Tax Credit, and you would like help, contact us the same way.

Why Connecting Patients with DTC/RDSP Matters: A Physician's Perspective

By Dr. Gary Bloch

A 48 year old with multiple sclerosis, a 24 year old with leukemia, an 18 year old with Down’s Syndrome, a 35 year old with recurrent bouts of severe depression.  These are all patients of mine, each one with a unique story, each one working hard to improve their health and standard of living despite their disability.  And each one has a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). 

I am a family physician, not a financial advisor.  My training prepared me to deal with MI, RA, MDD and CRF – not EI, CPP, DTC, or RDSP.  But years of working with people who experience disability, and most of whom live in poverty and without secure housing, have convinced me that I must address their social situations directly to improve their health.  Conversations about “treating poverty” through accessing income supports have expanded to the inclusion of a Social Determinants of Health Committee and income security specialists in my family health team. 

At the foundation of my work on addressing poverty, however, lies a basic intervention: connect my patients with the income support systems that will improve their income security, and that will prevent them from falling into deeper poverty.  The disability income security system in Canada is large and complex, but there are certain key benefits that require a physician’s input to access.  These include provincial social assistance disability support programs, Canada Pension Plan-Disability, and the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). 

We see applications for these programs on a regular basis.  What we often don’t recognize, however, are the programs people with confirmed disability qualify for that can have a major impact on income and life security.  One of the most important, and under-accessed, of these programs is the RDSP.  Like an RRSP, but for people with disabilities, this program allows individuals living with disabilities to save money for the future and to access heavy government subsidies.  Any individual who qualifies for the DTC can open a RDSP. 

While some outreach has been done by government and disability advocacy organizations, many people living with disabilities have no idea RDSPs exist.  This is where front line health providers can play a huge role in guiding their patients to this program.  First, complete an application for the DTC.  Once qualified, advise patients to open a RDSP.  Very low income patients can access large grants to build their savings.  People able to contribute their own funds can access up to a 300% match in government funds. 

We often find ourselves caught up in the day-to-day struggles of our patients who live with disabilities.  But we can also enable our patients to look to and plan for their futures.  Approaching middle and older age with a disability and no financial security will decrease health and wellbeing.  Disability income support programs, and especially forward-looking, subsidized savings programs like the RDSP, offer stress relief, security, and ultimately increased hope for a comfortable future. 

__ 

Gary Bloch is a family physician with St. Michael’s Hospital and Inner City Health Associates, and an Associate Professor with the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine. 

Gary created the Poverty Tool with the Centre of Effective Practice, which is designed to guide primary health care providers in income interventions: www.cep.health/poverty 

Use the DTC tool for your client’s applications: www.disabilityalliancebc.org/dtc-app 

For financial planning tools, including Financial Benefits Navigator: www.prospercanada.org/Resources/Online-Tools.aspx 

For the RDSP calculator: www.rdsp.com/calculator .