Parliament officially announces that volunteer firefighters were able to claim income tax credit in 2011 for the important work that they perform.
Announcement:
Ottawa,Ontario, December 13, 2012: Blaine Calkins, Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin, announced today that more than 37,000 Canadian volunteer firefighters took advantage of the Volunteer Firefighters’ Tax Credit last year. The credit, which was introduced in the 2011 federal budget, reduces income taxes for eligible volunteer firefighters by as much as $450.
“Volunteer firefighters play an essential role in their communities, ensuring the health and safety of their fellow citizens. At any time of day or night, they may be called upon to respond to an emergency,” said Minister Shea. “I’m proud that our Government has introduced the Volunteer Firefighters’ Tax Credit to recognize their dedication and service to Canadian communities.”
The non-refundable tax credit is available to volunteer firefighters who provide at least 200 hours of eligible services per calendar year at one or more fire departments. Services that make up those 200 hours include responding to and being on call for firefighting and related emergencies, attending meetings at the fire department, and taking required fire prevention and firefighting training.
“This credit is one of several measures announced in Budget 2011 to support strong communities. In the riding of Wetaskiwin, every fire department is a volunteer fire department.” said MP Calkins. “Our Government understands the critical work that volunteer firefighters do in our communities every single day and we believe that the effort they put into keeping our neighbourhoods safe deserves special recognition. I encourage all volunteer firefighters to learn more about the credit and, if eligible, to claim it when filing their
2012 income tax and benefit returns.” For more information about the Volunteer Firefighters’ Tax Credit, go to www.cra.gc.ca/firefighter.
The Canada Revenue Agency encourages Canadians to take advantage of its safe, secure, and convenient electronic services to file their returns. When combining online filing with direct deposit, individuals can receive their refund in as little as eight days, compared to four to six weeks for a paper return.
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Media enquiries
Clarke Olsen Blaine Calkins, MP
Acting Director of Communications 613-995-8886
