Family Matters Guest Blog4 min readJanuary 25, 2023

A Reason to Look Forward to Tax Season

As we continue to barrel through a so-far remarkably warm winter in much of Manitoba, February fun is on the horizon in the form of cross-country skiing, ice fishing, skating, and the world-famous Festival Du Voyageur!

Sure, Valentine’s Day is nice for some folks, especially if you have a sweet tooth, but the real date to mark in your calendar is Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 – the beginning of Tax Season, and the first day Canadians can file an income tax and benefit return for 2022. You see, you may be eligible for considerable benefits you didn’t know about, and to apply for those government benefits, you must file your income taxes!

File Your Taxes and Get Your Benefits!

GET YOUR BENEFITS! is a project designed to improve overall health and well-being of Manitoba families, by offering plain-language information on the dozens of federal, provincial, and regional benefits and programs you and your family may be eligible for without knowing it.

You could qualify for significant benefits and supports such as:

• Prenatal Benefits
• Disability Benefits
• Canada Child Benefit
• Old Age Security
• Tax Rebates and Credits
• Education Benefits
• Employment Training, and more!

Based on years of in-depth research indicating a strong correlation between higher  income and better health outcomes, the Get Your Benefits! project was created and is maintained through input from healthcare providers, researchers at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, government agencies, and non-profit organizations in Manitoba. It is funded by, the Winnipeg Foundation.

Government benefits are not limited to just a small segment of the population. There are benefits available to people from all walks of life and demographics. For example, if you have children, there’s the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), a tax-free monthly payment to help support your children under age 18. Renting? There’s the Residential Renters Tax Credit for those who pay rent in Manitoba starting with the 2022 tax year. The only ‘catch,’ is that to qualify, you must file your income taxes every year.

Need help with your taxes? The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) offers free income tax preparation to individuals with low to modest income and an uncomplicated tax situation. To find a tax clinic near you go to Free tax clinics – Canada.ca (1-800-959-8281). Not for profit organizations such as Community Financial Counselling Services (204-989-1913) and SEED Winnipeg ( 204-927-9935) also provide tax help to individuals and families.

There are also many services and supports available beyond benefits that are tax-related, including for Manitobans living with disabilities, mental or physical health issues, newcomers and seniors. Some of these benefits may be combined, which can result in a significant boost in overall yearly income for many households.

There are so many outstanding benefits available to you that you may be entitled to as a Manitoban; you just need to know where to start. The deadline for most to file their income tax and benefit return for 2022 is April 30, 2023, so don’t wait until the last minute!

Candy is dandy, but government benefits are the gift that keeps on giving!

Set aside a day in your calendar to visit the Get Your Benefits! website and get a copy of their free booklet, recently updated in English and French.

GetYourBenefits.ca

This article was adapted from information in the Get Your Benefits! booklet and monthly newsletter with the permission of Dr. Noralou Roos and Dr. Sharon Macdonald, co-developers of the GYB! Project.

For more information on the project, or to request a copy of the booklet, contact: info@getyourbenefits.ca