Skip to content

Good Reads: Free tax help and Beer 101 at Maple Ridge library

Benjamin Franklin famously wrote “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
11068188_web1_180319-MRN-M-Image-2
(Contributed) Brewing Beer 101, with Silver Valley Brewing, is on Tuesday, April 10, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Maple Ridge library.

Benjamin Franklin famously wrote “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

For a more optimistic spin, during the month of April most things at the Maple Ridge Public Library are free – including tax help, and beer.

The drop-in Free Tax Clinic takes place from 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays, April 7, 14, 21 and 28.

Now in its 10th year, the library is again hosting the Canada Revenue Agency Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.

Local community members are trained by the CRA to provide assistance to individuals or families with modest income and simple tax situations in completing and filing their taxes for free.

Modest income, defined by the CRA, is a maximum income of $30,000 for an individual, $40,000 for two people and $45,000 for a family of four.

A simple tax situation might include income from employment, pension, government benefits, RRSPs or scholarships.

A tax situation is not simple if income is from self-employment, rental income, capital gains, if an individual has filed for bankruptcy or is filing a tax return for a deceased person.

As of March 19, people also have the option of picking up a tax package at the library, filing out a form, then dropping the completed form and their tax documents at the library for the tax volunteers to complete.

They will receive a call from the library to pick up their documents when their taxes have been completed and filed. Please note that government issued ID will be required to participate in either the free tax clinic or the tax package drop-off.

If you want to learn more about taxes in general, come to All About Taxes on Tuesday, April 3, 7-8:30 pm. VanCity financial literacy volunteers will explain all the basics about income tax and how you can make the most of your tax opportunities – from keeping the right records to understanding benefits, supplements, credits and deductions. This is a free, drop-in information session.

Is all this tax talk stressing you out? Then come to Brewing Beer 101 with Silver Valley Brewing on Tuesday, April 10, 7-8:30 p.m. Join Silver Valley Brewing, the latest addition to the Maple Ridge craft brewery scene, at the library to learn how to start making your own delicious beer and maybe even win some brew-related prizes.

After the presentation, head to the brewery on 224th Street for a tour of the Silver Valley Brewing premises. Please note that tour space is limited.

• For more information, about these programs or other library services, contact Maple Ridge Public Library at 604-467-7417 or check out our events information online under events at fvrl.ca.

– Liza Morris, librarian at Maple Ridge Public Library.