John Molson Accounting Society to Host First Tax Clinic at Concordia

Accounting Students to Help Low-Income Earners on Campus

NewsVince Morello — Published March 15, 2016

This year, that can change because the John Molson Accounting Society—a student association—will host a free tax clinic on March 19 and 20. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the John Molson School of Business building.

“As a way to give back to the community, the accounting students can prepare tax returns for low income individuals,” said Nicholas Chin, the co-president of JMAS.

To be eligible, a single earner must earn a maximum of $25,000. Earnings cannot exceed $30,000 for a couple or a single parent. The only people eligible are Quebec residents.

The event will be completely student-run, as accounting students will service clients that partake in the clinic. A total of 70 students were chosen to be tax preparers. Their work will be reviewed by 30 individuals with professional experience within the accounting world.

“People who have worked in accounting firms already, or anyone who has knowledge on taxes, will be reviewing the 70 preparers,” Chin said.

The students chosen were required to have taken the course ACCO 340, which is a personal income tax class, and they had to sign up with the Canadian Revenue Agency. The CRA checked the tax history of the selected students for any tax fraud or evasion, Chin said.

In addition, the students were given quizzes and cases to review before being chosen.

Chin said that he is expecting 400 to 800 people to show up and have their taxes done over the two days.

JMAS Tax Clinic // March 19 and 20 // 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. // Level S1 & S2 MB Building (1450 Guy St.) // Free