Services for people with disabilities

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program

If you need help to complete your personal income tax and benefit return, if your income is low, and if your tax situation is simple, our volunteers are specially trained to help you. For more information about this free program, or if you would like to become a volunteer, call us at 1-800-959-8281.

Help for people who have a hearing or speech impairment

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use an operator-assisted relay service to contact us through the regular enquiry lines.

Do you use a teletypewriter?

A teletypewriter (TTY) is a machine that allows the user to communicate by sending a typed message over the telephone. If you use a TTY, an agent at our bilingual enquiry service (1-800-665-0354) can help you. Agents are available Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (local time). From mid-February to April 30, the hours are extended to 10:00 p.m. weekdays, and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on weekends.

Do you use a TTY operator-assisted relay service?

By law, we have to protect the confidentiality of your tax and benefit information. Because of this, we need your written permission to discuss your information with the TTY relay operator when you contact us through our regular telephone enquiry lines.

We will need a letter from you containing the following information:

• your name, address, and social insurance number (SIN), or business number (BN) for business enquiries;
• the name of the telephone company that you are authorizing to discuss your information during TTY relay calls; and
• your signature and the date.

Send the completed letter to your tax centre, and we will keep it on file until you ask us to change it.

Would you like to use a sign language interpreter?

If you give us 48 hours notice, we can arrange to have a sign language interpreter available at an interview or meeting.

Help for people who are visually impaired

If you are visually impaired, you can get publications, forms, and personal information documents, such as your Notice of Assessment or a letter from us, in an alternate format.

The alternate formats available are braille, large print, audiocassette, and etext (computer diskette). Publications are available all year, but to receive your alternate format publications in time for the tax-filing period, we need your request as early as possible.

Also, if you have difficulty completing a regular print return, you can file your return in braille, large print, or on computer diskette. To get alternate format publications, see About multiple formats, or call 1-800-267-1267, Monday to Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time).

Reducing barriers

We are making our premises more accessible by providing ramps and other aids for easier access to our buildings. Also, we have changed the way people can make enquiries in person to prevent undue physical demands.

Forms and publications

• Information Concerning People With Disabilities guide (RC4064)