Clients can now obtain in-office experience from safety of their home
CALGARY, April 15, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, H&R Block Canada announces Canadians can now file their taxes with an H&R Block Tax Expert from the convenience of your own home. This new service allows clients to upload their tax documents securely and work with a Tax Expert remotely, which supplements the company's move to physical drop-off service previously announced on March 19. Both measures have been implemented to help reduce the number of clients who feel the need to visit an office in person and to ensure the safety and well-being of H&R Block's in-office associates.
Originally implemented as a pilot program in select cities across Canada, the national roll-out to file with a Tax Expert from home has been accelerated in response to unforeseen client requirements presented by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This easy-to-use service guides clients through the process to securely upload their tax documents digitally and provides them with a one-on-one phone consultation with a Tax Expert. Once everything is ready, clients then approve forms with an electronic signature, which was permitted on a temporary basis by the federal government on March 18. Previously, digital signatures for certain forms had not been permitted during the tax filing process, which meant clients were required to sign hard copies at an office. H&R Block's regulatory, legal, governmental affairs and software engineering teams have worked tirelessly to bring this option to market well ahead of their initial goal timeframe.
"I feel incredibly proud of our innovative team who rallied around the clock to implement this service nationally," said Peter Bruno, President, H&R Block Canada. "Our associates recognize now more than ever, people will need access to their tax refunds and tax credits in a timely manner, while also remaining compliant with physical distancing guidelines. We're bringing the in-office tax experience right into the homes of Canadians."
In addition to working with a Tax Expert, H&R Block will continue to provide "do-it-yourself" tax filing software.
Tax Updates
Since the emergence of COVID-19, the government has taken many steps to provide additional resources, benefits and credits to individual Canadians and small and medium sized businesses. The government has also postponed tax deadlines to ensure Canadians have more cash in their pockets to pay for essential needs. Below are some of the changes and updates that have been announced over the past few weeks:
- The federal and Quebec filing deadline for income tax returns has officially been extended to June 1, 2020. In addition, if your return reveals that you have a balance owing, it does not have to be paid until September 1, 2020.
- As long as you file before June 1st, you won't be subject to a late-filing penalty, nor will you start to accrue interest on the balance due until after the last day of August.
- The government has increased the maximum annual Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment amounts for the 2019-20 benefit year by $300.00 per child.
- For those receiving the GST/HST Credit, you should have got an extra payment on April 9 averaging $400.00 if you are single or $600.00 if you are a couple.
- To support businesses that are facing revenue losses, and to help prevent layoffs, the government has introduced a temporary wage subsidy, for all employers who have experienced a 30 per cent decline in revenues compared with either the same month last year or January and February 2020.
- The subsidy will be equal to 75 per cent of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum of $58,700.00 per employee.
- For March, the 30-per-cent benchmark will be reduced to 15 per cent (since many businesses did not begin to be affected by the crisis until partway through the month).
- Employers will get a 100-per-cent refund of their contributions to Employment Insurance, the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan for periods where the employee was being paid while off work.
- The minimum amount that seniors must withdraw from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) in 2020 will be reduced by 25 per cent.
- This provides flexibility to seniors whose RRIFs have dropped in value, so that that they will not have to liquidate their plans in order to meet minimum withdrawal requirements.
- Similar rules will apply to individuals receiving variable benefit payments under a defined contribution Registered Pension Plan.
- The government has introduced a six-month interest-free moratorium on the repayment of Canada Student Loans for all individuals currently in the process of repayment. The same also applies for Quebec's provincial student financial assistance program.
- The government is also temporarily waiving the one-week waiting period for collecting EI sickness benefits for claimants who are in imposed quarantine.
- A new Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) of $2,000.00 per month for up to four months is being paid to workers who lose their income as a result of COVID-19. This would include Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and day care closures. The CERB would apply to wage earners, as well as contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).
Visit www.hrblock.ca/covid19 for the latest information and updates.
About H&R Block Canada
For more than 55 years, H&R Block Canada is Canada's tax leader, with over 1,100 locations across Canada and free do-it-yourself Tax Software. H&R Block's comprehensive education program, Tax Academy, trains experts and continually updates their skills. Learn more at www.hrblock.ca or 1-800-HRBLOCK.
SOURCE H&R Block Canada Inc.
For more information or to speak with someone from H&R Block, please contact: Fiona Bang, Ketchum PR Canada, [email protected], 647-680-2885
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