Tu Viện Trúc Lâm

Effective Date: 2025-03-06
Last Updated: 2025-03-06

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The Volunteer Tax Clinic ("Tax Clinic"), is a free service provided by the Edmonton Buddhist Research Institute ("EBRI"), a registered charitable organization in Canada (Charity Business Number: 876795675RR0001).

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The Tax Clinic has two locations:

1. Truc Lam Income Tax
   11328 97 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5G 1X4, Canada.
   TaxClinic@truclam.ca

2. Golden Age Manor Free Tax Clinic
   12607 148 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5X 0C2, Canada.
   TaxClinic@tuoihac.ca

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By using the services of the Volunteer Tax Clinic, you agree to the following terms and conditions. Please read them carefully.

The Tax Clinic provides free tax preparation services to eligible individuals through the Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). These services are performed by trained volunteers who are not professional accountants or tax advisors. The Tax Clinic assists with the preparation of basic personal income tax returns (T1) and related schedules, as permitted by the CVITP.

The Tax Clinic generally does not provide services for:

• Complex tax situations (e.g., self-employment income, rental income, capital gains, or business taxes), unless approved at the discretion of the Tax Clinic based on the complexity of the situation and the availability of qualified volunteers.

• Deceased individuals, bankrupt individuals, or non-residents of Canada, unless approved at the discretion of the Tax Clinic based on the complexity of the situation and the availability of qualified volunteers.

The Tax Clinic does not provide:

• Tax planning or financial advice.

• Representation in case of a CRA audit, review, or dispute.

​The Tax Clinic serves individuals with low to moderate incomes, as defined by the CRA's CVITP guidelines. Eligibility is determined at the discretion of the Tax Clinic volunteers and staff.​

The Volunteer Tax Clinic, EBRI, and its volunteers strive to provide accurate and reliable tax preparation services. However, by using these services, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• The Tax Clinic, EBRI, and its volunteers are not liable for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in your tax return.

• The Tax Clinic, EBRI, and its volunteers are not responsible for any penalties, interest, or other consequences resulting from errors in your tax return or from the CRA's assessment of your return.

• You are responsible for reviewing your tax return and ensuring that all information is accurate and complete before it is submitted to the CRA.

• The Tax Clinic, EBRI, and its volunteers will not represent you in the event of a CRA audit, review, or dispute. You are solely responsible for responding to any CRA inquiries or requests.

The services provided by the Tax Clinic are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional tax, legal, or financial advice. You are encouraged to consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

All volunteers at the Tax Clinic are required to adhere to strict confidentiality policies. This includes:

• Treating all client information as strictly confidential.

• Using client information only for the purpose of preparing tax returns.

• Not disclosing client information to any third party without explicit authorization or as required by law.

The Tax Clinic shall not retain any physical copies of documents provided by clients. If required for the submission of tax documents to the CRA or other tax agencies, the Tax Clinic may make copies of necessary documents. These copies will not be retained after submission. Clients are responsible for retaining their own copies of all documents.

By using the services of the Tax Clinic, you acknowledge and agree to all policies outlined in this ToS, including your responsibilities and the limitations of liability. A link to this ToS will be included in the footer of all email correspondence from the Tax Clinic.

​The Tax Clinic does not provide a formal dispute resolution process. By accepting the services of the Tax Clinic, you surrender any right to dispute the services provided. The Tax Clinic, EBRI, and its volunteers are not liable for any unfavorable outcomes, including errors, audits, or tax amounts.

These Terms of Service are governed by the federal laws of Canada, the laws of the Province of Alberta, and the municipal laws of Edmonton. Any disputes or claims must be brought exclusively in the courts of Alberta.

The Tax Clinic reserves the right to update or modify these Terms of Service at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting the revised ToS on the Tax Clinic's webpage at https://truclam.ca/tax-clinic-tos. Continued use of the services constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

The Tax Clinic will communicate with clients in-person during service sessions. If correspondence is required outside of in-person sessions, the Tax Clinic will correspond via email from TaxClinic@ebri.ca, TaxClinic@truclam.ca, or TaxClinic@tuoihac.ca. For inquiries, clients may contact TaxClinic@ebri.ca.

Volunteers at the Tax Clinic are required to:

• Complete all required training provided by the Tax Clinic and the CRA.

• Adhere to confidentiality policies.

• Follow CRA guidelines and prepare tax returns accurately.

• Provide services in a professional and respectful manner.

The Tax Clinic reserves the right to refuse or terminate services for clients in situations where it would not be appropriate to provide services, including undisclosed organizational reasons or unreasonable client conduct. The Tax Clinic has a zero-tolerance policy toward abuse of staff or volunteers.

By using the services of the Tax Clinic, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to all policies outlined in this ToS. Continued use of the services constitutes acceptance of these terms.