Response to "Scarcity of tax forms irks" ~ London Free Press. Low income individuals and families can have their tax returns completed for free at their local Community Volunteer Income Tax Clinic throughout the months of March and April.

These clinics, run by Canada Revenue in partnership with community volunteers, have been widely advertised, including in the tax guide sent to every home in my riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London last month. Dates and times of all clinics in Ontario can be viewed at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/vlntr/clncs/on-eng.html or obtained by calling the Canada Revenue Agency or your local MP's office. I would encourage all eligible individuals to use these clinics.

Discontinuing the automatic mail out of tax forms was a common sense decision. In 2011, printed packages for approximately 1.3 million individuals went unused. The significant majority of Canadians now file their tax returns online. Further, it costs about four times more to process a paper return than an electronic return.

Those who wish to continue to paper file can obtain tax packages and envelopes at their local Post Office, Member of Parliament's Office or Service Canada. Individuals can also call Canada Revenue Agency directly at 1-800-959-8281 to order forms.

Joe Preston
Member of Parliament
Elgin-Middlesex-London

Editor's Note: You also get your refund cheque in 2-4 weeks if you file on-line (faster if you're set up for direct deposit to your bank account), compared to 6-8 weeks if you file a paper return.