Students should file, even if they don't make a lot

You could be missing out on a number of benefits

- NINA DRAGICEVIC

Filing with the Canada Revenue Agency creates a financial document that can unlock various government programs — essentially taxes are your proof of income. And if your income is low or modest, there might be resources for you.

Lower income doesn’t mean lower priority when it comes to filing a tax return.

Students in particular might skip filing a return if they earned little to no income last year or are swamped with assignments and exams — but that means missing out on a number of benefits.

“For students, for example, filing their return, they can get access to several credits and benefits that are automatically paid just because they filed their return,” said Yannick Lemay, senior tax expert at H&R Block.

These include the GST/HST credit and the Canada carbon rebate, he said.

Those born before April 1, 2006, will have automatic access to these tax credits, Lemay added, because recipients have to be at least 19 years old at the time of receiving the payment. The GST/HST refund is available to those with low-to modest incomes, according to the Canada Revenue Agency, whereas the carbon rebate is not based on earnings.

The Canada carbon rebate applies to every province except B.C. and Quebec, and the territories, Lemay pointed out.

Payouts for both can be a couple hundred dollars, several times a year.