Canada Customs and Revenue Agency is piloting a new, simple electronic filing service to allow seniors to file their tax returns using a touch-tone telephone. The new service will begin today.

The TELEFILE Service for Seniors pilot is free, interactive, and simple to use. After dialling a 1-800 number, eligible seniors will only have to identify themselves and answer a few yes-or-no questions in order to complete and file their tax return. Over 125,000 seniors have been notified by mail that they are eligible to participate in the pilot this year.

TELEFILE Service for Seniors is an expansion of the CCRA’s existing TELEFILE electronic filing service, which is available to over 8.4 million Canadians.

“The CCRA is strongly committed to improving service to our clients by making better use of available technologies,” said Elinor Caplan, Minister of Revenue. “Using the telephone keypad is a no-cost, easy, and secure method that allows seniors to benefit from a simple tax-filing process.”

Even if they don’t have to pay taxes on their income, seniors benefit from filing a tax return since it gives them access to the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, and other related tax credits. In most cases, seniors can also automatically renew their Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and Allowance benefits by filing a tax return.

For information about TELEFILE, visit www.ccra.gc.ca/telefile or call 1-800-959-8281. For assistance using TELEFILE, call the e-services help desk at 1-800-714-7257.

For information about the GIS and Allowance, call Human Resources Development Canada at 1-800-277-9914.