*** Tax Break for Canadian SAR Volunteers *** Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 20:57:53 -0800 From: Don Blakely Organization: Blakely & Company To: sarinfo@istar.ca Subject: Canadian Federal 1998 Budget Hi Martin; Here is some more info for your newsflash that affects all Canadian SAR Volunteers: 1998 Canadian Federal Budget Assists SAR Volunteers Don Blakely, the B.C. Director for SARVAC was reviewing the 1998 proposed Canadian federal budget and came across some interesting news for SAR volunteers. The $500 deduction which previously existed for volunteer firefighters has been changed and extended to SAR volunteers. The general information released by Revenue Canada now refers to a $1,000 deduction which can be claimed by "emergency service volunteers". An internal Department memo includes SAR volunteers in the definition of "Emergency Service Volunteers". The $1,000 deduction can only be applied against income received from a governmental authority for SAR or Emergency Service work (the deduction also applies to other areas as well such as volunteer ambulance personnel etc). Any amount received from that governmental authority in excess of $3,000/year will reduce that $1,000 deduction. (ie. if you collect $3,250 then only $750 remains in your deduction). While this is an indication of progress on the Federal level it only affects those who receive income for these services. Very few SAR volunteers receive any such income. But it is a start and can perhaps be used as a springboard for further gains in future years. Remember that while the budget has been announced it is not yet passed into law. The odds are very high that it will make it. It also applies only to the 1998 fiscal year and cannot be used for your 1997 Income Tax return. For further information contact your local accountant. I wonder if they can do anything about death? ("There are only two sure things in life....death and taxes).