Tax Preparation Assistance Program

CPA Ontario’s Tax Preparation Assistance (TPA) program is celebrating 50 years of service in partnership with a variety of agencies, including community centres, senior centres, long-term care facilities, social service agencies, food banks, libraries and hospitals.

This is a signature program for the profession; one that allows us to enhance the profession’s solid reputation for serving the community and protecting the public interest, while giving CPAs the opportunity to meet and help individuals and families in need. Over the past five decades, Ontario CPAs have made a positive difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people through TPA.

As part of the TPA program, CPAs prepare tax returns for eligible individuals with modest incomes free of charge. Join your fellow CPAs and give back to your community as part of the CPA team that will be preparing tax returns for thousands of individuals and families who truly need assistance. By filing income tax returns, people with low incomes become eligible to receive tax benefits and credits.

Log in to CPA Ontario Talent to find postings from charitable or not-for-profit organizations and agencies seeking CPA Ontario volunteers for tax help, leadership roles and more.

Volunteer Board Positions Available with CPA Ontario Associations

Many of our local Associations are looking for volunteer members to assist with a variety of positions. Send us an email if you are interested.

CPA Ontario also has a number of volunteer opportunities for experienced members to serve on its committees.

Practice Inspection Committee

The Practice Inspection Committee assesses compliance with professional standards of all full- and part-time practising offices, and takes appropriate follow-up or remedial action in instances of non-compliance.

The committee’s volunteer membership comprises approximately 17 council-appointed CPAs, including a Chair, who are in public practice, many of whom are at the partner level (or equivalent) and have been CPAs in good standing for greater than 10 years. Membership aims to be representative of the membership geographically and by size of practice (i.e., including local, regional and national firms).

Members are appointed annually for an initial term of one year that runs from September to April, and are eligible for re-appointment for an additional three years. The Committee meets four times per year.

All full and part-time practices are inspected at least once every three years.

Learn more about Practice Inspection.

How to Apply

If you are presently a member in good standing of CPA Ontario in a public accounting practice that includes audit, review and compilation engagements and hold a Public Accounting Licence, please log in, complete and submit this application form for consideration for the committee year commencing in September 2018.

Unless applicants indicate otherwise, applications will be kept on file for two years. Only those short-listed for possible committee membership will be contacted.

Professional Conduct Committee

The Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) reviews and investigates complaints that indicate a violation of the CPA Code of Professional Conduct, Regulations or Bylaws.

PCC members are appointed for an initial term of one Committee year that runs from September to August, and are eligible for re-appointment for additional terms of three years. The Committee is comprised of council-appointed volunteers and is representative of the membership occupationally and geographically.

For more information about the complaints process and the role of the Professional Conduct Committee, click here .

How to Apply

If you are:

• a member in good standing of CPA Ontario, with no prior disciplinary history; and
• a partner in a CPA firm or a sole practitioner whose clientele includes a variety of assurance and/or tax engagements, or have 10 or more years of experience in a senior financial and/or executive role; or
• have 10 or more years of post-qualification experience

Please log in and fill out the application form.

Members of the public who wish to volunteer, please fill out the Public Representative Volunteer Application.

Unless applicants indicate otherwise, resumes will be kept on file for two years. Only those short-listed for committee membership will be contacted.

Deadline to submit applications for consideration for the 2018/2019 committee year is May 17, 2018. Any applications received after this date will be considered for the following committee year.

For more information, please contact Standards Enforcement.

Public Accounting Licensing Board

The Public Accounting Licensing Board is responsible for matters relating to public accounting licences, certificates of authorization and the practice of public accounting, including but not limited to, overseeing CPA Ontario’s licensing standards, responsibilities, functions and processes. The Board’s volunteer membership, composed of between five and twelve members including no less than two public representatives, are appointed for an initial term of one year, and are eligible for reappointment terms of three years. Contact the Registrar’s Office for more information.

Small Practices Advisory Committee

The Small Practices Advisory Committee is a committee comprising volunteer practitioners who work with CPA Ontario to develop practical resources to assist small practices to communicate their values and specific expertise. For more information visit Small Practices Advisory Committee.