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‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many
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Author:  bootlegga [ Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:29 pm ]
Post subject:  ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

$1:
No benefits to middle and lower brackets

As Albertans struggle to file their income tax returns by the April 30 deadline, they may console themselves with the belief that at least they’re paying less than residents living elsewhere in the country.

The provincial government brags about the “Alberta tax advantage” created in part by the province’s flat rate on income, but the fact is middle and low-income earners could save on that levy by moving to Vancouver or Toronto.

For example, an Albertan with a taxable income of $70,000 pays $1,434 more than a B.C. resident and $919 more than someone living in Ontario.

Despite the province’s higher personal exemptions, individual Albertans making as little as $30,000 still pay hundreds of dollars more than they would in the other two provinces.

Tax preparation specialists at H and R Block in Calgary find that the dozens of clients who flood their offices this time of year seeking help with their returns just assume income taxes are lower in Alberta.

“We’re aware they’re not because that’s our job,” said district manager Dolores Osvald-Penl, “but they have no idea.”

The advantage from the province’s proportional tax of 10 per cent kicks in at higher income levels where other jurisdictions have more progressive rates.

An Albertan who makes $1 million pays $41,095 less than a B.C. resident and $75,157 less than someone living in Ontario.

“We may be the Cayman Islands of Canada for the rich,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, executive director of Public Interest Alberta, “but for the middle class, there is no income tax advantage to living in this province.”

Provincial officials still calculate that Albertans at just about any income level have a lower overall tax load after adjusting for the absence of a sales tax, no health care premiums and lower levies on gasoline.

The proportional income tax, introduced by the Klein government in 2001 with the promise it would mean all Albertans would pay less, has cost the provincial government billions in foregone revenue over the years.

The province’s own numbers show it could collect an extra $200 million this year if it adopted the regime in place in B.C. prior to that government’s recently-announced hike on top earners.

It would have an additional $1.6 billion if it used Ontario’s levies.

UBC economist Kevin Milligan said the Alberta government may want to revisit the flat tax as it searches for additional revenue to shore up its finances and eliminate the deficit.

“People always talk about a sales tax as the solution to Alberta’s financial woes, but it’s hard not to see that as an additional burden on the middle class who are already carrying the bulk of the income tax load,” he said.

“Raising the income tax on the rich is really about digging where the gold is.”


http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Alb ... tonjournal


Yeah, no wonder the wealthy are always touting flat tax schemes, they benefit the most from it...

Author:  jj2424 [ Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

REdford is helping the situation. You can bet if she lasts another year we'll all be paying more taxes. That's how United Nations Liberal lawyers operate.

Author:  bootlegga [ Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

:roll:

I know reading is hard for you - but most of us ALREADY are paying more taxes because of your illustrious leader (Klein) who decided to screw all the little folk over to win votes (and no doubt donations) from the wealthy.

Author:  2Cdo [ Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

I paid 1000 less filing in Alberta versus Ontario, and I don't make a million a year.

Author:  dino_bobba_renno [ Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

This article also doesn't take into consideration PST, municipal taxes, additional taxes on fuel such as in BC, health care or possable surcharges.

Author:  BeaverFever [ Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

dino_bobba_renno dino_bobba_renno:
This article also doesn't take into consideration PST, municipal taxes, additional taxes on fuel such as in BC, health care or possable surcharges.


It also doesn't take into account Alberta's higher user fees and utility rates. I would love to see the 'all-in' comparison...surely somebody has done one by now?

Author:  jj2424 [ Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

bootlegga bootlegga:
:roll:

I know reading is hard for you - but most of us ALREADY are paying more taxes because of your illustrious leader (Klein) who decided to screw all the little folk over to win votes (and no doubt donations) from the wealthy.


Still blaming Klein :P

That's like Harper blaming Chretien and Martin, which you would have a problem with.
But, it's okay cause you voted for "oatmeal" Stelmach and REDford.

Author:  DVC185 [ Tue Apr 30, 2013 6:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

I don't know how fair this will be seeing as we pension split. I just fired up the program and input the various provinces and let the computer do the work. All dollar values are refunds for me. :D

ON 1994.00

AB 1803.01

BC 2538.81

Author:  Xort [ Thu May 02, 2013 4:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

As they said; "Provincial officials still calculate that Albertans at just about any income level have a lower overall tax load after adjusting for the absence of a sales tax, no health care premiums and lower levies on gasoline."

Author:  bootlegga [ Thu May 02, 2013 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

Xort Xort:
As they said; "Provincial officials still calculate that Albertans at just about any income level have a lower overall tax load after adjusting for the absence of a sales tax, no health care premiums and lower levies on gasoline."


Well, then you also no doubt agree that with other provincial officials who said the province ISN'T running a deficit this year...or are they only infallible when they say something you agree with?

Author:  raydan [ Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

LindaL LindaL:
To be honest, it seems to me, when it comes to tax and advantages, there can be none for Canadians. We of course I am talking about benefits of course. Listen, I wonder if there ever will be at least some good points for the middle class. So far they struggle the most, no matter what decisions are being made by the government. Well, at least there are still some "link to a payday site" which leads me to a thought that these aren’t the worse times for me.

SPAM...

Last time I calculated the interest rate on a payday loan, it was close to 600%... so a double fuck off for you. :evil:

Author:  AltaRick [ Thu Aug 22, 2013 8:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

I recently moved from BC to Alberta and noticed that generally it costs more to live in Alberta. Utilities are much higher priced, so much for privatization, food prices are higher. My housing cost is much lower which makes up for it but not everyone can live in small town Alberta.

Author:  BartSimpson [ Thu Aug 22, 2013 9:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

I don't pay any taxes at all in Alberta. :lol:

Author:  Zipperfish [ Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

I would like to have seen the writer draw his argument out to its logical conclusion--that it's not just the Alberta Tax Advantage that is an illusion, but reality itself.

Author:  uwish [ Thu Aug 22, 2013 2:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ‘Alberta tax advantage’ an illusion for many

well I am from Sask so living here is a HUGE savings for me. They may argue about flat provincial income tax (10% in AB) but at least we don't pay HST (PST).

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