Photo credit: Lethbridge News Now

By Curtis Galbraith

Alberta

Province aiming to keep Alberta’s tax laws up to date

Nov 2, 2023 | 5:26 PM

Officials with the provincial government say amendments to provincial tax legislation would ensure Alberta’s tax laws remain clear and consistent.

The government says a well-functioning tax system is a fundamental part of the province’s tax advantage, which sees Albertans and Alberta businesses pay the lowest overall taxes in the country. In 2023-24, Albertans and Alberta businesses would pay at least $20 billion more in taxes if Alberta had the same tax system as any other province, claim government officials.

According to the government, Bill 4, the Tax Statutes Amendment Act, 2023, proposes legislative amendments that would help formalize a key part of Alberta’s commitment to affordability, provide clarity around the collection and remittance of Alberta’s tourism levy, and update several technical and administrative aspects of Alberta’s tax system.

“Keeping our tax legislation up to date is essential to maintaining Alberta’s low-tax environment and minimizing red tape. The proposed amendments would help to create further consistency and clarity in Alberta’s tax system, which continues to play a key role in our successful efforts to attract investment and new residents to the province,” says Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance.

“Putting a pause on the provincial fuel tax has saved Albertans $530 million, this has played a major role in keeping Alberta’s inflation below the national average,” adds Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities. “This runs counter to the NDP who brought in a carbon tax when they were in power. The continuation of this pause to the end of the year will make life more affordable for Albertans.”

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“The Tourism Levy is crucial for the success of Alberta’s tourism industry and helps ensure that our province remains the best destination in the world. We have listened to industry leaders, and the proposed amendment will provide consistency for our tourism sector by ensuring that they have the tools they need to collect the Levy in an equitable and fair manner,” explains Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport.

If passed, the government says the Tax Statutes Amendment Act, 2023 would:

• Retroactively legislate the extension of the provincial fuel tax pause to the end of 2023.
• Amend Alberta’s Tourism Levy Act to align with current administrative practices and set rules for online brokers in the tourism industry to collect and remit the tourism levy, with more specific details to follow in regulation.
• Make technical amendments to the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act and the Alberta Corporate Tax Act to reflect existing provincial policy and align with changes to federal legislation.