01 March 2021 Canada: Alberta issues budget 2021–22 On 25 February 2021, Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews tabled the province’s fiscal 2021–22 budget. The budget contains no new taxes and no tax increases. The Minister anticipates a deficit of CA$18.2b1 for 2021–22 and projects further deficits of $11.0b for 2022–23 and $8.0b for 2023–24. The following is a brief summary of the key tax measures. No changes are proposed to the corporate tax rates or the $500,000 small-business limit. Alberta’s 2021 corporate tax rates are summarized in Table A. Table A – 2021 Alberta corporate tax rates | | 2021 | Alberta | Federal and Alberta combined | Small-business tax rate* | 2.00% | 11.00% | General corporate tax rate* ** | 8.00% | 23.00% |
* The rates represent calendar year-end rates unless otherwise indicated.
** Alberta has accelerated the tax cuts that were enacted in 2019, by reducing the province’s general corporate income tax rate from 10.00% to 8.00% effective 1 July 2020. The rate was originally scheduled to be reduced from 10.00% to 9.00% on 1 January 2021 and to 8.00% on 1 January 2022. The general corporate income tax rate was already reduced to 11.00% effective 1 July 2019 and to 10.00% effective 1 January 2020. Other business tax measures The Minister also highlighted the following new business tax measures: - Innovation Employment Grant (IEG) – The previously announced IEG2 became effective 1 January 2021 and is available to corporations that undertake Research & Development (R&D) activities in Alberta. The grant is a refundable tax credit.
- The grant provides qualified corporations with:
- An 8% payment for eligible R&D spending carried out in Alberta, up to the corporation’s base level of spending.
- An enhanced 20% payment for eligible R&D spending that exceeds the corporation’s base spending level.
- A corporation’s base level of spending is determined by calculating its average qualifying R&D spending over the previous two years.
- The grant provides benefits on up to $4 million in annual R&D spending.
- For further details on the IEG, see Information Circular IEG-1 – Alberta Innovation Employment Grant.3
Personal income tax rates The budget does not include any changes to personal income tax rates. The 2021 Alberta personal tax rates are summarized in Table B. Table B – 2021 Alberta personal tax rates First bracket
rate | Second bracket rate | Third bracket rate | Fourth bracket rate | Fifth bracket
rate | $0 to $131,220 | $131,221 to $157,464 | $157,465 to $209,952 | $209,953 to $314,928 | Above
$314,928 | 10.00% | 12.00% | 13.00% | 14.00% | 15.00% |
For taxable income in excess of $209,952, the 2021 combined federal-Alberta personal income tax rates are outlined in Table C. Table C – Combined federal and Alberta 2021 personal tax rates Bracket | Ordinary income* | Eligible dividends | Non-eligible dividends | $209,953 to $216,511** | 43.32% | 27.85% | 36.92% | $216,512 to $314,928 | 47.00% | 32.93% | 41.15% | Above $314,928 | 48.00% | 34.31% | 42.30% |
* The rate on capital gains is one-half the ordinary income tax rate.
** The federal basic personal amount comprises two elements: the base amount ($12,421 for 2021) and an additional amount ($1,387 for 2021). The additional amount is reduced for individuals with net income in excess of $151,978 and is fully eliminated for individuals with net income in excess of $216,511. Consequently, the additional amount is clawed back on net income in excess of $151,978 until the additional tax credit of $208 is eliminated; this results in additional federal income tax (e.g., 0.32% on ordinary income) on net income between $151,979 and $216,511. This budget proposes no changes to personal tax credits or amounts. Property tax assessment review for oil and gas properties The Government previously implemented several property tax incentives to help protect and encourage investment in the oil and gas sector. Specifically, these incentives include: - Beginning in 2022, new wells and pipelines will not be subject to property taxation until 2025.
- The well drilling equipment tax has been eliminated beginning in 2021.
- Lower-producing wells will be further depreciated, resulting in lower assessed values, starting in 2021.
- The previously implemented 35% assessment reduction for shallow gas wells and associated pipelines will continue through the 2023 tax year.
Due to the pandemic, the Government has decided to freeze the property tax revenue at 2019 levels to lessen the burden on Albertans and Alberta businesses. The previously announced abatement of the tourism levy, which covered the period from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2020, has been extended to 31 March 2021. Effective 1 April 2021, the tourism levy will apply to all short-term rentals offered through online marketplaces. __________________________________________ For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following: Ernst & Young LLP (Canada), Calgary Ernst & Young LLP (Canada), Edmonton
__________________________________________
Currency references in this Alert are to the CA$. Document ID: 2021-5240 | 
