Harper Government Reduces Taxes for Canadians

Ottawa, Ontario, April 29, 2010 - The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, and the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), reaffirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to reducing taxes on hard working Canadians.

“Since coming to office, our government has introduced more than 100 tax measures to put more money into the pockets of Canadians year after year,” said Minister Ashfield. “It is great to see that our initiatives are reducing taxes for hard working Canadians and their families. We will continue to work hard to put more money into the pockets of Canadians.”

“We recognize that the tax burden on every day Canadian families is too high,” said Minister Blackburn.  “That is why we have tax measures resulting in almost $3,000 in savings for the average Canadian family.”

Taxpayers can access information about the various tax relief measures that may be available to them by going to www.canada.gc.ca/taxinfo for links to information about credits, benefits, and other measures in place to help reduce the bottom line. Detailed information is available on the:

• home renovation tax credit;
• first-time home buyer’s tax credit;
• children’s fitness amount;
• public transit amount;
• tradesperson’s tools expenses;
• tax-free savings account; and
• pension income splitting.

“It is important that Canadians are informed about the tax relief measures available to them,” said Minister Ashfield. “There are new credits and deductions for the 2009 tax year, so we encourage tax filers to take advantage when they fill out their tax returns.”

So far, over 16.6 million Canadians have filed their returns, and the Canada Revenue Agency has already issued almost $16.2 billion in tax refunds. The average income tax refund as of today is $80 higher, compared to last year. To date, 728,190 Canadians have claimed the public transit tax credit, and 488,570 opted to split their eligible pension income on their 2009 income tax and benefit returns.
Individual taxpayers only have until midnight on April 30, 2010, to file their 2009 income tax and benefit return. Self-employed individuals and their spouses or common-law partners have until midnight on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, to file their income tax and benefit returns. Any balance owing for 2009 must still be paid by April 30, 2010, otherwise interest charges will apply.