Home
1999 Tax Letters
Ontario Budget Commentary
Federal Budget Commentary

Rosenthal, Zaretsky, Niman & Co.
  

ONTARIO BUDGET

COMMENTARY

MARCH 25, 2010

This analysis is of a general nature and is based on the Ontario Budget and other documents included with the Ontario Budget package and is presented only for the general information of our clients and staff. The proposals when enacted may vary substantially from the summary described herein. The reader is advised to refer to the amending legislation upon enactment. Specific professional advice should be obtained before taking action based upon the information provided in this commentary.


MARCH 25, 2010 ONTARIO BUDGET COMMENTARY
INDEX

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 PERSONAL TAXES

2.1 Tax Rates
2.2 Individual Tax Credits

3.0 CORPORATE TAXES

3.1 Tax Rates

4.0 SALES TAX HARMONIZATION
4.1 General
4.2 RST Refunds and Rebates
4.3 RST Exemptions
4.4 RST Vendor Compensation
4.5 Insurance Premiums

5.0 TOBACCO TAX ACT

6.0 LAND TRANSFER TAX ACT

7.0 CONCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL MEASURES

1.0 INTRODUCTIONtop.gif (291 bytes)Top

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan delivered Ontario=s 2010 Budget on March 25, 2010. The Budget is projecting a deficit of $21.3 billion in 2009-10, decreasing to $19.7 billion in 2010-11. The Budget puts forward a plan to cut the deficit in half within five years and to eliminate it in eight years.

As previously announced, effective July 1, 2010 Ontario will harmonize the current 8% Retail Sales Tax (RST) with the federal 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) to create a single 13% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).

There are very few tax related measures included in the Budget.

The following summarizes the budgetary revenues and expenses ($millions):

BUDGETARY REVENUES
Actual
2007-2008
Actual
2008-2009
Interim
2009-2010
Budget Plan
2010-2011
Personal income tax $ 25,472 $ 25,738 $ 24,049 $ 25,942
Retail sales tax 16,745 17,021 17,410 19,137
Corporations tax 12,990 6,748 5,381 7,390
Employer health tax 4,605 4,617 4,551 4,701
Ontario Health Premiums 2,713 2,776 2,726 2,871
Gasoline and fuel tax 3,093 3,021 3,011 3,018
Other taxes 3,517 3,239 2,980 3,226
74,889 68,856 65,781 71,601
Income from government enterprises 4,437 4,042 4,098 4,164
Payments from the Federal Government 16,597 16,591 18,565 23,683
Other revenues 7,656 7,444 7,965 7,419
Total Budgetary Revenues 103,579 96,933 96,409 106,867
BUDGETARY EXPENDITURES
Community and social services 7,549 8,001 8,673 9,263
Education, training colleges and universities 24,520 25,707 27,300 28,511
Health and health care restructuring 37,744 40,352 43,083 43,352
Children and Youth Services 3,733 4,069 4,456 4,667
Community safety and security 1,982 2,121 2,258 2,691
Other Ministries Program spending 14,568 18,978 14,925 22,436
Total Budgetary Expenditures 94,065 94,776 108,809 115,896
OPERATING BALANCE 9,514 2,157 (12,400) (9,029)
PUBLIC DEBT INTEREST (8,914) (8,566) (8,930) (9,961)

ANNUAL BUDGETARY OPERATING
SURPLUS (DEFICIT) BEFORE RESERVE

600 (6,409) (21,330) (18,690)
RESERVE - - - 700
ANNUAL BUDGETARY SURPLUS (DEFICIT) $ 600 (6,409) $ (21,330) $ (19,690)
TOTAL ONTARIO PUBLIC DEBT $ 153,188 $ 165,864 $ 193,226 $ 219,991
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) $585,723 $587,827 $567,199 $592,155
Net Ont. Public Debt as a % of Ont. GDP 26.2% 28.2% 34.1% 37.2%
Net debt per capita $ 11,972 $ 12,822 $ 14,785 $ 16,674
Population of Ontario (in thousands) 12,795 12,936 13,069 13,194

The following summarizes the tax-related measures included in the current Budget.                                     

2.0.  PERSONAL TAXES top.gif (291 bytes)Top

2.1    Tax Rates top.gif (291 bytes)Top

It is proposed that starting July 1, 2010 Ontario will introduce a value-added tax. This tax will be combined with the federal Goods and Services Tax (“GST”) to create a federally administered single sales tax. .

Type of Income
Federal
Ontario
Total
Eligible Dividends 15.9% 10.7% 26.6%
Non-Eligible Dividends 19.6% 13.0% 32.6%
Capital Gains 14.5% 8.7% 23.2%
Ordinary Income 29.0% 17.4% 46.4%

2.2    Individual Tax Creditstop.gif (291 bytes)Top

Ontario Property Tax Credit (OPTC)

The Budget proposes to convert the existing OPTC to the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC), effective starting in 2011 based on 2010 personal income tax returns. The OEPTC will be paid quarterly. The timing of the quarterly payments will be determined after consultation with social policy groups. The budget documents provide no details on the computation of this credit.

Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)

The Budget introduces the NOEC, in recognition of the higher cost of energy to residents of Northern Ontario. The NOEC will be a refundable credit of up to $130 for single individuals and $200 for a family (including single parents). The credit will be income tested. For single taxpayers, the credit will start to be phased out where income exceeds $35,000 and eliminated where income exceeds $48,000. For families, these thresholds will be $45,000 and $65,000 respectively. For 2010, eligible northern residents will be required to apply to the Ontario Ministry of Revenue and will receive the NOEC in two instalments, in the fall of 2010 and early 2011. For subsequent years, the credit will be paid quarterly along with the OEPTC. The NOEC will be available to residents of the districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timiskaming.

3.0 CORPORATE TAXES top.gif (291 bytes)Top

3.1    Tax Ratestop.gif (291 bytes)Top

The Budget proposes no changes to Ontario corporate income tax rates. Accordingly, the combined federal and Ontario corporate income tax rates remain as follows:

Year
General
M&P
Small
Business
Current 32.0% 30.0% 16.5%
July 1 - December 21, 2010 30.0% 28.0% 15.5%
January 1 - June 30, 2011 28.5% 26.5% 15.5%
July 1 - December 21, 2011 28.0% 26.5% 15.5%
January 1 - June 30, 2012 26.5% 25.0% 15.5%
July 1 - June 30, 2013 26.0% 25.0% 15.5%
July 1, 2013 25.0% 25.0% 15.5%

4.0 SALES TAX HARMONIZATION top.gif (291 bytes)Top

4.1    General top.gif (291 bytes)Top

The 2009 Budget announced that, effective July 1, 2010, Ontario will introduce a value-added tax. This tax will be combined with the federal GST to create a federally administered single sales tax or HST. The Ontario value-added tax will replace the existing Ontario RST. The HST will have a 13% rate representing a 5% federal portion and 8% Ontario portion (the same rate as the current RST). The HST will be largely consistent with the GST. The HST will tax a wide range of goods and services but will not be charged on items such as basic groceries, prescription drugs and medical devices. Businesses making taxable or zero-rated sales will generally be able to claim input tax credits for the HST paid on their purchases.

In addition to various transitional and relief measures announced in the 2009 Budget, this Budget proposes the following additional measures:

4.2    RST Refunds and Rebates top.gif (291 bytes)Top

The Budget proposes that vendors will be allowed to provide refunds of RST to purchasers after October 31, 2010, other than for returned goods. Where goods are purchased before July 1, 2010 and returned to the vendor after October 31, 2010, RST refunds will be claimable by the purchaser directly from the Ontario Ministry of Revenue.

Where a purchaser has paid both RST and HST on goods and/or services acquired after June 30, 2010, a rebate of the RST will be available to the purchaser to eliminate the double taxation.

4.3    RST Exemptions top.gif (291 bytes)Top

Effective July 1, 2010, multi-jurisdictional vehicles will not be subject to RST or >=exit tax=> when they ceased to be registered under the International Registration Plan.

RST will continue to apply after June 30, 2010 to private sales of used vehicles. There is currently an exemption for gifts of used vehicles between certain family members which will be extended to include gifts between siblings after June 30, 2010.

4.4    RST Vendor Compensation top.gif (291 bytes)Top

TThe original 2009 HST proposals eliminated RST vendor compensation effective March 31, 2010. The Budget proposes to extend RST vendor compensation to June 30, 2010. A maximum of $375 will be available for the April 1 to June 30, 2010 collection period.

The HST transitional rules include a credit intended to assist small business in transitioning to the HST. The credit is to be based on taxable sales for a 12 month period. The Budget proposes to allow the Province to prescribe the 12 month period for this purpose.

4.5    Insurance Premiums top.gif (291 bytes)Top

Insurance premiums currently subject to the RST will continue to be subject to RST after June 30, 2010. The Budget proposes that vendors of such insurance continue to be eligible for RST vendor compensation of up to $1,500 annually.

In addition, it is proposed that certain insurance-related costs and fees, such as administration fees for benefit plans are exempt from RST. This will ensure that such amounts are not subject to both RST and HST.

5.0    TOBACCO TAX ACT top.gif (291 bytes)Top

With the introduction of the HST, tobacco retailers will no longer be able to obtain vendors permits under the Retail Sales Tax Act. As a result, effective July 1, 2010, they will be required to obtain a retail dealers permit under the Tobacco Tax Act.

6.0    LAND TRANSFER TAX ACT top.gif (291 bytes)Top

To facilitate reorganization of registered charities, certain transfers of land will be exempt from land transfer tax, effective for transfers after March 25, 2010. Transfers from trustees to a non-share capital corporation or between two such corporations will be exempt provided that the recipient corporation will be continuing the same charitable purpose and there is no consideration other than the assumption of existing liabilities on the land.

7.0    CONCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL MEASURES top.gif (291 bytes)Top

The Budget announces the intention of Ontario to adopt the following previously announced federal measures:

  • Rollover on death of certain Registered Retirement Savings Plan, Registered Retirement Income Fund and Registered Pension Plan proceeds to a Registered Disability Plan of a qualifying beneficiary
  • The ability of single parents to tax the Universal Child Care Benefit in a childs hands
  • The elimination of eligibility of costs for purely cosmetic medical procedures for the medical expense credit
  • Provisions related to scholarships
  • Provisions related to employee stock options including the elimination of the deferral for public company options
  • The deduction for U.S. social security benefits
  • Overhaul of the disbursement quota system for charities
  • Capital cost allowance system changes for clean energy generation, set-top boxes and Canadian renewable and conservation expenses

In addition, the federal Budget of March 4, 2010 announced the federal government=s intention to explore ways of streamlining the tax system for corporate groups. Possibilities include a formal loss transfer system and consolidated returns. The Budget applauds this initiative. Furthermore, it urges the federal government to ensure corporate tax losses are utilized in the province in which they arose.