WATCH: All the consumer tax increases in Thursday’s budget are costs we can control, but there’s a list of other government increases we can avoid. Tony Tighe reports.
CALGARY – Aside from paying more for gas and alcohol, Alberta’s 2015 budget means you’ll be paying more to get married, buy a house, and even die.
Albertans will pay $1.5 billion more in taxes and fees this year to help cover the shortfall, due mostly to lower oil prices. Finance Minister Robin Campbell said Thursday some of the hikes were overdue.
“We know some Albertans will be critical of these revenue changes,” said Campbell. “However, without these increases, the future of many programs and services was at risk.”
Here’s a look at some of the user fee increases effective July 1, 2015:
Service Alberta
- Abstracts (Driver, Commercial Driver, Verification of suspension): increase from $15 to $20
- Operator Licence – application/renewal (1 year to 5 Years): increase from $15 – $75 to $15.80 – $79
- Passenger Vehicle application/renewal: increase from $75 to $84
- Land title search including online search: increases from $10 to $15
- Land Title Caveats: increase from $30 to $35
- Transfers and leasehold titles – Flat fee: increase from $50 to $75
- Transfers and leasehold titles – variable fee per each $5,000: increase from $1 to $6
- Mortgages- Flat fee: increase from $50 to $75
- Mortgages- Variable fee per each $5,000: increase from $1 to $6
- Marriage Licence: increase from $40 to $50
- Application for, Photocopy or Search and search letters of Birth, Marriage, or Death Certificates: increase from $20 to $30
- Incorporations including Amalgamations of Alberta Corporations: increase from $250 to $275
- Annual Returns for Corporations: increase from $30 to $50
- Corporation and non-profit organization searches (including historical): increase from $1 to $5
Court fees
- Inflation ticked higher in March. Are Bank of Canada rate cuts still in the cards?
- Some fixed mortgage rates are up despite hints of Bank of Canada cuts. Why?
- Health task force blasted over ‘dangerous guidance’ for cancer screenings
- Lynx Air says passenger refunds will hurt investors because of defiant contractor
Daily trial fees for civic matters will cost $250 a day instead of costing nothing. There are a number of other new court fees that used to be free as well:
Court Filing Fees – Civil and family matters
- Court of Appeal applications: $50
Court of Queen’s Bench
- Statements of defence: $50
- Counterclaims: $150
- Third Party claims: $150
- Interlocutory applications: $50
- Family Law Act claims: $50
Read the full budget below:
With files from Emily Mertz
Comments