Tax and Utilities
Small business owners pay lower taxes in Alberta than they would in any other province. Alberta's tax advantage results from a low single rate tax system, including the highest basic and spousal exemptions in the country, no general sales tax, no payroll tax, no capital tax, low corporate income tax rates, the lowest gasoline tax rate among the provinces, and low property taxes.
In recent years, a number of provinces have reduced small business tax rates and increased small business thresholds. Although small business corporations in British Columbia, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island could pay less income tax than their counterparts in Alberta, when all taxes are taken into account (personal, corporate, sales tax, health premiums), Alberta small business owners are still better off.
Municipal commercial taxes are very competitive. Municipal taxes in the larger urban centres in the Region are roughly $1500/$100,000 of assessment. The “wildcard” is assessment value – which is much lower than the Calgary metropolitan region, generating lower taxes for comparable enterprise operating space.
COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL TAXES
|
| |
Commercial Tax Rate |
Industrial Tax Rate |
Taxes/$100,000 Commercial Assessment |
Taxes/$100,000 Industrial Assessment |
| Fort Macleod* |
17.054 |
17.05 |
$1,705 |
$1,705 |
| Claresholm* |
13.75 |
13.75 |
$1,375 |
$1,375 |
| Cardston* |
17.6854 |
17.6854 |
$1,768 |
$1,768 |
| Pincher Creek |
13.1487 |
13.1487 |
$1,314 |
$1,314 |
| Crowsnest Pass |
14.2403 |
10.48499 |
$1,420 |
$1,048 |
*includes municiple,education,seniors and other special taxes
Electricity/Natural Gas Utilities
Electricity/Natural Gas are deregulated in Alberta. The Alberta government provides a website that assists consumers with choosing an appropriate provider for their residence or business (
www.ucahelps.gov.ab.ca). The website includes current pricing to help you calculate business costs.
Regulated utility providers for the communities of size in the Alberta SouthWest region are as follows:
Current Market Rates
Electricity and gas rates are variable based on market pricing. Utility costs can be a significant business cost depending on the type of business. To help you plan costs associated with your business venture, current market pricing as of January, 2011 is:
- Electricity rate (regulated, commercial) – $7.305 cents/kwh
- Gas rate (regulated, commercial) - $2.881/GJ
Water/Sewer/Garbage Utilities
Rural areas in the Region function with independent well/septic systems. Urban communities operate their own utilities. Current (2010) rates for selected communities are as follows:
Claresholm
- Water - $26.06/month first 23 cubic metres, $.80 per cubic metre over base consumption
- Sewer - $13.55/month
- Garbage - $14.92/month
Crowsnest Pass
- Water rates are variable based on the type of use – e.g. non-intensive commercial uses (e.g. retail) - $23/month, intensive commercial uses (e.g. car wash) - $92/month
- Sewer rates are variable based on the type of use – e.g. non-intensive commercial uses (e.g. retail) - $16.05/month, intensive commercial uses (e.g. car wash) - $59.85/month
- Garbage – is the individual responsibility of enterprise
- Rate info - http://www.town.crowsnestpass.ab.ca/services/water--sewage
- Utility rate schedule (definitions) - http://www.town.crowsnestpass.ab.ca/services/bylaws
Fort Macleod
- Water - $41.66/month + $.40/cubic metre for first 125 cubic metres, $.34 next 350 cubic metres, balance $.21/cubic metre
- Sewer - rate variable based on use – e.g. retail - $23.40/month to industrial plant $93.26/month
- Rate info - http://www.fortmacleod.com/living/utilities/sewage.cfm
Pincher Creek
- Water - $10.91/month
- Sewer - $7.50/month + 10% commercial sewage charge
- Garbage - $28.04/month
