Annual lists 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

Ottawa, November 4, 2004
2004-068

Department of Finance Releases Annual Tax Expenditure Report

Related documents:

• Tax Expenditures and Evaluations - 2004.
• Tax Expenditures : Notes to the Estimates/Projections 2004.

The Department of Finance today released Tax Expenditures and Evaluations, its annual report on federal tax expenditures.

The report provides estimates and projections of the revenue impacts of federal tax measures. These measures—for example, tax deductions and credits—reflect policy choices of the Government that affect the level and distribution of taxes. They are typically referred to as tax expenditures.

This year’s report includes estimates and projections that reflect tax changes proposed in Budget 2004, including:

• the legislated increase in the goods and services tax rebate for municipalities to 100 per cent effective February 1, 2004;

• tax relief for Canadian Forces personnel and police deployed to high-risk international operational missions;

• the introduction of the disability supports deduction;

• allowing more of the expenses incurred by caregivers to be claimed under the medical expense tax credit; and

• an acceleration to 2005 of the increase in the small business deduction limit.

The 2004 edition of the report includes two analytical papers. The first is a Department of Finance evaluation of the disability tax credit, which was undertaken further to the Government’s response in 2002 to the Seventh Report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. The second paper, entitled "Taxation and Economic Efficiency: Results From a General Equilibrium Model," presents analysis on the comparative long-run economic costs of taxes.

A companion document, Tax Expenditures: Notes to the Estimates/Projections, which was last published in 2000, has also been updated. This document describes the various tax measures and their policy objectives.

Tax Expenditures and Evaluations and Tax Expenditures: Notes to the Estimates/Projections may be viewed on the Department of Finance Web site at www.fin.gc.ca. Printed copies are available for $16 from the Department of Finance Distribution Centre at (613) 995-2855.

____________________
For further information:

David Gamble
Public Affairs and Operations Division
(613) 996-8080

If you would like to receive automatic e-mail notification of all news releases, please visit the Department of Finance Canada Web site at http://www.fin.gc.ca/scripts/register_e.asp.