Taxes could have bigger impact on Albertans in 2016

There could be a little less spending money in your pockets in 2016, especially if you have more of it than others.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says manyAlbertans will be paying more taxes this year thanks to provincial and federal hikes.

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"It's 100 per cent clear that Albertans are going to be shouldering a higher tax burden than the year before," saidPaige MacPherson with the CTF.

Provincially, those making over $125,000 per year will face income taxincreases of between 0.5 and 1.25 per cent, depending on their income. Federally, anyone making over $200,000 per year will be dinged an additional four per cent.

Shifting money around

MacPherson doesn't think it's sound policy to increase taxes on the wealthy, saying it's an ineffective way to raise government revenues because people are adept at shifting money around.

"That's exactly why it just doesn't generate the amount of revenue that politicians arehoping that its going to," she said.

The middle class, however, will get some relief. Those earning between$45,000 and $90,000 will get a federal tax break topping out at $680 per year, while provincial taxes will remain steady at 10 per cent.

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Increases toprovincial taxes on carbonnow at$20 per tonnemight also impact consumers, but the province is planning to offer rebates for the bottom 60 per cent of income earners.

Then there areincreases to provincialsin taxes on things like alcohol from last fall, and an increase on insurance premiums that will take effect in the spring.

On the local level, Calgariansare facing a 3.5 per cent property tax increase, as well as a jump in fees for water and sewer services, as well as garbage and recycling pick up.

On the plus side, the city has used a portion of its surplus to freeze fees for transit and rec centres.