Other Tax Measures
Contraband Tobacco
To combat the adverse effects of contraband tobacco in the province, the government announced that it will implement four measures to address this issue:
- Double the number of officers in Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit.
- Introduce two new administrative penalties to increase the financial consequences of participating in contraband activities. The penalties will be set at three times the tax otherwise payable and will apply to the possession or sale of contraband cigarettes, tobacco sticks and fine-cut tobacco, or the unauthorized possession of cigars that in total contain more than 1,000 grams of tobacco.
- Introduce legislation to mandate the reporting of contraband seizures to ensure consistent data collection and enforcement of penalties.
- Advocate for the federal government to fulfill its responsibility to address the contraband tobacco issue.
Education Property Tax
Education property tax rates will increase in 2025-26 after being frozen in 2024-25. The rates will increase from $2.56 to $2.72 / $1,000 for residential / farmland property and from $3.76 to $4.00 / $1,000 for non-residential property.
Locomotive Fuel Tax
The fuel tax rate that applies to locomotive fuel will increase from 5.5 to 6.5 cents per litre effective March 1, 2025.
Cancelled Tax Credit Programs
The Budget will end the entitlements under the Alberta Climate Leadership Adjustment Rebate and the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit after December 31, 2025. These two programs were eliminated in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Albertans who may still be entitled to amounts under either program should contact Canada Revenue Agency as soon as possible.
Measures from previous Budget
Several measures from the 2024 Budget such as the $200 tax on electric vehicles and the increase in the Land Title Registration Levy were mentioned in the 2025 Budget and are expected to increase the province’s tax revenue.
This article has been published for general information. You should always contact your trusted advisor for specific guidance pertaining to your individual tax needs. This publication is not a substitute for obtaining personalized advice.
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