The GST credit
Raj K. Chawla
- In 2002/2003, the federal government collected $30.6 billion from the GST (goods and services tax). The GST accounts for 70% of consumption tax revenue and 16% of federal government revenue. The government returned $2.9 billion in GST credits to 9.1 million persons aged 16 and over in 7.5 million economic families.
- Almost two-thirds of those receiving a GST credit were major income recipients of economic families (including unattached individuals). Children still living with their parents accounted for another 21%. Although credits are designed to soften the burden of GST for families with lower incomes, only 26% of the total credit went to low-income families.
- Families with a GST credit received an average of $389, which represented 5% of their total government transfers or 1% of pre-tax income. Thus the GST credit has only a minimal effect on the redistribution of income.
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Author
Raj K. Chawla is with the Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division. He can be reached at (613) 951-6901 or perspectives@statcan.gc.ca.
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