Tax Measures Under Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
- Taxpayers may submit tax returns, applications and payments online, by email ([email protected][128] for returns and [email protected][129] for all other transactions), by post or by using the drop-off box.
- Telephone lines are open to set up electronic funds transfer, wire payment, or e-file payment options (709-729-6297 or toll free 1-877-729-6376).
Northwest Territories Tax Measures
On March 20, 2020, the Government of the Northwest Territories (“GNWT”) announced the following tax measures[130]:
Measures for businesses
- The GNWT has extended the suspension of all collection activities, including outside collection agency activity, GNWT set-offs on GNWT payments, GNWT set-offs on Canada Revenue Agency tax refunds, until September 30, 2020.
Measures for individuals
- The GNWT announced an extension until the end of September 2020, for Income Assistance (“IA”) COVID-19 relief measures. The relief measures include:
- exempting CERB and CESB in the calculation of IA benefits;
- “payrolling” all clients so they do not have to report each month;
- directing that all clients will engage in only one Productive Choice and they are not required to report on this productive choice; and
- exempting monetary donations from being counted as income in their IA benefits.
- The GNWT has extended the suspension of all collection activities, including outside collection agency activity, GNWT set-offs on GNWT payments, GNWT set-offs on Canada Revenue Agency tax refunds, until September 30, 2020.
- Funding for the normal-course Income Assistance Program has been increased. This measure expired on June 30, 2020.
Nova Scotia Tax Measures
Between March 20 and 27, 2020, Premier Stephen McNeil announced the following tax measures:
Measures for businesses
- Payments on all government loans and small business fees (including business renewal fees and workers compensation premiums) are deferred until June 30, 2020.
- Nova Scotia’s hotel, motel and inn operators will receive assistance with their commercial property tax. The program[132], which opens on November 16, 2020, will provide the qualified operator a 25% rebate on payment of 2020-21 commercial property tax. To qualify, an operator must have incurred a year-over-year revenue loss for room accommodation of greater than 30% during the period from April 1, 2020, to October 31, 2020. Alternatively, if the business was not in operation before April 1,2020, they must demonstrate a lower than 50% occupancy rate since opening their business.
Measures for individuals
- Employees and self-employed workers who have been laid off or lost their jobs and earnings due to COVID-19, but are not eligible for EI, may be eligible for the Worker Emergency Bridge[133]. The Worker Emergency Bridge is a one-time $1,000 payment for individuals who earn an annual income between $5,000 and $34,000 and have applied or plan to apply for CERB.
Ontario Tax Measures
On March 25, 2020, the Government of Ontario released Responding to COVID-19 (March 2020 Economic and Fiscal Update[134]), which will make $10 billion available to support individuals and businesses through tax and other deferrals: