October 11, 2005
$400 rebate cheques will arrive in the new year
Must be an Alberta resident and have filed a 2004 tax return to be eligible
Edmonton... Albertans will start seeing their $400 per-person Alberta 2005 Resource Rebate cheques in
mailboxes in January 2006. Returning some of this year's higher than anticipated resource revenues to
Albertans is just one part of the province's plan for this year's strong revenues-a strategy that also includes
infrastructure investment and savings in endowments. "A typical family of four will receive $1,600 tax free with this program," Finance Minister Shirley
McClellan said. "Albertans work hard and contribute to the strength of the province. Alberta has eliminated
the accumulated debt, invested in priority programs, and sustained the lowest overall tax burden in Canada.
This is money Albertans can use for themselves, to spend or save as they see fit. "
To receive the rebate, you must have been an Alberta resident on September 1, 2005 and have filed a 2004
Canadian tax return. Children whose families already receive the Canada Child Tax Benefit or the Alberta
Family Employment Tax Credit automatically qualify, and payments will go to the primary caregiver,
usually the mother. Most children are registered, but those parents who have never done so must complete
the form available on the Canada Revenue Agency website (www.cra-arc.gc.ca). Albertans have until December 2006 to register for the Canada Child Tax Benefit or file their 2004 tax
returns and still receive the rebate. Supplementary cheque runs will follow to address these and other
special cases. "This is a huge administrative task, and we must make sure it is done right," said McClellan. "Some
oversights can be expected in a project of this size, but the vast majority of Albertans will receive the rebate
without problems." Administrative costs will be under $10 million, less than one per cent of the program
cost.
The resource rebate will total between $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion. The majority of the higher than
expected revenue will be allocated to infrastructure and savings. More information about the rebates is
available on the government website at www.gov.ab.ca, or by calling 310-4455, toll free in Alberta.
- 30 Backgrounders attached: Eligibility criteria and administration; Common questions and answers
Media enquiries may be directed to:
Ryan Cromb, A/Director of Communications
Alberta Finance, (780) 427-5364
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
This news release is available on the Alberta Finance homepage at: http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca
Backgrounder
October 11, 2005
Eligibility criteria and administration of the resource rebate
Albertans 18 and over will receive a cheque for $400. This includes aboriginal people and students
attending school in other jurisdictions. Recipients will have to file a 2004 Canadian tax return (even if the return was filed in another province)
and be resident in Alberta at September 1, 2005. The rebate will be exempt from provincial and federal taxation. Rebates for children who are under 18 as of December 31, 2005 will be paid to their primary caregiver
(in most cases the mother). All babies born in 2005 up to December 31 will be eligible for the rebate.
Parents of children born late in the year or who have not yet registered their children for the Canada
Child Tax Benefit program will receive the rebate for the children in one of the monthly supplementary
issuances starting in March 2006. Most Albertans will receive the full payment in January. Supplementary payments will be issued at a later
date to address special circumstances, such as newly registered children or a 2004 tax return filed and
assessed in 2006. Children will be matched with their primary caregiver through the Child Tax Benefit program for the
month of January 2006 with the Canada Revenue Agency. Over 90 per cent of Alberta children are
already registered for the Child Tax Benefit program. For those children not registered for the Child Tax Benefit, registration requires completion of a simple
form. Child Tax Benefit registration form: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/rc66/README.html
The province will administer benefits to children in provincial care. The homeless are entitled to the rebate. The government will work with inner city agencies to determine
how to best distribute the rebate to people with no fixed address. Inmates in prison on September 1, 2005 are not eligible for the rebate. There will be deductions for maintenance enforcement if payments are owed. There will not be
deductions for other debts such as income tax arrears or student loans.
Who to contact for information: (Updated January 26, 2006)
If you have a question about the Alberta 2005 Resource Rebate program that is not answered in the
following Q and A, you can find additional questions and answers on the Canada Revenue Agency
website at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/benefits/faq_arr-e.html.
A dedicated 1-800 line for the Alberta 2005 Resource Rebate has been activated to assist clients with
specific enquiries related to their rebate, such as address updates and the filing of tax returns. Contact
1-866-209-8903 for service in English or 1-866-209-8994 for service in French.
General questions related to the Alberta 2005 Resource Rebate program can also be directed to 310-4455,
toll free in Alberta. Albertans outside of the province can call 1-866-825-4455. If you know you were eligible to receive the Alberta 2005 Resource Rebate payment in January 2006 but
have not received it by February 10, 2006, call the ARR enquiries service toll-free at 1-866-209-8903
(English) or 1-866-209-8994 (French).
(English) or 1-866-209-8994 (French).
Important Forms
Canada Revenue Agency has indicated that limited numbers of forms are available. Canada Revenue
Agency is printing additional forms, but requesting a paper form could delay your rebate. People who need
forms are asked to consider downloading them electronically to make applications. Alberta 2004 General Income Tax and Benefit package:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/formspubs/prioryear/t1/2004/alberta-e.html
If you did not live in Alberta for the 2004 tax year, you should file the form relating to the province
of your residence in that year. You are still eligible to receive the rebate if you were resident in
Alberta on September 1, 2005. See http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/formspubs/prioryear/t1/2004/alberta-e.html for forms relating to other provinces. Child Tax Benefit program registration form:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/rc66/README.html
- 30 Media enquiries may be directed to:
Ryan Cromb
A/Director of Communications
Alberta Finance
(780) 427-5364
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
This backgrounder is available on the Alberta Finance homepage at: http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca
Backgrounder
October 11, 2005
Common questions and answers on Alberta's resource rebate
General information
1. How much is the rebate worth per person?
The rebate will be $400 per person. Will the rebates be taxed?
The rebates will not be subject to provincial or federal income taxes.
Who will qualify for the rebates?
Residents who are 18 years of age as of December 2005 and who have filed a 2004 tax return and are a
resident of Alberta as of September 1, 2005 are eligible to receive a rebate.
Will children receive cheques?
No. The rebates for children under 18 will be included on the cheque of the person listed as primary
caregiver for the purposes of the Canada Child Tax Benefit, in most cases the mother.
Who will not qualify for the rebates?
People convicted of a crime and incarcerated in prison as of September 1, 2005 will not be eligible for the
rebate.
How much of the increased revenue is being distributed through rebates?
The rebate portion is expected to be worth between $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion. The majority of the
additional resource revenue dollars will go to help pay for capital projects and increasing the province's
savings.
If the surplus turns out to be bigger at the end of the year than you are currently forecasting, will
there be another round of cheques?
Government designated a dollar amount now so we don't have to wait for the final audited tally in June
2006 to provide a rebate. At this point, it's a "one-time" program reflecting the unexpected increase in
revenue.
When will the cheques be distributed? (Updated December 15, 2005)
Eligible Albertans will receive the Alberta 2005 Resource Rebate closer to the end of January. As a security
measure, the government will not announce an exact date for when the rebates will be mailed out.
How much will it cost to administer?
The estimated cost is about $10 million - less than one per cent of the total program cost.
Are the rebates subject to deductions by maintenance enforcement, tax debts, or student debts?
Deductions on the rebates will only be made for money owing under Maintenance Enforcement but not
other debts.
Will the rebates result in claw-backs from provincial programs like AISH, Seniors Benefits, student
loans or grants?
The rebates will not affect the benefits Albertans receive through provincial assistance programs.
Updating your tax information
I moved after filing my 2004 tax return. How do I make sure the government has my
address?(Updated January 25, 2006)
You can notify the Canada Revenue Agency of a change of address at 1-866-209-8903 for service in
English or 1-866-209-8994 for service in French.
I haven't filed my 2004 tax return. Is there any way I can still receive the rebate?
You can still receive a rebate as long as you file a 2004 return by December 31, 2006. A copy of the 2004
tax return form is available online at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/formspubs/prioryear/t1/2004/alberta-e.html.
You will receive a rebate, but it will not arrive in the January 2006 cheque run. Children
How do I make sure I receive rebates for my children? (Updated December 15, 2005)
How do I make sure I receive rebates for my children? (Updated December 15, 2005)
Children whose families already receive the monthly Canada Child Tax Benefit will automatically qualify
for the Alberta 2005 Resource Rebate. If you have never registered your children for the Canada Child Tax Benefit, you should do so by
completing an application available online at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/rc66/README.html
Parents who have not registered their children in time to receive the payment by January will receive a
payment for the children at a later date. To avoid delays in processing your application, please include a
copy of your child's birth certificate for children one year old and up.
If a couple is divorced, who will receive the rebates for the children?
Children's rebates will be paid to their primary caregiver for the month of January 2006. If children are in foster homes, custody care, or otherwise in the care of the province, who receives
the rebates for the children? (Updated February 1, 2006)
Resource rebates for children in the care of the province will be transferred to Alberta Children's Services,
which has the responsibility of working with the children to ensure the money is used appropriately for the
child's benefit.
If children are in the care of other relatives but not in the care of the province, who receives the
rebates for the children? (Updated February 13, 2006)
Rebates for children living with relatives or others, but not under the care of the province, will be sent to the
person listed as the primary caregiver for the purposes of the Canada Child Tax Benefit.
Children who are not attached to a primary caregiver may need to apply for the rebate. An application can
be found online. How do parents of children born after September 1, 2005 receive a rebate for that child?
Parents of children born late in the year will receive a delayed payment for that child as long as they have
registered for the Canada Child Tax Benefit.
Students
Will Alberta students studying outside the province receive rebates?
Alberta students studying in another province are still eligible for the rebate program, provided they filed a
2004 tax return as Alberta residents. They may need to contact the Canada Revenue Agency at
1-800-959-8281 in order to receive a rebate.
Will students from other provinces studying in Alberta receive the cheques?
Out-of-province students studying in Alberta who filed 2004 returns in their home province will not be
considered Alberta residents. Others
Will recent immigrants to Alberta from outside of Canada receive rebates?
Immigrants who filed a 2004 Canadian tax return will see rebates. Immigrants who are Permanent
Residents but were not able to file a 2004 tax return will receive a rebate at a later date so long as they were
resident in Alberta on September 1, 2005.
Are Albertans who were away temporarily from the province eligible for the rebate? (Updated
February 13, 2006)
Albertans who were temporarily out of the province on September 1, 2005 might be eligible for the rebate
and will need to apply for it. An application can be found online.
How will the homeless receive their cheques?
We will be working with inner city agencies to determine how to best distribute the rebate to people with no
fixed address.
- 30 Media enquiries may be directed to:
Ryan Cromb
A/Director of Communications
Alberta Finance
(780) 427-5364
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
This backgrounder is available on the Alberta Finance homepage at: http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca
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