ARCHIVED - Information for Residents of British Columbia

5010-PC

Table of Contents

• What's new for 2003?
• BC Family Bonus
• Basic Family Bonus
• If you have questions…

All the information you need to calculate your British Columbia tax and credits is included on the following pages. You will find two copies of Form BC428, British Columbia Tax , and Form BC479, British Columbia Credits , in this book. Complete the forms that apply to you, and attach a copy to your return.

What's new for 2003?

The income levels and most of the non-refundable tax credits used to calculate your provincial income tax have changed.

The calculation of provincial additional tax for minimum tax purposes is now completed on Form BC428. Form T1219, Provincial and Territorial Alternative Minimum Tax, has been eliminated.

You can elect on your 2003 return to claim the venture capital tax credit relating to eligible shares purchased in the first 60 days of 2004.

Form BC428, British Columbia Tax , and Form BC479, British Columbia Credits , reflect these changes.

BC Family Bonus

The BC Family Bonus program includes the basic Family Bonus and the BC Earned Income Benefit. This program provides non-taxable monthly payments to help low- and modest-income families with the cost of raising children under age 18. Benefits are combined with the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) into a single monthly payment.

Basic Family Bonus

For families with net income of $20,500 or less, the basic Family Bonus provides the following amounts:

• $1.58 per month for the first child;
• $17.75 per month for the second child; and
• $23.83 per month for each additional child.

Families with net income above $20,500 may also be entitled to a basic Family Bonus amount depending on their net income and the number of children they have.

BC Earned Income Benefit

Families whose earned income is more than $3,750 may also be entitled to the following:

• up to $50.41 per month for the first child;
• up to $33.75 per month for the second child; and
• up to $27.50 per month for each additional child.

Families with net income above $20,921 may get part of the earned income benefit.

There is no need to apply separately to get payments under the BC Family Bonus. We will use the information from your CCTB application to determine your eligibility for the program.

File your tax return - You (and your spouse or common-law partner) should file your 2003 tax return(s) as soon as possible. The information you give on your return(s) will determine how much you will get starting in July 2004.

This program is fully funded by the Province of British Columbia. For more information, call 1-800-387-1193.

If you have questions…

If you have questions about British Columbia tax and credits, call the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) at 1-800-959-8281.

To request forms, call 1-800-959-2221.

The address of your tax services office and other telephone numbers are listed in the government section of your telephone book. Information is also available at www.ccra.gc.ca/tso on the CCRA's Web site.