Fitness Tax Credit

[Slava]

I almost can't believe what I'm reading in this thread. The government finally looks to do something proactive on the healthcare front (where a lot of us seem to have a way to get some tax deductions out of it) and no one's happy?

I think its actually a smart way to encourage people to take something up and maybe do something in the community. Imagine this....government trying to enrich peoples lives and make the world a more enjoyable place to live...who'd believe that?!

[mykalberta]

That would definately lessen the hit I pay every month for Mens + at the YMCA.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

That would definately lessen the hit I pay every month for Mens + at the YMCA.

Not by very much.

This whole thing is worth a whopping $150/year.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Slava

I almost can't believe what I'm reading in this thread. The government finally looks to do something proactive on the healthcare front (where a lot of us seem to have a way to get some tax deductions out of it) and no one's happy?

I think its actually a smart way to encourage people to take something up and maybe do something in the community. Imagine this....government trying to enrich peoples lives and make the world a more enjoyable place to live...who'd believe that?!

That's all true and fine, but as I pointed out in my previous post tax credits should be equally accessible for all tax payers. With rural/urban discrepancies in available athletic and recreational clubs, people in rural communities don't have the same access to clubs in order to qualify for the credit. The same is true for people who can't afford to join athletic clubs. From what I read in the article, membership in a club would be requisite to qualify for the credit, so not everyone would have equal opportunity to qualify. If I misread the article and merely going for a daily walks qualifie a person for the tax credit then it's no problem, but that's not the interpretation I got.

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

That's all true and fine, but as I pointed out in my previous post tax credits should be equally accessible for all tax payers. With rural/urban discrepancies in available athletic and recreational clubs, people in rural communities don't have the same access to clubs in order to qualify for the credit. The same is true for people who can't afford to join athletic clubs. From what I read in the article, membership in a club would be requisite to qualify for the credit, so not everyone would have equal opportunity to qualify. If I misread the article and merely going for a daily walks qualifie a person for the tax credit then it's no problem, but that's not the interpretation I got.

good point there. I know for me i don't belong to any clubs yet i'm training to run a marathon. I can sure as hell guarrantee you that i'm getting more exercise then someone who is in a walking or curling club (no offence to either activity) yet may not be able to recieve the credit

[Slava]

^ Why should everything be available to everyone? There are a lot of tax credits that are not available to everyone as it stands. People in Claresholm have no hope of claiming the tax credit for transit use for example. I have no hope of claiming any of the tax advantages and credits that come from farm ownership.

Fact is that the tax credits are already "unfair" in that regard.

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by Slava

^ Why should everything be available to everyone? There are a lot of tax credits that are not available to everyone as it stands. People in Claresholm have no hope of claiming the tax credit for transit use for example. I have no hope of claiming any of the tax advantages and credits that come from farm ownership.

Fact is that the tax credits are already "unfair" in that regard.

Id rather see the money used for facilities, then go back into the pocket of the 30% of people who get gym memberships and never use them.

Or see scummy places like WHC/Golds etc. chains bump their fees because of this!

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Slava

^ Why should everything be available to everyone? There are a lot of tax credits that are not available to everyone as it stands. People in Claresholm have no hope of claiming the tax credit for transit use for example. I have no hope of claiming any of the tax advantages and credits that come from farm ownership.

Fact is that the tax credits are already "unfair" in that regard.

That doesn't mean we need more unfair tax credits.

To be fair, farm tax credits are more appropriately compared to other business tax credits, which are a different thing altogether from personal tax credits. As for the transit use tax credit you refer to, I'm unaware of what that is, but it sounds like it might be a municipal tax credit, in which case it too is different that a personal tax credit. Personally, I think that personal tax credits should be equally accessible to all tax payers, and the presence of already existing unfair tax credits is rationale to support more unfair tax credits.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

That doesn't mean we need more unfair tax credits.

To be fair, farm tax credits are more appropriately compared to other business tax credits, which are a different thing altogether from personal tax credits. As for the transit use tax credit you refer to, I'm unaware of what that is, but it sounds like it might be a municipal tax credit, in which case it too is different that a personal tax credit. Personally, I think that personal tax credits should be equally accessible to all tax payers, and the presence of already existing unfair tax credits is rationale to support more unfair tax credits.

The transit tax credit is a federal one for users who can prove they buy monthly passes.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

That doesn't mean we need more unfair tax credits.

I guess what I'm getting at is that if everyone can claim a tax credit then its called the basic personal amount...otherwise different situations breed different deductions/credits.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Slava

I almost can't believe what I'm reading in this thread. The government finally looks to do something proactive on the healthcare front (where a lot of us seem to have a way to get some tax deductions out of it) and no one's happy?

I think its actually a smart way to encourage people to take something up and maybe do something in the community. Imagine this....government trying to enrich peoples lives and make the world a more enjoyable place to live...who'd believe that?!

If it actually did get people out and encouraged them to take something up then I think people would be more on board with it.

I agree with Sylvanfan though, all this does is encourage people to sign up for more memberships or more programs, but not necessarily participate in the things they sign up for.

Money/tax credits are standing in the way of most people getting in shape. Getting a tax credit doesn't change the fact that running/going to the gym is boring as hell.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Slava

^ Why should everything be available to everyone? There are a lot of tax credits that are not available to everyone as it stands. People in Claresholm have no hope of claiming the tax credit for transit use for example. I have no hope of claiming any of the tax advantages and credits that come from farm ownership.

Fact is that the tax credits are already "unfair" in that regard.

Yeah, but my problem is that someone can join a health club and never go and claim this fitness credit.....When a guy who rides a bike to work every day but doesn't belong to a club can't. Which guy actually is fit and getting excercise here. When it comes to fitness you can't police it or determine what is and isn't a proper fitness club where people are getting legitimate excercise accurately in my opinion.

[fredr123]

In case anyone is interested in reading the proposed Bill 206: http://www.assembly.ab.ca/bills/2008/pdf/bill-206.pdf

... and it's introduction in the legislature:

Bill 206
Alberta Personal Income Tax ( Physical Activity
Credit) Amendment Act, 2008
Mr. Marz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the hon. Member for Calgary-
Lougheed I request leave to introduce Bill 206, the
Alberta Personal Income Tax ( Physical Activity Credit) Amendment Act, 2008.
The objective of this bill is to increase participation in physical activity among Alberta’s children, youth, and adults in accordance with the government’s objective of promoting healthy living. The legislation would recognize that increased physical activity can act as a preventative measure against health complications and lessen the impact on Alberta’s health care industry.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
[ Motion carried; Bill 206 read a first time]

[Kerplunk]

Originally Posted by moon

I agree with Sylvanfan though, all this does is encourage people to sign up for more memberships or more programs, but not necessarily participate in the things they sign up for.

I'm not sure how willing a person would be to pay out $1500 a year to get back less than $150 in tax credits, without using what was paid for. Might be better off making donations to registered charities.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Kerplunk

I'm not sure how willing a person would be to pay out $1500 a year to get back less than $150 in tax credits, without using what was paid for. Might be better off making donations to registered charities.

People do it all the time now and get no tax credit back. There are tons of people with gym memberships that aren't used at all, that join teams/classes they never end up showing up for. I can only imagine that the list will get longer if people think they could get money back for signing up.

Working out, being active sounds great when you are shelling out the bucks and dreaming of a six pack but when it is time to get off the couch after an 8 hour workday, American Idol and Grand Theft Auto often sound like a much better option.

[Burninator]

This seems like a great idea.....to give more business to gyms.

[Kerplunk]

Originally Posted by moon

People do it all the time now and get no tax credit back. There are tons of people with gym memberships that aren't used at all, that join teams/classes they never end up showing up for. I can only imagine that the list will get longer if people think they could get money back for signing up.

Working out, being active sounds great when you are shelling out the bucks and dreaming of a six pack but when it is time to get off the couch after an 8 hour workday, American Idol and Grand Theft Auto often sound like a much better option.

I think we are kind of taking different paths to the same outcome...which is how does this really encourage people to be active?

I see the credits as being totally useless if you spend more money then you get back in credits, without using the services paid for. I might be assuming too much intelligence and willpower on the part of the human population.

Tax credits might encourage people to sign up more, but like you said, the motivation has to be there as well. This helps people that are already active more than it encourages those that aren't.

[algernon]

Originally Posted by SebC

If the motivation for this is to increase participation in organized sports, it's a good idea. But for giving people an incentive to keep in shape? Just make it a credit for:

non-smoker
not underweight or overweight

And you're way more likely to make that back in healthcare dollars saved. Not sure how I'd make the logistics work though.

I'd introduce Participaction Day fitness testing for everybody. With each level of performance achieved, you get some more tax credits. Imagine if you could do the standing long jump and score a 2.3m and gain $40 in tax relief? I bet everybody would be training year round. 100 curl-ups? WHAM $60! 25 push-ups? Howabout another 30 bucks, Jack?