Canadian Personal Finance Blog

The past couple of years, I have used my Quicktax program as a financial forecasting tool (as well as an excellent, if somewhat expensive, tax preparation program). Every year I wonder what is the difference if both my wife and I worked and earned the same Gross Family Income, as compared to our current situation where I am the sole bread winner (by choice)? (a note for American readers, there is no concept of income splitting in Canada, until you retire, and even then…)

I have pointed out on this web site (and to my members of Provincial and Federal Government) that the Canadian Tax code is slanted toward dual income families and actually penalizes the “traditional” single income family.

Before I get posts about how I am against women in the workplace, or the same kind of arguments, I am the father of 3 daughters, and I am not against women in the workplace (I prefer female bosses, if you were asking my opinion), what I am saying is that single income families do not get the advantages that dual income families have.

Some of these advantages are:

• Writing off day care costs. Now yes, this is legitimate costs of going to work, so I am not saying this is bad, however, they get to write off summer camps as well, however, I do not because my wife stays at home.
• The “equivalent to married” non-refundable tax credit I get for my wife adds up to not very much (I’ll have that as part of my calculations in later postings).
• A benefit of having two medical programs (which not all dual income families have) is that a lot of expensive medical procedures typically only covered as 1/2 on most medical plans, end up being covered completely by both insurance companies (e.g. Braces, Crown replacements, etc.,)
• What happens with CPP? Both in a dual income family would get CPP payments, but does my wife get one, in a single income family? Don’t know, need to go find that one out.

There are other tax advantages as well. Now, a single income family like mine has other advantages as well (I am not complaining about the single income concept, I think it is good), so let’s not get into discussions like that I am looking solely at the Canadian Tax system. My family gets the “Beer and Popcorn” money and doesn’t get it clawed back!

Coming next, what do the numbers say?

Related Links:

• The Disappearing Middle Class in Canada
• Spousal RRSP: Income Splitting
• My Spouse is Worth How Much?
• High Price of Parenting