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Province Waiting on Millions in Unpaid MSP Bills

The province is waiting on millions of dollars in overdue MSP account payments, so says a B.C. taxpayer watchdog.

According to Jordan Bateman, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, there are more than 850,000 tax payment accounts that are overdue in the province. In documents obtained by the Federation, the payments are at least 31 days overdue and total a staggering $462.7 million.

The documents show:

  • 316,483 B.C. MSP tax payments are more than 90 days past due, owing a combined $418 million.
  • 249,611 payments are 61-90 days late, owing $20.5 million.
  • 290,237 payments are 31-60 days late, owing $24.2 million.

“These numbers are startling when you consider that only about half of B.C.’s 4.4 million people pay MSP directly, and roughly 800,000 people are exempted due to low income,” said Bateman, CTF B.C. Director. “It’s clear the MSP system is hopelessly flawed, but the government keeps doubling down on it with higher and higher taxes.”

The annual MSP tax bill for a family of four is $150 per month and rates have doubled since the B.C. Liberals took office in 2001.

In its 2016-17 pre-budget submission, the CTF called on the provincial government to freeze and review the MSP tax, with the goal of making it fairer and less costly for taxpayers.

“Next week’s provincial budget is the perfect time for the BC Liberal government to make meaningful changes to this unfair, expensive tax,” said Bateman. “Taxpayers, having seen so many of their expenses shoot through the roof in recent years, are begging for relief.”



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