5010-PC

Table of contents

• What's new for 2004?
• 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 2004?

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

The calculation of the non-refundable tax credit for medical expenses has changed.

Form BC428, British Columbia Tax , reflects 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:

• $11.91 per month for families with two children; and
• $20.58 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 $48.00 per month for the first child;
• up to $36.16 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 2004 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 2005.

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, visit the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Web site at www.cra.gc.ca or call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281.

To get forms, visit the CRA Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/forms or call 1-800-959-2221.