(CNW) Canadians will start working for
themselves this Monday, June 19.
According to The Fraser Institute's
annual Tax Freedom Day calculations, Canadians have to work
until Sunday, June 18 to pay the total tax bill imposed on them
by all levels of government.Tax Freedom Day arrives five days
earlier than in 2005, when it fell on June 24.The latest Tax
Freedom Day was in 2000, when it fell on June 25. Tax Freedom
Day decreased to June 18 in 2001 before increasing to June 22
in 2002 and 2003, June 23 in 2004, and June 24 in 2005.
Tax Freedom Day falls over a month and a half later than it did
45 years ago,  said Niels Veldhuis, senior research
economist at the institute.
In 1961, the earliest year for which the calculation has been
made, Canada's Tax Freedom Day was May 3.
The Fraser Institute calculates Tax Freedom Day to provide a
simple reference point about the impact of government tax
collection. The institute has been researching the
comprehensive tax burden on the average family in Canada and in
each of the provinces since 1977."It is nearly impossible
for an ordinary citizen to have a clear idea ofhow much tax
they really pay. Tax Freedom Day gives Canadians a true picture
of their total tax burden," said Veldhuis.
 
Tax Freedom Day calculations include all taxes levied on
Canadians such as income taxes, property taxes, and sales
taxes, as well as profit taxes,health, social security and
employment taxes, import duties, license fees,taxes on the
consumption of alcohol and tobacco ("sin" taxes),
natural resource fees, fuel taxes, hospital taxes, and a host
of other levies. 
