Alberta and Ottawa
Alberta vs The National Average: What You Keep, What Ottawa Keeps
Alberta has no PST and the highest basic personal amount of any province. But Ottawa collects far more in Alberta than it spends here, and your share of that gap eats into the advantage.
By Grant Levy Updated
| Each hundred dollars of an Albertan’s federal income tax and EI | Squares | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Did not come back to AlbertaStatistics Canada, 2024 | 26 | Receipt25.9%Share of federal revenue collected in Alberta that Ottawa did not spend here, 2024Actual · 2024How we got itnet federal balance in Alberta ÷ federal revenue collected in Alberta, 2024Inputstransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2024, transfers.alberta.federal_revenue.2024SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107650069, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceThe retirement scenario applies this share to your own federal income tax and EI premiums.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance.share_of_revenue.2024 |
| Spent in Alberta, or paid back as transfers | 74 |
Fraser Institute analysis
All taxes combined: Tax Freedom Day
The Fraser Institute’s Tax Freedom Day is the day the average family of two or more has earned enough to pay all of its 2026 taxes: income, payroll, sales, property, fuel and more. For the average Alberta family it fell on May 25ReceiptMay 25, 2026Tax Freedom Day 2026, Alberta (Fraser Institute: all taxes, families of two or more)Estimate · 2026SourceFraser InstituteDocumentTax Freedom Day is tomorrow—June 9—when Canadians finally start working for themselves (news release)WhereNews release, table "2026 Provincial Tax Freedom Days", row "Alberta"PublishedJune 8, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFraser Institute analysis: Alberta's date is the second earliest after Saskatchewan's. It counts every tax the average Alberta family of two or more pays, so it falls much later than drained.ca's date, which counts only one earner's income tax, CPP and EI.All sourcesbenchmarks.fraser.tax_freedom_day.alberta.2026, 15 days before the national date of June 9ReceiptJune 9, 2026Tax Freedom Day 2026, Canada (Fraser Institute: all taxes, families of two or more)Estimate · 2026SourceFraser InstituteDocumentTax Freedom Day is tomorrow—June 9—when Canadians finally start working for themselves (news release)WhereNews release, table "2026 Provincial Tax Freedom Days", row "CANADA"PublishedJune 8, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFraser Institute analysis: the day the average Canadian family of two or more has earned enough to pay all of its 2026 taxes, including income, payroll (with the CPP), health, sales, property, fuel and "sin" taxes. Not comparable with drained.ca's Tax Freedom Day, which counts only one earner's income tax, CPP and EI.All sourcesbenchmarks.fraser.tax_freedom_day.canada.2026.
It is analysis, not a government figure, and it is not comparable with our own Tax Freedom Day, which counts one earner’s income tax, CPP and EI.
- Average Alberta family. The second earliest of the provinces, after Saskatchewan.ReceiptMay 25, 2026Tax Freedom Day 2026, Alberta (Fraser Institute: all taxes, families of two or more)Estimate · 2026SourceFraser InstituteDocumentTax Freedom Day is tomorrow—June 9—when Canadians finally start working for themselves (news release)WhereNews release, table "2026 Provincial Tax Freedom Days", row "Alberta"PublishedJune 8, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFraser Institute analysis: Alberta's date is the second earliest after Saskatchewan's. It counts every tax the average Alberta family of two or more pays, so it falls much later than drained.ca's date, which counts only one earner's income tax, CPP and EI.All sourcesbenchmarks.fraser.tax_freedom_day.alberta.2026
- Average Canadian family, 15 days after Alberta's.ReceiptJune 9, 2026Tax Freedom Day 2026, Canada (Fraser Institute: all taxes, families of two or more)Estimate · 2026SourceFraser InstituteDocumentTax Freedom Day is tomorrow—June 9—when Canadians finally start working for themselves (news release)WhereNews release, table "2026 Provincial Tax Freedom Days", row "CANADA"PublishedJune 8, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFraser Institute analysis: the day the average Canadian family of two or more has earned enough to pay all of its 2026 taxes, including income, payroll (with the CPP), health, sales, property, fuel and "sin" taxes. Not comparable with drained.ca's Tax Freedom Day, which counts only one earner's income tax, CPP and EI.All sourcesbenchmarks.fraser.tax_freedom_day.canada.2026
Statistics Canada
What you pay, and what Ottawa keeps
Show the numbers
| Year | Net federal balance |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Receipt$22,201,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2007SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2007 |
| 2008 | Receipt$22,504,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2008SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2008 |
| 2009 | Receipt$17,686,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2009SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2009 |
| 2010 | Receipt$16,610,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2010SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2010 |
| 2011 | Receipt$17,888,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2011SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2011 |
| 2012 | Receipt$19,235,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2012SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2012 |
| 2013 | Receipt$23,518,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2013SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2013 |
| 2014 | Receipt$27,056,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2014SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2014 |
| 2015 | Receipt$24,756,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2015SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2015 |
| 2016 | Receipt$15,959,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2016SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2016 |
| 2017 | Receipt$14,576,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2017SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2017 |
| 2018 | Receipt$17,524,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2018SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2018 |
| 2019 | Receipt$14,416,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2019SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2019 |
| 2020 | Receipt-$16,856,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2020SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2020 |
| 2021 | Receipt$1,608,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2021SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2021 |
| 2022 | Receipt$17,102,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2022SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2022 |
| 2023 | Receipt$18,703,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2023SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2023 |
| 2024 | Receipt$19,000,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta (federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta), by calendar yearActual · 2024SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal general government on the national-accounts basis. Excludes the Canada Pension Plan, which the table treats as a separate level of government; includes Employment Insurance. Revenue is where federal taxes are collected (corporate income tax by place of business) and spending is where federal money is spent, so federal services delivered from outside Alberta count elsewhere. This is not Equalization, which is paid from federal general revenue. Negative in 2020, when Alberta was a net recipient.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2024 |
In 2024 Ottawa collected Receipt$3,876Net federal balance per Albertan, 2024Estimate · 2024How we got itnet federal balance in Alberta, 2024 ÷ population of Alberta on July 1, 2024Inputstransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2024, population.alberta.2024-07-01SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 17-10-0009-01 Population estimates, quarterlyWhereAlberta (vector v15), July 1, 2024PublishedSeptember 23, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta, per person. It is not Equalization.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance.per_person.2024 more per Albertan than it spent in Alberta. Your share of the gap is 25.9%Receipt25.9%Share of federal revenue collected in Alberta that Ottawa did not spend here, 2024Actual · 2024How we got itnet federal balance in Alberta ÷ federal revenue collected in Alberta, 2024Inputstransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2024, transfers.alberta.federal_revenue.2024SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107650069, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceThe retirement scenario applies this share to your own federal income tax and EI premiums.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance.share_of_revenue.2024 of your federal income tax and EI: the share of federal revenue collected in Alberta that Ottawa didn’t spend here in 2024. Equalization’s slice is 4.6%Receipt4.6%Equalization as a share of federal expenses, 2026-27Forecast · FY2026-27How we got itEqualization payments ÷ total federal expensesInputstransfers.equalization.total.fy2026-27, federal.expenses.fy2026-27SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Provinces and Territories" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 columnPublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentSpring Economic Update 2026, Annex 1: Details of Economic and Fiscal ProjectionsWhereTable A1.9 The Expense Outlook, "Total expenses" row, 2026-2027 columnPublishedApril 28, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceEqualization is paid from federal general revenue, so roughly this share of each federal dollar goes to it.All sourcestransfers.equalization.share_of_federal_expenses.fy2026-27 of the same, its share of federal spending in 2026-27; Alberta’s government receives Receipt$0Equalization payment to Alberta, 2026-27Actual · FY2026-27SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Alberta" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 column (shown as "-", nil)PublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceReceives no Equalization payment this year.All sourcestransfers.equalization.ab.fy2026-27.
Because federal income tax is progressive, most of the gap comes from higher earners and corporations. A low-income Albertan's share is far smaller.
Sources
- Canada Revenue Agency, Current year tax rates and income brackets (2026) (Section "Federal rate for 2026"; Section "Alberta rate: 2026"). Checked September 28, 2026.
- Canada Revenue Agency, T4127 Payroll Deductions Formulas, 122nd Edition, effective January 1, 2026 (Chapter 8, Table 8.1 Rates (R, V), income thresholds (A), and constants (K, KP) for 2026, rows Federal A and R; Chapter 8, Table 8.1 Rates (R, V), income thresholds (A), and constants (K, KP) for 2026, rows AB A and V; Chapter 8, Table 8.3 Canada Pension Plan / Quebec Pension Plan 2026 contribution rates and amounts, row CPP (Canada except QC); Chapter 8, Table 8.7 Employment Insurance 2026 rates and amounts, row Canada except QC (employer contribution rate 0.02282)). Checked September 28, 2026.
- Government of Alberta, Personal income tax (Overview, Table 1. 2025 and 2026 tax brackets). Checked September 28, 2026.
- Canada Revenue Agency, CPP contribution rates, maximums and exemptions (Table "CPP contribution rates, maximums and exemptions", 2026 row (maximum pensionable earnings, basic exemption, maximum contributory earnings, rate, employee and employer maximum, self-employed maximum)). Checked September 28, 2026.
- Canada Revenue Agency, EI premium rates and maximums (Table "EI premium rates and maximums", 2026 federal row (maximum annual insurable earnings, rate, employee and employer maximums); table legend for Rate: "The employer's premium will be 1.4 times this amount."). Checked September 28, 2026.
Provincial tax savings are not shown: they need every province’s 2026 income tax worked out the same way, which our engine does not do yet.
Finance Canada
Equalization’s slice
Equalization is paid from general federal revenue; Alberta’s government pays nothing into it and gets nothing from it. Because Albertans generate about Receipt15.1%Alberta's share of federal government revenue, 2024Actual · 2024How we got itfederal revenue collected in Alberta ÷ federal revenue collected in CanadaInputstransfers.alberta.federal_revenue.2024, transfers.canada.federal_revenue.2024SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107650069, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereCanada; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107646586, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceAll sourcestransfers.alberta.federal_revenue_share.2024 of federal revenue, their share of Equalization’s Receipt$27,160,000,000Equalization, total payments, 2026-27Actual · FY2026-27SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Provinces and Territories" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 columnPublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceEqualization is paid by the federal government from its general revenues; provincial governments pay nothing into it (Finance Canada, Equalization program).All sourcestransfers.equalization.total.fy2026-27 cost in 2026-27 is about Receipt$4,093,172,973Albertans' implied share of the cost of Equalization, 2026-27Estimate · FY2026-27How we got ittotal Equalization × Alberta's share of federal revenue (2024)Inputstransfers.equalization.total.fy2026-27, transfers.alberta.federal_revenue_share.2024SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Provinces and Territories" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 columnPublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107650069, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereCanada; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107646586, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourcedrained.ca estimate. Ottawa pays Equalization from general revenue and the Alberta government pays nothing into it; this apportions the cost by where federal revenue is raised. It mixes a 2024 revenue share with the 2026-27 program.All sourcestransfers.equalization.alberta_implied_cost.fy2026-27: about Receipt$802Albertans' implied share of the cost of Equalization per Albertan, 2026-27Estimate · FY2026-27How we got itAlbertans' implied share of Equalization ÷ population of Alberta on July 1, 2026Inputstransfers.equalization.alberta_implied_cost.fy2026-27, population.alberta.2026-07-01SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Provinces and Territories" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 columnPublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107650069, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereCanada; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107646586, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 17-10-0009-01 Population estimates, quarterlyWhereAlberta (vector v15), July 1, 2026PublishedSeptember 23, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourcedrained.ca estimate; see the implied share above for the method.All sourcestransfers.equalization.alberta_implied_cost_per_person.fy2026-27 per Albertan, against about Receipt$650Cost of Equalization per Canadian, 2026-27Preliminary · FY2026-27How we got ittotal Equalization ÷ population of Canada on July 1, 2026Inputstransfers.equalization.total.fy2026-27, population.canada.2026-07-01SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Provinces and Territories" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 columnPublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 17-10-0009-01 Population estimates, quarterlyWhereCanada (vector v1), July 1, 2026PublishedSeptember 23, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceAll sourcestransfers.equalization.per_canadian.fy2026-27 for the average Canadian.
The bigger number is the whole gap: from 2015 to 2024 Ottawa collected Receipt$126,788,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta, 2015 to 2024 combinedActual · 2015 to 2024How we got itsum of the annual net federal balances in Alberta, 2015 to 2024 (current dollars)Inputstransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2015, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2016, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2017, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2018, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2019, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2020, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2021, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2022, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2023, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2024SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceCurrent dollars, not adjusted for inflation or for the federal deficit; excludes the Canada Pension Plan.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance.cumulative.2015-2024 more in Alberta than it spent here. For a $100,000 earner, the gap’s share of federal income tax and EI is about $3,736 a year, on the 2024 gap.
Questions people ask
The whole gap, 2015 to 2024
Receipt$126,788,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta, 2015 to 2024 combinedActual · 2015 to 2024How we got itsum of the annual net federal balances in Alberta, 2015 to 2024 (current dollars)Inputstransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2015, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2016, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2017, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2018, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2019, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2020, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2021, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2022, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2023, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2024SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceCurrent dollars, not adjusted for inflation or for the federal deficit; excludes the Canada Pension Plan.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance.cumulative.2015-2024
Federal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta, added up over the 10 years 2015 to 2024. The spark is the yearly balance over the same years.
$24.8B in 2015 to $19.0B in 2024.
How do Alberta taxes compare to other provinces?
On income tax, Alberta has the highest basic personal amount of any province ($22,769 in 2026) and an 8% first bracket, and it is the only province with no provincial sales tax. On all taxes combined, the Fraser Institute's 2026 Tax Freedom Day for the average Alberta family fell on May 25, 15 days before the national date of June 9.ReceiptMay 25, 2026Tax Freedom Day 2026, Alberta (Fraser Institute: all taxes, families of two or more)Estimate · 2026SourceFraser InstituteDocumentTax Freedom Day is tomorrow—June 9—when Canadians finally start working for themselves (news release)WhereNews release, table "2026 Provincial Tax Freedom Days", row "Alberta"PublishedJune 8, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFraser Institute analysis: Alberta's date is the second earliest after Saskatchewan's. It counts every tax the average Alberta family of two or more pays, so it falls much later than drained.ca's date, which counts only one earner's income tax, CPP and EI.All sourcesbenchmarks.fraser.tax_freedom_day.alberta.2026ReceiptJune 9, 2026Tax Freedom Day 2026, Canada (Fraser Institute: all taxes, families of two or more)Estimate · 2026SourceFraser InstituteDocumentTax Freedom Day is tomorrow—June 9—when Canadians finally start working for themselves (news release)WhereNews release, table "2026 Provincial Tax Freedom Days", row "CANADA"PublishedJune 8, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFraser Institute analysis: the day the average Canadian family of two or more has earned enough to pay all of its 2026 taxes, including income, payroll (with the CPP), health, sales, property, fuel and "sin" taxes. Not comparable with drained.ca's Tax Freedom Day, which counts only one earner's income tax, CPP and EI.All sourcesbenchmarks.fraser.tax_freedom_day.canada.2026
Which province has the lowest taxes in Canada?
It depends on the tax and the income. On the Fraser Institute's all-taxes measure for 2026, Saskatchewan families finished paying their taxes first and Alberta families second. Alberta leads on sales tax (it has none) and on the basic personal amount. And Ottawa collects more in Alberta than it spends here: $3,876 more per Albertan in 2024.ReceiptMay 25, 2026Tax Freedom Day 2026, Alberta (Fraser Institute: all taxes, families of two or more)Estimate · 2026SourceFraser InstituteDocumentTax Freedom Day is tomorrow—June 9—when Canadians finally start working for themselves (news release)WhereNews release, table "2026 Provincial Tax Freedom Days", row "Alberta"PublishedJune 8, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFraser Institute analysis: Alberta's date is the second earliest after Saskatchewan's. It counts every tax the average Alberta family of two or more pays, so it falls much later than drained.ca's date, which counts only one earner's income tax, CPP and EI.All sourcesbenchmarks.fraser.tax_freedom_day.alberta.2026Receipt$3,876Net federal balance per Albertan, 2024Estimate · 2024How we got itnet federal balance in Alberta, 2024 ÷ population of Alberta on July 1, 2024Inputstransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2024, population.alberta.2024-07-01SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 17-10-0009-01 Population estimates, quarterlyWhereAlberta (vector v15), July 1, 2024PublishedSeptember 23, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceFederal revenue collected in Alberta minus federal spending in Alberta, per person. It is not Equalization.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance.per_person.2024
How much of Albertans' federal tax goes to Equalization?
Equalization is paid from general federal revenue; Alberta's government pays nothing into it and gets nothing from it. Because Albertans generate about 15.1% of federal revenue, their share of Equalization's $27.16 billion cost in 2026-27 is about $4.1 billion: about $802 per Albertan, against about $650 for the average Canadian. The bigger number is the whole gap: from 2015 to 2024 Ottawa collected $126.8 billion more in Alberta than it spent here (Statistics Canada). For a $100,000 earner, the gap's share of federal income tax and EI is about $3,736 a year.Receipt$0Equalization payment to Alberta, 2026-27Actual · FY2026-27SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Alberta" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 column (shown as "-", nil)PublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceReceives no Equalization payment this year.All sourcestransfers.equalization.ab.fy2026-27Receipt15.1%Alberta's share of federal government revenue, 2024Actual · 2024How we got itfederal revenue collected in Alberta ÷ federal revenue collected in CanadaInputstransfers.alberta.federal_revenue.2024, transfers.canada.federal_revenue.2024SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107650069, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereCanada; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107646586, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceAll sourcestransfers.alberta.federal_revenue_share.2024Receipt$27,160,000,000Equalization, total payments, 2026-27Actual · FY2026-27SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Provinces and Territories" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 columnPublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceEqualization is paid by the federal government from its general revenues; provincial governments pay nothing into it (Finance Canada, Equalization program).All sourcestransfers.equalization.total.fy2026-27Receipt$4,093,172,973Albertans' implied share of the cost of Equalization, 2026-27Estimate · FY2026-27How we got ittotal Equalization × Alberta's share of federal revenue (2024)Inputstransfers.equalization.total.fy2026-27, transfers.alberta.federal_revenue_share.2024SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Provinces and Territories" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 columnPublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107650069, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereCanada; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107646586, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourcedrained.ca estimate. Ottawa pays Equalization from general revenue and the Alberta government pays nothing into it; this apportions the cost by where federal revenue is raised. It mixes a 2024 revenue share with the 2026-27 program.All sourcestransfers.equalization.alberta_implied_cost.fy2026-27Receipt$802Albertans' implied share of the cost of Equalization per Albertan, 2026-27Estimate · FY2026-27How we got itAlbertans' implied share of Equalization ÷ population of Alberta on July 1, 2026Inputstransfers.equalization.alberta_implied_cost.fy2026-27, population.alberta.2026-07-01SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Provinces and Territories" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 columnPublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107650069, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereCanada; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107646586, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 17-10-0009-01 Population estimates, quarterlyWhereAlberta (vector v15), July 1, 2026PublishedSeptember 23, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourcedrained.ca estimate; see the implied share above for the method.All sourcestransfers.equalization.alberta_implied_cost_per_person.fy2026-27Receipt$650Cost of Equalization per Canadian, 2026-27Preliminary · FY2026-27How we got ittotal Equalization ÷ population of Canada on July 1, 2026Inputstransfers.equalization.total.fy2026-27, population.canada.2026-07-01SourceDepartment of Finance CanadaDocumentMajor federal transfersWhereTable "Federal Support to Provinces and Territories" (millions of dollars), "Equalization" row, 2026-27 columnPublishedDecember 11, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 17-10-0009-01 Population estimates, quarterlyWhereCanada (vector v1), July 1, 2026PublishedSeptember 23, 2026CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceAll sourcestransfers.equalization.per_canadian.fy2026-27Receipt$126,788,000,000Net federal balance in Alberta, 2015 to 2024 combinedActual · 2015 to 2024How we got itsum of the annual net federal balances in Alberta, 2015 to 2024 (current dollars)Inputstransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2015, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2016, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2017, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2018, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2019, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2020, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2021, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2022, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2023, transfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2024SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceCurrent dollars, not adjusted for inflation or for the federal deficit; excludes the Canada Pension Plan.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance.cumulative.2015-2024Receipt25.9%Share of federal revenue collected in Alberta that Ottawa did not spend here, 2024Actual · 2024How we got itnet federal balance in Alberta ÷ federal revenue collected in Alberta, 2024Inputstransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance_history@2024, transfers.alberta.federal_revenue.2024SourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments surplus or deficit; 2007 to 2024 (vector v107650174, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceSourceStatistics CanadaDocumentTable 36-10-0450-01 Revenue, expenditure and budgetary balance - General governments, provincial and territorial economic accountsWhereAlberta; Federal general government; General governments revenue; 2024 (vector v107650069, millions of dollars)PublishedNovember 28, 2025CheckedSeptember 28, 2026Open the sourceThe retirement scenario applies this share to your own federal income tax and EI premiums.All sourcestransfers.alberta.net_federal_balance.share_of_revenue.2024
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