 Distributional Impacts of Canada's Tax-Free Savings AccountsAshraf Al Zaman Canadian Public Policy, 2017, vol. 43, issue 4, 331-349 Abstract: Since 2009, Canadians have had the opportunity to contribute to tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs). This study provides insight into the attributes of TFSA participants. I use data from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for general participation trends and the 2012 Survey of Financial Security (SFS) to examine the socio-economic characteristics of participants and their contributions. Examining data from the CRA, I find that the majority of tax-filing Canadians did not participate in the TFSA program by 2013, with age and income level affecting participation and contribution decisions. Evidence from the SFS data corroborates that obtained from the CRA data. I find that households with children or households headed by individuals with less than postsecondary education are less likely to participate. In addition, I find that households with higher net worth are more likely to participate and contribute more. Consequently, I conclude that TFSAs are likely to have an economically significant distributional impact, making them less attractive on distributional grounds. Date: 2017 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cpp:issued:v:43:y:2017:i:4:p:331-349 Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from Access Statistics for this article Canadian Public Policy is currently edited by Prof. Mike Veall More articles in Canadian Public Policy from University of Toronto Press University of Toronto Press Journals Division 5201 Dufferin Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3H 5T8. |
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