Benefits such as employer tips and RRSP contributions are part of B.C. health tax

VICTORIA – The Government of British Columbia has released the fine print of its new employer health tax because it diverts the cost of premiums from personal health insurance plans

. in January 2019 and will cover, among other things, wages, bonuses, vacation pay, tips paid by the employer and employer contributions to registered retirement savings plans.

The NDP government has already said The payroll of more than $ 1.5 million will pay 1.95% of their payroll, while firms with payrolls between 500,000 and 1.5 $ 1 million will pay 2.95% after deducting $ 500,000 from their payroll. and below will not pay the employer's health tax, which the finance ministry says in a press release ensures that 85 percent of companies will be exempt.

Employers with a BC Finance Minister Carole James says the government is eliminating regressive premiums from medical plans and is paying families about $ 1,800 a year.

"While other provinces have eliminated premiums from the MSP, the former government has doubled and downloaded these unfair fees for middle-clbad people, families, and seniors. "