#6 Business Climate
Business Climate/Governance: Overview
The business climate in Olds is quite favourable, with a diverse range of industries and a supportive local government. The town is home to a number of small and medium-sized businesses, including manufacturing, agriculture, and service-based industries.
Olds is committed to fostering a business-friendly climate that encourages entrepreneurship and growth. The town provides a range of economic development services, including business counselling and support, entrepreneurship assistance, investor attraction, and access to training and education.
The Town also has a Business Retention and Expansion Program that works to retain existing businesses and attract new investment to the area.
Property Taxes: Municipal
In 2023, the Town of Olds total non-residential tax rate is .01202526. This rate includes:
- Municipal tax of 0.0081419
- Education tax of 0.0034988
- Seniors Housing tax of 0.00038456
In 2023, The Town of Olds total residential tax rate is 0.0059511. This rate includes:
- Municipal tax 0.0059511
- Education tax 0.0024177
- Seniors Housing 0.00038456
Education Tax: This amount is collected by the Town of Olds and paid directly to the Province of Alberta for maintenance and development of the school system. The amount of school funds paid by each Municipality is based on population and the tax base and is set by the Alberta Government. All Municipalities must collect and forward these funds.
Senior’s Requisition: This amount is collected by the Town of Olds and paid directly to Mountain View Seniors Housing to help pay for seniors' housing in our area.
Corporate Taxes: Provincial
Alberta’s corporate tax rate of 8%, making the combined federal/provincial rate of 23%. This is the lowest tax rate in Canada and is among the lowest corporate tax rates in North America.
This makes Olds and region one of the most attractive regions in North America for investors to locate.
Available provincial tax credits:
- Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program (APIP)
- Film and Television Tax Credit (FTTC)
- Innovation Employment Grant – details to be announced
- Canada-Alberta Job Grant | Alberta.ca
- Municipal property tax incentives
- A Municipal Government (Machinery and Equipment Tax Incentives) Amendment Act
- Alberta Agri-processing Investment Tax Credit
Corporate Taxes: Federal
Federal corporate income tax rate is 15% for general business and 9% for small business with revenues below $500,000.
Combined federal and provincial corporate income tax rate in Alberta is 23% (15% federal and 8% provincial) for general businesses and 11% (9% federal and 2% provincial) for small businesses with revenues below $500,000.
Available federal tax credits:
Advantages: Taxes / Governance
Other advantages:
- Albertans pay the lowest taxes in Canada
- Alberta is the only province where there is no consumption, retail or sales taxes at the provincial or municipal level.
- The Good and Services Tax (GST) is a federal tax paid on most goods and services sold or provided in Canada. The consumer bears the ultimate tax liability. To achieve this result, businesses that purchase goods and services claim input tax credits.
- The Town of Olds offers one of the lowest Residential Tax rates in Alberta.
- The Town has streamlined regulations and the investment process. Investors are served by a Concierge and Technical Readiness Team (TRT).
- The Town understands the importance of the region and works collaboratively on the Inter-municipal Planning Committee and Municipal Area Partnership.
FAQ: Investing in Olds, Alberta
Invest Olds is a comprehensive resource for businesses and investors interested in the vibrant community of Olds, Alberta. We provide essential information for anyone looking to invest in this thriving region.
Investors are served by an Investor Concierge, a Technical Readiness Team (TRT), and a Development Investment Readiness Tech Team (DIRTT) who streamline the investment process. Your Concierge assists with each step of the process from regulation to ribbon cutting we are here for you. Invest Olds stimulates investment through a host of incentive programs to make an investment not only easy but viable.
Yes, stimulating economic growth and investment is the main priority of Invest Olds. The Town of Olds offers tax incentives for residential and commercial and industrial development. The provincial and federal governments have implemented several stimulus programs to support the growth of business in Olds. See our Stimulus page.
Yes, streamlined regulatory processes are one important advantage for Olds and this backstopped with some of the lowest municipal taxes and development fees in Canada sets Olds above all others.
