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> Canada's brightest, healthiest, and wealthiest will just hop over to benefit from the more favorable conditions there after reaping the expensive taxpayer fun

> Canada's brightest, healthiest, and wealthiest will just hop over to benefit from the more favorable conditions there after reaping the expensive taxpayer funded social benefits The bulk of Canadian taxes are paid by the "brightest, healthiest and wealthiest" [0], so the expensive social benefits Canadians enjoy are largely funded by extracting taxes from these people, not the other way around. Thus, I can hardly blame them for moving to a place where they don't have to subsidize others as much. [0] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1110005501&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.1&pickMembers%5B1%5D=3.5&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2014&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2018&referencePeriods=20140101%2C20180101 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=111000...

BeetleB 5y ago
Nice argument, but when you look at the data, it doesn't make sense. According to your link, the top 10% of Canadians pay about 50% of the taxes in Canada. In the US, the top 10% pay a larger share: 70% (although this is only federal data).[1] So moving to the US to avoid subsidizing others is probably not the best rationale. [1] https://taxfoundation.org/summary-of-the-latest-federal-income-tax-data-2020-update/#_ftn1 https://taxfoundation.org/summary-of-the-latest-federal-inco...
- kenhwang 5y ago
  A 90th percentile Canadian in BC would make ~$100k and pay 25.37% to taxes. A 90th percentile American in Washington right across the boarder would make $125k and pay 24.53% to taxes.
  - BeetleB 5y ago
    While true, it has no relevance to my comment. And it's a bit silly to compare with a state with no state income tax. Why not compare with NY, CA or OR?
    - kenhwang 5y ago
      Because it's the state right next to Canada with a major tech hub. We can compare NY to Quebec where at $125k/$100k respectively Quebec has a slight tax advantage (33.65%NY vs 32.70%QC) that goes back in favor of NY with +$20k (34.48%NY vs 35.43%QC). Ontario fares better though. Maybe that's the cause of the US rust belt. Nevermind that if you're 90th percentile of California or NY, you'd be making near $300k. So your tax rate might be 10% higher, but your take home is easily triple of what you'd have if you stayed in Canada.
    - lotsofpulp 5y ago
      As of Jan 1, 2022, WA will take 1% of W2 (employee) income for taxes. 0.4% for family leave insurance/sick leave insurance and 0.6% for long term disability insurance. It’s income tax in everything but name.

BeetleB 5y ago

Nice argument, but when you look at the data, it doesn't make sense. According to your link, the top 10% of Canadians pay about 50% of the taxes in Canada. In the US, the top 10% pay a larger share: 70% (although this is only federal data).[1] So moving to the US to avoid subsidizing others is probably not the best rationale. [1] https://taxfoundation.org/summary-of-the-latest-federal-income-tax-data-2020-update/#_ftn1 https://taxfoundation.org/summary-of-the-latest-federal-inco...

kenhwang 5y ago
A 90th percentile Canadian in BC would make ~$100k and pay 25.37% to taxes. A 90th percentile American in Washington right across the boarder would make $125k and pay 24.53% to taxes.
- BeetleB 5y ago
  While true, it has no relevance to my comment. And it's a bit silly to compare with a state with no state income tax. Why not compare with NY, CA or OR?
  - kenhwang 5y ago
    Because it's the state right next to Canada with a major tech hub. We can compare NY to Quebec where at $125k/$100k respectively Quebec has a slight tax advantage (33.65%NY vs 32.70%QC) that goes back in favor of NY with +$20k (34.48%NY vs 35.43%QC). Ontario fares better though. Maybe that's the cause of the US rust belt. Nevermind that if you're 90th percentile of California or NY, you'd be making near $300k. So your tax rate might be 10% higher, but your take home is easily triple of what you'd have if you stayed in Canada.
  - lotsofpulp 5y ago
    As of Jan 1, 2022, WA will take 1% of W2 (employee) income for taxes. 0.4% for family leave insurance/sick leave insurance and 0.6% for long term disability insurance. It’s income tax in everything but name.