What are the problems associated with tracking and collecting the BOAT?
Many businesses and municipal units consider this tax to be an outdated and inefficient method of collecting municipal revenues. Lost revenues for taxes that go uncollected each year by municipalities (estimated at $3 million).This cost is added to the tax burden of every business that does pay its taxes. The federal government, unlike the province of Nova Scotia, does not pay the BOAT. This results in lost revenue of approximately $8 million annually, based on the value of federal properties if Ottawa paid the BOAT on the same basis as other businesses. BOAT creates the perception of double property taxation on business. This hinders the province’s attempts to establish a competitive environment for both retaining and attracting businesses.
