More information on Low income before tax cut-offs (LICO-BT)

Censuses:

2006 (1/5 sample), 2001 (1/5 sample), 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample)

Reported for:

Economic families and persons 15 years of age and over not in economic families in private households

Question number:

Not applicable

Responses:

Not applicable

Remarks:

See also Income: Income status before tax; Income: Prevalence of low income; and Income: Total income.

Since their initial publication, Statistics Canada has clearly and consistently emphasized that the LICOs are not measures of poverty. Rather, LICOs reflect a consistent and well-defined methodology that identifies those who are substantially worse off than average. These measures have enabled Statistics Canada to report important trends, such as the changing composition of those below the LICOs over time.

The choice of using before or after-tax income cut-offs depends upon the analysis undertaken. The after-tax income cut-offs will take into account the reduced spending power of families because of income taxes paid.