{"id":359473,"date":"2026-04-02T01:17:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T01:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/359473\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T01:17:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T01:17:12","slug":"how-to-beat-the-singles-tax-and-prioritize-yourself-as-a-solo-earner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/359473\/","title":{"rendered":"How to beat the singles tax and prioritize yourself as a solo earner"},"content":{"rendered":"

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More Canadians are living alone than ever before. According to Statistics Canada<\/a>, the number of one-person households more than doubled between 1981 and 2021 to 4.4 million, making them the most common household type in the country. Today, about 15 per cent of people aged 15 and over live alone.<\/p>\n

Yet \u201cour society hasn\u2019t yet organized in a way that actually supports singles,\u201d said Jackie Porter, a certified financial planner and the founder of Team Jackie Porter<\/a>. Many solo earners feel the effects of what is often called the \u201csingles tax\u201d: an added financial burden for those who are not partnered, married or in a common-law relationship. Experts say that prioritizing yourself as a solo earner means recognizing these challenges and creating a resilient financial plan that takes their impacts into account.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is the singles tax?<\/p>\n

Ren\u00e9e Sylvestre-Williams<\/a>, journalist and author of The Singles Tax, described it as \u201cthe invisible and visible difference in costs that single people pay compared to couples.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

For example, a single person living alone cannot benefit from various economies of scale. There are no opportunities to share fixed household costs such as rent, internet and utilities. Single people may also pay more in taxes if they cannot access certain deductions or split income with a partner, said Sylvestre-Williams.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From higher living expenses to paying single supplements when travelling (an extra fee charged to travellers staying solo in a double-occupancy room), \u201cyou\u2019re paying more as a single person, sadly,\u201d said Porter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The issue is partly systemic. Sylvestre-Williams pointed out the importance of creating more affordable housing and highlighted advocacy groups such as Single Seniors for Tax Fairness<\/a>, which is \u201clobbying for revisions to the Income Tax Act to provide fairness and equity for single seniors,\u201d according to its website. Regardless of this financial burden not being an established tax category, the effects are real and impact the finances of solo earners every day.<\/p>\n

The singles tax and your finances<\/p>\n

The need to bear higher fixed living costs is the most significant example, but other expenses can add up. When travelling, having to budget for a single supplement can impact how and where you go, because many companies price their group travel products based on having two paying adults in the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To offset this, you can seek out tour and cruise companies that waive the surcharge or request exceptions. \u201cIf it\u2019s a very, very last-minute trip and they need to fill rooms, they might waive it as well just to make sure they\u2019ve got a full complement of people instead of just travelling with empty rooms,\u201d said Sylvestre-Williams. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Insurance is another important consideration. Solo earners are often advised to look into critical-illness and disability insurance to protect against potential loss of income. This can provide a financial safety net for you and any young children who depend on you. \u201cIf something happens to you, you don\u2019t have a second income to fall back on,\u201d said Sylvestre-Williams. For the same reason, she recommends building up an emergency fund that you can tap into if you\u2019re unable to work for a period of time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Additionally, single people can face higher per-unit costs when buying essentials, since they can\u2019t always take advantage of shared purchases. To offset this, you could explore community-based cost-sharing and money-saving opportunities. Sylvestre-Williams sometimes splits bulk grocery buys with friends and family, and also suggests checking out local \u201cbuy nothing\u201d groups and tool-lending libraries to reduce solo expenditures.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Financial planning as a solo earner<\/p>\n

Both Porter and Sylvestre-Williams stressed the value of acknowledging the singles tax and planning for its impacts on your finances.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Start by talking to a financial advisor who can help you understand your situation and make a plan. This might include how to prepare for retirement as a single person and what you might need to take into consideration as you get older. \u201cHaving an idea or a plan that works for you, I think, is one of the best ways to be able to sleep at night,\u201d said Sylvestre-Williams.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Retirement planning is especially important as some tax advantages are not available to single retirees. \u201cIf you have someone to split income with, you might have a larger Old Age Security credit and get more \u2026 than if you\u2019re on your own,\u201d said Porter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Further, you\u2019ll likely need to save more money for retirement than someone who is partnered up.\u00a0 \u201cI think financial self-care is about, especially as a single person \u2026 creating that financially resilient plan,\u201d said Porter. \u201cWe\u2019re our backup plan.\u201d<\/p>\n