Sales taxes in Canada

In Canada, three types of sales taxes are levied. These are as follows:

Every province except Alberta has implemented either a provincial sales tax or the Harmonized Sales Tax. The federal GST rate is 5 percent, effective January 1, 2008.

The territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut have neither the HST nor territorial sales taxes. Only the GST is collected. The three northern jurisdictions are heavily subsidized by the federal government, and its residents receive some additional tax concessions due to the high cost of living in the north.[1]

Provincial sales taxes

Separate Provincial Sales Taxes (PST) are collected in the provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec (Quebec Sales Tax or QST, French: Taxe de vente du Québec or TVQ). Prince Edward Island switched to a HST on April 1, 2013, the same date that British Columbia reverted to a separate GST/PST after their adoption of a HST in 2010 was rejected in a referendum.[2] Goods to which the tax is applied vary by province, as does the rate. Moreover, for those provinces whose provincial sales tax is applied to the combined cost and GST, provincial revenues decline or increase with respective changes in the GST. Of the provincial sales taxes, only the QST (and the HST) are value-added; the rest are cascading taxes.

Province Type Prov. rate (%) Total Tax Rate (%) Notes
Alberta GST 0 5 There is a 4% tax on lodging and 4% tax on hotel room fees.
British Columbia GST + PST 7 12 Reverted to a separate GST/PST on April 1, 2013, with a PST of 7%, after their adoption of a HST in 2010 was rejected in a referendum.[2]
Manitoba GST + PST 8 13[3] There is a 5% tax on lodging and 5% tax on hotel room fees.
New Brunswick HST 8 13 The HST will be increased to 15 per cent on 1 July 2016.[4]
Newfoundland and Labrador HST 8 13 A planned increase to 15% in 2016[5] was cancelled in December 2015.[6]
Northwest Territories GST 0 5
Nova Scotia HST 10 15[7] Rates were meant to be reduced to 14 and 13% on July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015 respectively. However, the government has stated that the province cannot afford reductions.[8]
Nunavut GST 0 5
Ontario HST 8 13 Restaurant meals (whether dine-in or take-out, and including fast food) under $4 are exempt from the Ontario portion.[9][10] Alcoholic beverages purchased from licensed restaurants are also subject to an Ontario rate of 13%.[10]
Prince Edward Island HST 9 14[11] Provincial rate was decreased from 10% when PEI switched to a HST on April 1, 2013.[2]
Quebec GST + QST 9.975[12] 14.975[13] Books are taxed at 5.0% (considered essential goods for QST but not for GST). There is an additional tax on tourist lodgings such as hotels which varies by region, ranging from $2 per night to 3.5%.[14][15]
Saskatchewan GST + PST 5 10[16] There is a separate 10% liquor consumption tax. The non-alcoholic portion of a restaurant meal is not taxed. PST is not applicable for any exempt business in Lloydminster.
Yukon GST 0 5

References

  1. ↑ Taxtips.ca
  2. 1 2 3 "P.E.I. to introduce HST by next April". The Canadian Press. 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  3. ↑ "Retail Sales Tax". Manitoba Finance. Manitoba Ministry of Finance. 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  4. ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/roger-melanson-provincial-budget-hst-1.3430148
  5. ↑ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/newfoundland-hiking-taxes-as-budget-forecasts-11-billion-deficit/article24187321/
  6. ↑ "HST rate increase officially cancelled". CBC News. 2015-12-16. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  7. ↑ "HST hike highlights N.S. budget". CBC News. 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  8. ↑ http://www.news957.com/2013/12/17/nova-scotia-books-in-no-shape-for-legislated-cut-to-hst-finance-minister/
  9. ↑ "More Point-Of-Sale Exemptions for Ontario HST". Ministry of Finance. Queen's Printer for Ontario. 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
  10. 1 2 "HST Checklist". Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  11. ↑ Public Treasury, Prince Edward Island Department of (2008-01-07). "Tax and Land Information Website: Revenue Tax (PST)". Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  12. ↑ As of January 2013, Quebec officially changed the QST rate to 9.975. Previously, it had a nominal rate of 9.5 but was applied on top of the GST, making the effective rate 9.975. As of January 2013, the rate no longer applies on top of GST and is simply 9.975.
  13. ↑ "QST and GST/HST". Revenu Quebec. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  14. ↑ "Revenu Québec - Billing the 3% or 3.5% Tax on Lodging - Businesses".
  15. ↑ "Revenu Québec - Tourism Regions Where the Tax on Lodging Applies - Businesses".
  16. ↑ "Provincial Sales Tax - Finance". Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance. 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-26.

Further reading

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 09, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.