Slowly, but surely, the BC Government is taking steps to revert back to the dual GST/PST system that was in place before HST was implemented. On November 28, 2011, the BC Ministry of Finance issued an update on the progress of the transition. According to the update, the plans established remain on schedule for completion [...]

The HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) in BC has been a topic of debate since well before it was even introduced. Now that the voters have spoken and HST will be repealed, focus is turning to how to take advantage of it before reverting back to the old GST/PST system. SmallBusinessBC.ca has a great article by [...]

Whether you love it or hate it, the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in BC is soon to be a thing of the past. 55% of the 1.6 million BC voters who cast their ballots in the referendum opted to repeal the tax. So, the work now begins to re-instate the former GST/PST model of taxation [...]

See below for a message from Jason McLean, Chairman of the Vancouver Board of Trade on why he believes keeping the HST is beneficial for business in BC. ================================================== MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN of the VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE Support the HST The HST Referendum begins this week. You will receive a ballot by mail [...]

BC’s Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) has been a hot-button issue since it was initially proposed and even more so after it was brought into effect. The HST has been so controversial that petitioners were successful in their efforts to have a referendum by BC voters on whether to rescind the tax and revert back to [...]

If your company is not up-to-date with its HST filings with CRA, you could be facing serious penalties and/or an audit. The best way to steer clear of the wrath of CRA is to file on time and pay any amounts owing by the due dates. If you’re filing your own HST returns, it’s important [...]

Business in Vancouver has reported on the latest in the ongoing efforts to get the recently-launched Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in BC overturned. How will it play out? Looks like we’ll have to wait and see. What are your thoughts on how keeping or nixing the tax could help or hurt your business? Here’s an [...]

HST is a topic we’ve covered a number of times over the past several months, due in large part to the anxiety that seems to be associated with its implementation. HST has a lot of business owners scratching their heads. What will it mean for a particular industry? What if you serve clients in other [...]

With the implementation date of the HST now in effect, be sure to check out the following list of web resources to learn more about the new Harmonized Sales Tax and how it will affect you and your business. BC GOVERNMENT Consumer Taxes Section Harmonized Sales Tax, Creating Jobs, Lowering Prices CANADA REVENUE AGENCY Goods [...]

Canada Revenue Agency Bulletin B-103: Place of Supply Rules for Determining Whether a Supply is Made in a Province. The Tax Detective We also recommend checking out Eileen Reppenhagen’s web site, the Tax Detective. Eileen’s site includes links to a wealth of bulletins, articles and other information related to HST. Fraser Institute – Countering the [...]

And, without further ado, we bring you the newly-implemented HST in BC and Ontario. Many a business owner will no doubt find themselves running into a few hiccups along the way when transitioning into the new tax’s sometimes-confusing rules, particularly with regards to place of supply when doing business with customers in other provinces. Have [...]

General rules are provided by the BC Government to help guide businesses and consumers in a smooth changeover to the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in July 2010. The HST Transition Rules specify technical details about paying the HST in the period around July 1, 2010. Overall, the HST would apply to goods and services [...]

Quickbooks software maker, Intuit, is offering free webinars on HST for businesses in Ontario and British Columbia. Ontario HST Webinar June 16, 2010 at 11:30am (local time) Hosted by Richard Krummenacher, CA, CPA, CFP, Certified ProAdvisor BC HST Webinar June 24, 2010 at 11:30am (local time) Hosted by Eileen Reppenhagen, CGA, Certified ProAdvisor Visit the [...]

CRA has compiled a list of notices and bulletins with regards to GST/HST. The list includes information sheets on transitional rules, along with question and answer bulletins for specific areas of concern. Download the bulletin list in PDF format from the Curriculum Services Canada web site.

Curriculum Services Canada has posted a PDF of a a webinar presentation given by the Canada Revenue Agency to help give business owners an overview of the upcoming implementation of HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) in BC and Ontario. The presentation covers many areas of confusion and concern and is a good primer on what you [...]